Coronavirus Signage: What Signs Do You Need For Your Business

Coronavirus Covid 19 has created a time of uncertainty for many. In the UK millions have been out of work, furloughed, and those who were still in a position to work may be adjusting to working very differently.
As measures have started to ease and businesses have started to take tentative steps to reopening and welcoming staff back, there are a number of steps that can be taken to ensure businesses and their employees and customers have the confidence to work/visit their place of work or a shop/restaurant.

Coronavirus health and safety guidelines differ depending on which sector you work in, but the one constant is a Covid-19 risk assessment should be undertaken to look at the potential risks and determine the measures needed. That risk assessment should help you and your business understand what type of signage you need and once done, should be shared on your website. There are no hard and fast rules regarding signage – signs are put in place to guide, remind and inform people of the health and safety measures needed post lockdown. As time goes on, those messages may change and it is advisable to keep checking the government guidelines.

While most sectors and businesses will need similar signage, it can vary. To provide an easy to understand guide, we’ve included recommendations by industry sector.
Please note: The information below is not mandatory and should be used as a guideline only.

• What Covid signs do I need for food and drink establishments? (such as restaurants, pubs, and cafés)
• What Covid signs do I need for close contact services? (such services include hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports and massage therapists, dress fitters, tailors and fashion designers)
• What Covid signs do I need for retail? What Covid signs do I need for my office?
• What Covid signs do I need for construction and other outdoor work?
• What Covid signs do I need for my gym, sports facilities?
• What Covid signs do I need for places of worship?

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What Covid signs do I need for food and drink establishments? (such as restaurants, pubs, and cafés)

Given the nature of the hospitality sector, signage is key to advise, inform and remind both customers and the staff of the relevant health and safety measures necessary to keep everyone safe.

As well as reconfiguring indoor and outdoor seating, signage to remind customers of the 2m social distancing rules (1m where 2m is not viable) will help to maintain distance between different households or support bubbles.

Clear signage on hygiene measures, such as hand washing, should be on display throughout, with additional workstation signage for the back of house teams. Customers can be advised to use the handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser when they both arrive and depart from your venue.

Signs regarding numbers of people in the bathroom at any one time can help to maintain social distancing, with additional signage such as ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ available to act as further guidance on hygiene.

If your venue decides to operate a one-way system, wayfinding signage on the floor will assist in directing people around the pub/restaurant etc.

With outdoor space, signage conveying the social distancing rules will help to keep people apart, even when in the fresh air.

In addition to your physical signage, safety messages on your website, mailers and social media will give your customers further confidence that the necessary measures have been taken.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Social distancing signs
• Handwashing signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Catch it, bin it, kill it signs
• Wayfinding floor signage

To see examples of social distancing and hygiene signs, click here.

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What Covid signs do I need for close contact services? (such services include hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports and massage therapists, dress fitters, tailors and fashion designers)

Business such as hairdressers, beauticians and therapists etc, work in close contact with their customers, and as a result, additional PPE and signage may be required to ensure all staff and customers feel comfortable and safe in this new environment.

Signage throughout the venue, from the entrance and in each room and at each station showcasing good handwashing techniques, the need to increase handwashing frequency and to avoid touching your face will help to ensure good hygiene practice.

Social distancing signs should be employed to inform all those on site of the necessary measures and if there is a limited entry adopted for your business, signage to inform customers of this change will help to keep everyone informed of the process.

Providing guidance for the bathrooms, for both customers and staff, will help to remind everyone of the need for frequent handwashing and sanitising, as well as encouraging people not to touch any surfaces unless they absolutely have to.

A visor is required for those working in close contact, and additional signage advising your customers of the use of masks will facilitate best practice and provide peace of mind for all parties.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Handwashing signs
• Social distancing signs
• Limited entry signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Face mask signs

To see examples of social distancing signs, signs for face masks and limiting entry numbers, see here.

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What Covid signs do I need for retail?

While customers visiting pubs and restaurants or hairdressers and therapists may be on site for a good few hours, the flow of footfall in retail is much faster and as thus, there may be additional signage and designated markings required to handle queues outside the store, as well as directional signage indoors to discourage proximity to one another.

Calculating the number of people who can shop safely distanced in store and then managing a limited entry helps to maintain health and safety guidelines and there are a number of signs available which can help to advise customers on the queuing system. Once inside, signage regarding the use of facemasks (this one is also useful outside), social distancing and encouraging people to avoid touching products where possible will all help to ensure customers adhere to the new guidelines.

If there are customer toilets on site, signage regarding good hand washing and hygiene techniques, alongside the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ message will all help to keep driving awareness of the necessary measures.

Contactless payments are now being encouraged at all retail outlets, signage to confirm this is the method of payment before people enter and around the store will ensure there are no issues when people are ready to pay.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Wayfinding floor signage
• Queue signage
• Social distancing signs
• Limited entry signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Face mask signs
• Catch it, bin it, kill it signs
• Contactless payment signs

To see signage regarding queues, contactless payments and more, click here.

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What Covid signs do I need for my office?

Whilst the government advice continues to communicate that people should work from home if they can, there has been a slow and steady rise in the number of people returning to their office-based jobs and as that continues, making sure you have the right signage in place will help workers to feel comfortable as they readjust to office life.

Social distancing remains integral to health and safety guidelines in the workplace, signage to reinforce that message could be placed around the office building, including entrance and exit points, break and meeting rooms, canteens and any other common areas, as well as floor markings to show the desired social distance.

Frequently placed signs for good handwashing practice, placed both in the office space and bathrooms, alongside signs reminding to sanitise will be a constant reminder of the necessary measures.

Larger offices may need to create a one-way flow at the entrance and exit points and could utilise wayfinding and directional signage. For those who have a lift, floor markings to delineate social distancing and signs confirming the number of people in a lift at any one time will help to encourage works to keep within the recommended guidelines.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Wayfinding floor signage
• Floor markings for lifts
• Social distancing signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Catch it, bin it, kill it signs

To see floor markings, directional signage and more, click here.

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What Covid signs do I need for construction and other outdoor work?

(Other work includes energy and utilities, farming and agriculture, forestry, waste management and other infrastructure, railway services and street and highway services)

With construction one of the first industries to go back due to its outdoor nature, health and safety measures were put in place for this sector in the early stages of lockdown, and have continued to evolve and be updated since.

Signage for a construction site could start at the entrance, reminding people of the general safety rules for a site, alongside the need for social distancing. If there is a requirement to limit the number of people on site at any one time, signs regarding queue policies, and queue markings are recommended.

Signs regarding handwashing and sanitising at the entrance and exits to ensure good hygiene practice and could then be used around the site, as well as in break rooms, bathrooms and canteens. In addition, signs which reiterate the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ as well as reminding workers if they feel unwell they should stay home reinforce the need for people to stay vigilant.

Directional floor signage around a construction site to keep traffic to one way ensures minimal contact, as well as floor signage in any lifts or stairwells.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Wayfinding floor signage
• Please queue here signs
• Social distancing signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Handwashing signs
• Catch it, bin it, kill it signs

To see a range of signs for handwashing, wayfinding signage or more, click here.

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What Covid signs do I need for my gym, sports facilities?

With the reopening of gyms and sports facilities, communication to members is key to ensure social distancing and hygiene measures are managed properly both before and after physical activity.

As well as increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning, signage at the entrance, exit and throughout the building to encourage good hygiene practice helps to continue driving awareness of the importance of the message.

With facilities encouraging attendees to come to the venue dressed ready and shower at home, avoiding close contact where possible, additional signage to remind people to social distance throughout, including in any sports/exercise areas could be utilised.

Depending on the size of the venue, floor markings to delineate a one-way system may be advisable.

Contactless payment signage at the entrance and any pay points to further advise people and ensure they are fully informed will prevent any problems when paying for items.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Handwashing signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Wayfinding floor signage
• Please queue here signs
• Social distancing signs
• Contactless payment signs

For contactless payment signs, handwashing signs and more, click here.

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What Covid signs do I need for places of worship?

The Government has set out a detailed plan to confirm how places of worship can operate during the pandemic, which includes information of services such as weddings and funerals. To read the full document, click here.

Due to the role places of worship play in the community, being able to reopen and welcome back the community is of vital importance. However, given the numbers of people who attend, it’s important to plan and prepare to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Social distancing needs to be maintained and signage to confirm that will help to drive the message home. Where possible, face coverings should be worn, again signs to inform worshippers and event attendees will help to streamline the process.

Additional signage regarding handwashing and sanitising, particularly if there are bathrooms, are useful to place around the venue, and if there are frequently used, high traffic spaces, using floor markings to help maintain social distance will help to stop any bottlenecks.

To summarise, these Covid signs tie in with the government’s current guidelines:

 

• Handwashing signs
• Hand sanitiser signs
• Face covering signs
• Wayfinding floor signage
• Social distancing signs

For social distancing signs, floor tape and more, click here.


This is by no means an exhaustive list of all sectors, and these signs are not a legal requirement. After your risk assessment has taken place, communication with your staff is key to ensuring they feel confident with the measures taken. Signs can be used to ensure both staff and visitors are aware of the steps that should be taken, and to advise of the necessary health and safety measures we should all be employing to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus.

To see all our COVID-19 safety signs, click here.

Copyright 2020 UK Safety Store.