Construction Warning Signs

What are Construction Warning Signs?

A construction warning sign serves a crucial function by alerting workers and visitors of construction site hazards. They feature a distinctive design, including a yellow triangle containing a safety icon. This can sometimes be accompanied by a yellow panel that includes additional information and a mandatory construction sign, depicting an action that must be performed to help ensure safety. To learn more, read our guide to construction warning signs.

What are the different types of construction warning signs?

There are a countless number of construction warning signs, due to the wide variety of construction site hazards. As safety experts, we know that no two construction sites are the same, and their risks will differ greatly depending on the location or the project and the type of work being performed. For example, Fragile Roof site warning signs would only be applicable in construction projects where roofing work was being performed, while a Men At Work sign would always be required to bookmark road works. To identify the different types of construction signs you need, you should perform a risk assessment to uncover all the hazards of your site before implementing measures to reduce the likelihood or impact of each risk, including the installation and maintenance of building site warning signs.

Where should construction warning signs be located?

The location of warning construction signs varies greatly depending on the type of sign being used. However, there are some signs that should always be located in specific areas, such as the Warning Construction Site Keep Out sign would always be placed at the entrance of the site. Ultimately, construction hazard signs must be placed in the vicinity of the hazard it refers to. For example, Deep Water construction site warning signs should only be used in projects where deep water poses a potential risk to visitors and workers, and would be placed in a highly-visible location near the water.

Are construction warning signs required by law?

Yes, construction warning signs are required by law. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 (HSR) outlines the various types of construction hazard signs you need to use in your construction site. However, the types of sign required will vary greatly depending on your project, which is why the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) states a thorough risk assessment must be performed before work begins. This helps ensure all hazards are identified and that every reasonable effort is made to minimise or reduce the likelihood or severity of each risk. The risk assessment is all about safety and accountability, which is why it must be recorded, providing evidence in the event of an accident or legal inquiries. If a risk is unable to be removed by other means, adequate site warning signs must be installed to inform people of the risks.