Electrical Safety Signs

Electrical Safety Signs help warn people about electrical hazards and communicate important safety information around equipment, installations and working areas.

From factories and warehouses to construction sites, workshops, schools and commercial buildings, clear electrical signage can help employees, contractors and visitors recognise potential dangers before approaching hazardous equipment or restricted areas.

Our range of Electrical Hazard Signs includes Danger Electricity, High Voltage, Electric Shock, Danger of Death, Live Wires, Overhead Cables, Buried Cable and voltage-specific warning notices.

Choose from a selection of sizes and materials suitable for different workplace environments.

What Are Electrical Safety Signs?

Electrical Safety Signs communicate hazards associated with electrical equipment, installations or working activities.

They can warn people about risks such as electric shock, live conductors, high voltage and overhead or underground electrical cables.

Some signs identify a hazard, while others provide a specific instruction or communicate a restriction.

Choosing the correct message depends on the electrical installation, the intended audience and the risks identified at the location.

Types of Electrical Safety Signs

Danger Electricity Signs

Danger Electricity Signs provide a recognisable warning that an electrical hazard is present.

They commonly feature the black lightning bolt symbol inside a yellow warning triangle.

These signs may be appropriate around electrical installations, equipment enclosures and other locations where an electrical hazard has been identified.

High Voltage Warning Signs

High Voltage Signs communicate the presence of equipment or installations operating at high voltage.

Common applications include substations, electrical compounds, restricted plant areas and relevant industrial installations.

Choose a sign that accurately reflects the electrical hazard and any site-specific access arrangements.

Electric Shock Warning Signs

Electric Shock Signs warn people about the potential danger of contact with electrical equipment or live components.

They can help reinforce awareness around electrical cupboards, machinery, test equipment and other relevant installations.

Where additional restrictions apply, consider whether a separate prohibition or instruction sign is also necessary.

Danger of Death Signs

Danger of Death Signs communicate a potentially fatal hazard.

They may be suitable around electrical installations where the identified risk warrants a particularly prominent warning.

Use these notices where the message accurately reflects the circumstances rather than treating them as interchangeable with every general electrical warning.

Voltage Warning Signs

Voltage-specific signs identify the stated voltage associated with an installation or item of equipment.

Our range includes notices displaying:

• 110 Volts
• 240 Volts
• 400 Volts
• 410 Volts
• 415 Volts
• 440 Volts
• 11,000 Volts

Select the voltage according to the actual equipment or installation.

A voltage-specific notice should never be chosen simply because it looks similar to an existing sign.

Live Wires & Live Conductors Signs

Live Wires, Bare Live Wires, Live Terminals and Live Busbars Signs communicate hazards associated with exposed or potentially accessible electrical components.

These may be relevant in electrical maintenance areas, industrial facilities and controlled working environments.

Warning signage should support suitable isolation, access controls, competent working practices and other necessary safety measures.

Overhead Electric Cable Signs

Overhead Cable Signs help warn people about electrical infrastructure above working areas or vehicle routes.

They can be particularly relevant to construction sites, farms, industrial yards and locations where tall vehicles or machinery operate.

Examples include:

• Overhead Electric Cables
• Danger Live Wires Overhead
• Drivers Beware Overhead Cables
• High Voltage Cables Over

Where overhead electrical lines create a risk, signage must form part of appropriate work planning and other necessary precautions.

Buried Cable & Underground Electrical Signs

Buried Cable Signs communicate the presence of underground electrical services.

They may be useful around construction sites, excavation areas, industrial premises and locations where groundworks are undertaken.

However, a warning sign doesn't establish the exact position or depth of a buried cable.

Appropriate plans, locating equipment and safe excavation procedures remain essential.

Electrical Cupboard Signs

Electrical Cupboard Signs help identify electrical enclosures and communicate relevant hazards or access restrictions.

Depending on the location, appropriate wording may include:

• Danger Electricity
• Electrical Cupboard
• Authorised Personnel Only
• Danger High Voltage

Select the message that accurately reflects the installation and its access arrangements.

Electric Fence Warning Signs

Electric Fence Signs identify electrified fencing and communicate the associated hazard.

They may be relevant to farms, estates, countryside properties and other locations where electric fencing is installed.

Choose suitable notices according to the installation, its intended use and the applicable fencing requirements.

Electrical Isolation & Maintenance Signs

Electrical maintenance activities may require instructions such as Isolate Main Supply or notices indicating that work is taking place on equipment.

These signs can help reinforce established working procedures.

They must not replace appropriate isolation, securing against reconnection, verification of dead and other necessary electrical safety arrangements.

Where Are Electrical Safety Signs Used?

Construction Sites

Construction sites may contain temporary electrical installations, distribution equipment, overhead power lines and buried cables.

Suitable electrical signage can help communicate identified hazards to employees, contractors and site visitors.

Factories & Manufacturing

Industrial premises often contain electrical machinery, distribution boards, control equipment and restricted maintenance areas.

Electrical Warning Signs can help identify relevant hazards and reinforce site-specific instructions.

Warehouses & Distribution Centres

Warehouses may require electrical signage around charging facilities, plant rooms, distribution equipment and other installations.

Choose the sign according to the actual hazard rather than relying on a generic warning for every location.

Workshops & Garages

Workshops may use Electrical Hazard, Isolate Main Supply and other relevant signs around equipment and maintenance areas.

Farms & Agricultural Premises

Electrical hazards on farms can include overhead lines, electric fencing, electrical installations and cables near working areas.

Appropriate warning notices can support wider farm safety arrangements.

Schools, Offices & Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings may require suitable signage around electrical cupboards, plant rooms, distribution equipment and restricted maintenance areas.

What Colour Are Electrical Warning Signs?

Recognised electrical warning signs generally use a yellow triangular background with a black border and black lightning bolt symbol.

This identifies the message as a warning of a potential hazard.

Other types of electrical safety instruction may use different recognised sign designs.

For example, a prohibition sign communicates an action that must not be carried out, while a mandatory sign communicates a required action.

Electrical Safety Signs & UK Regulations

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 establish requirements intended to prevent danger from electrical systems and activities at work.

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 also establish requirements for workplace safety signage.

Appropriate signs are required where significant risks remain after other relevant safety measures have been implemented and those risks cannot adequately be controlled by other means.

However, this doesn't mean that displaying an electrical warning sign automatically makes an installation safe or legally compliant.

Electrical signage should support appropriate equipment design, maintenance, isolation procedures, training, access controls and safe systems of work.

Electrical Safety Signs & BS EN ISO 7010

BS EN ISO 7010 provides standardised graphical symbols for safety signage, including the recognised electrical hazard warning symbol.

Using an appropriate recognised symbol can help communicate hazards consistently.

However, not every voltage-specific notice or custom electrical instruction automatically conforms to ISO 7010.

Where compliance with a particular standard is claimed, the individual product design should be checked against the relevant requirements.

Where Should Electrical Safety Signs Be Positioned?

Electrical Safety Signs should be displayed where people need to recognise the hazard or instruction before encountering it.

Common locations include:

• Electrical cupboard doors
• Plant room entrances
• Electrical enclosures
• Distribution equipment
• Restricted maintenance areas
• Electrical compounds
• Relevant construction site access points
• Locations with identified overhead cable hazards
• Appropriate underground service warning points

Make sure signs remain visible and aren't obscured by stored materials, equipment or open doors.

Choosing the Right Electrical Safety Sign Size

Choose the sign size according to viewing distance, mounting position and the environment.

A warning attached directly to an electrical cupboard may have different requirements from a notice intended for drivers approaching overhead cables.

Consider:

1. Viewing distance.
2. Symbol size.
3. Text size.
4. Lighting.
5. Mounting height.
6. Approach direction.
7. Colour contrast.
8. Weather exposure.

The message should be easy to recognise before somebody encounters the relevant hazard.

Choosing Electrical Sign Materials

Different installations require different materials.

Depending on the product, options may include:

Self-Adhesive Vinyl: Suitable for appropriate clean, smooth surfaces.

Rigid Plastic: A practical option for many general workplace applications.

Recycled Plastic: Available across selected products.

Aluminium Composite: A durable option for suitable longer-term installations, including outdoor locations.

Choose the material and fixing method according to the mounting surface and expected conditions.

Electrical Safety Sign Buying Checklist

Before ordering, consider:

• What electrical hazard needs to be communicated?
• Is the sign a warning, prohibition or instruction?
• Is the selected wording accurate?
• Does a voltage-specific sign show the correct voltage?
• Who needs to understand the message?
• Where should the warning be displayed?
• Is the sign large enough for the viewing distance?
• Is the material suitable for the environment?
• Are additional access restrictions necessary?
• Are appropriate electrical safety controls already in place?

Review signs periodically and replace notices that become damaged, faded or difficult to read.

Made in Britain Electrical Safety Signs

Safety Sheep supplies Made in Britain Electrical Safety Signs for UK businesses, construction sites, factories, warehouses, farms and commercial premises.

Our range includes Danger Electricity, High Voltage, Electric Shock, Danger of Death, Live Wires, Overhead Cables, Buried Cable and voltage-specific warnings.

Available in a selection of sizes and materials, with bulk savings for businesses and trade customers.

Think Safety. Think Sheep.