International Standard for Safety Signs Updated

Safety signs are essential for preventing accidents and injury. Symbols that are internationally agreed and globally used in safety signs ensure clarity and consistency, regardless of language, culture or setting. The ISO standard that is a reference for safety signs has just been updated to incorporate new safety signs that are in use around the world.

From no-go areas on construction sites to emergency exits, ISO 7010, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs, prescribes safety signs for the purposes of accident prevention, fire protection, health hazard information and emergency evacuation.

It features the shape and colour of the sign as referenced in ISO 3864-1, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 1: Design principles for safety signs and safety markings, and the design of the symbol is according to ISO 3864-3, Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 3: Design principles for graphical symbols for use in safety signs.

Mr Jan-Bernd Stell, Chair of the ISO technical committee that developed the standard, said lack of harmonisation and standardisation in this area could lead to confusion and accidents.

“International standardisation of safety signs means everyone speaks the same language when it comes to safety. This provides a simple solution for everyone, both in workplaces and public areas like airports where many nationalities converge.

Examples of safety signs documented in the standard include everything from warnings around deep water, electricity or barbed wire to instructions such as “do not walk or stand here”, or to “not use lifts in the event of a fire.”

ISO 7010 was developed by ISO subcommittee ISO/TC 145/SC 2, Safety identification, signs, shapes, symbols and colours, the secretariat of which is held by DIN, ISO’s member for Germany.

Standards for Safety Signs: 

•           ISO 3864-1:2011
  

  Graphical symbols
  Safety colours and safety signs
  Part 1: Design principles for safety signs and safety markings

            ISO 3864-2:2016
  

  Graphical symbols
  Safety colours and safety signs
  Part 2: Design principles for product safety labels

            ISO 7010:2019
  Graphical symbols
  Safety colours and safety signs
  Registered safety signs
  

            ISO/TC 145/SC 2
  Safety identification, signs, shapes, symbols and colours