Improve Workplace Safety by Taking These Precautions: From Safety Signage and LOTOTO to Training
There are many ways an employer can improve health and safety in the workplace. Many of these methods are simple and effective ways to ensure the correct information and guidance are portrayed, while others are aimed at keeping staff and operators safe during maintenance work.
This blog highlights some of the safety solutions that businesses need to use to ensure they keep staff, visitors and members of the public safe.
Safety Signage
Safety signs are one of the most common ways to improve safety standards in the workplace. According to HSE, “employers must provide safety signs if there is a significant risk that can’t be avoided or controlled in any other way.”
There are five different types of safety signs that you need to be aware of.
- Mandatory: A blue circle containing an image denoting a specific course of action that must be taken
- Prohibition: A red circular band with a diagonal bar on a white background. The black symbol behind indicates the prohibited action
- Hazard Warning: A yellow triangle with a black border and symbol denoting a hazard in the environment
- Safe Condition: A green rectangle or square with a white symbol or text providing information about first aid, escape or other safe conditions
- Fire Equipment: A red rectangle or square with a white symbol or text providing information about the location and use of firefighting equipment
In 2024/25, the top three most common types of fatal accidents were falls from height, being struck by a moving object or vehicle, and being trapped by something collapsing or overturning. While safety signs can’t prevent such accidents, they are needed as they reinforce important safety messages.
If there is a risk of a fall, such as a fragile roof, then a hazard warning sign will be necessary to inform workers that they must proceed with caution. Other hazard warning signs, such as ‘mind the step’, ‘falling objects’, and ‘forklift trucks operating’, are all essential signs that help warn of dangers. There are many different hazards and signs that workplaces require, and each site will determine its own specific requirements.
Lockout Tagout Tryout
Businesses need to keep their staff safe during maintenance or repair work, and Lockout Tagout Tryout (LOTOTO) is the most effective solution to ensure total isolation. LOTOTO is now recognised as best practice for most industries and following correct procedures is important for creating a safer workplace.
Lockout: Shut down machinery and isolate energy sources
Tagout: Apply a physical lock and tag to warn others and identify the responsible engineer
Tryout: Verify the system is fully de-energised before work begins
There are many products and solutions that can be utilised to isolate energy. For example, an MCB lockout will be used to isolate an electrical circuit, whereas a valve lockout is used to isolate valves.
However, the cornerstone of any LOTOTO programme is safety lockout padlocks. Lockout padlocks are necessary to isolate any energy source and can be tailored to any lockout procedure to suit the requirements of the business. Common examples can include colour coding for different work areas, separation of contractor equipment, implementation of bespoke keying systems or individual user identification.
Machines must be isolated before maintenance work commences, and LOTOTO is a proven method to ensure staff stay safe on the job.
Ladder Lockout
Ladder lockout is a method of preventing the unauthorised use of ladders. They are typically used for restricting access to sensitive or dangerous areas, ensuring the ladders have been checked and are safe for use or to prevent unauthorised personnel using them.
Tagging Systems
Tagging systems act as a record to help ensure that the equipment inspection procedures and maintenance are kept up to date. They are an easy and clear way for all relevant staff or contractors to see, at a glance, if machinery or equipment is safe to use.
Tagging systems can be an effective method to ensure that the relevant safety inspections are being performed and serve as proof that past inspections have been performed at the appropriate intervals.
A-Boards
Some hazards are temporary and require a short-term solution. It is an employer’s responsibility to warn employees, visitors and the public of any potential hazards. Where a temporary hazard occurs, such as a wet floor, A-Boards are the perfect way to communicate the warning until the hazard can be resolved.
Safety Rescue Hook Boards
Rescue hook boards are designed as an identifiable and accessible storage solution for electrical safety rescue hooks. Many businesses have safety hooks, but they are often stored in a cupboard or tucked away in a corner. Naturally, this is not ideal during an emergency when someone needs to be rescued.
An electrical rescue hook board is ideally placed on a wall next to electrical equipment ensuring the rescue hook is visible and easy to access in an emergency.
The aim is that the hook will never need to be used, but if an accident does occur it is easy for anyone to find the hook quickly when needed. Also, the presence of the hook and board next to the equipment can remind staff of the dangers they may face while working, to remain vigilant and identify and replace it when missing.
Floor Graphics
Floor graphics are an effective way to communicate important messages and instructions. Ideal for businesses with hazards such as forklifts, as floor graphics can direct staff to a designated pedestrian route and clearly highlight the hazard. This can be especially important for temporary / new staff or contractors who may be unfamiliar with the building.
Floor graphics are a great way to improve safety, but they can also be used as wayfinding tools. For example, in a store they can direct customers to different product ranges, and in a warehouse, they can direct people to fire exits or other important areas such as picking locations.
Stencils
Stencils are an essential tool for creating consistent, clear, and professional markings, designs and messages in for various applications, from safety signs to industrial use. With correct use they can be re-used multiple times providing an economical solution of delivering a message.
A common application for stencils is line marking in car parks, specifying parking bays, speed limits, and entry/exit routes.
Road Traffic Signage
Road signs are crucial for ensuring safe and efficient traffic flow, providing drivers with important information and warnings to prevent accidents and navigate roads safely. For many businesses, they will require lorries and forklifts to stay below the speed limit to keep staff, visitors and members of the public safe.
Manufactured to strict UKCA / CE standards, they are an essential component of the safety structure of a site.
Site Surveys, Custom Signage & LOTOTO Training
For many businesses, knowing what they need and where they need it can be difficult. Getting staff to understand and follow safety procedures can also be challenging, especially if they’re not accustomed to strict health and safety protocols. Site surveys can help an employer identify risks, ensure compliance with regulations, and promote a safe working environment.
A signage site survey will be able to advise whether your current signage is compliant and identify which external and internal locations require additional signs and safety solutions. A LOTOTO survey can provide information on how to safety lockout out equipment, with advice on creating the correct procedures to support an effective safety programme.
In either case many a requirement for a custom sign may be identified – this could be from a safety aspect, detailing internal production procedures or as simple as company branding.
LOTOTO training is an effective method to ensure staff understand how to follow lockout tagout tryout procedures correctly. Training is one of the most important aspects of any LOTOTO programme, as it ensures that all operators are fully equipped to safely isolate and control hazardous energy. LOTOTO programmes will vary by company, so it is essential to ensure staff are frequently educated, refreshed on best practices and any new staff are brought up to speed.
Sessions typically consist of hands-on training, providing operators with the opportunity to apply equipment themselves. There should also be theoretical training to ensure they understand the dangers associated with the machines they work on.
If employers take note of these important safety considerations, they will undoubtedly create a safer workplace for their employees, contractors, and visitors on-site. However, it is always important to consult with an expert when implementing wide-scale changes.
Safety signs help reduce accidents by delivering clear and immediate safety instructions. For electrical risks, hazard warning signs should be prominently placed in high-risk areas, such as near machines or control panels.
Employers must ensure that all relevant signage is in place. This includes marking emergency assembly points, identifying first aid kits, and highlighting pedestrian walkways. For electrical hazards, signs should clearly indicate risks such as high voltage, live wires or electric shock.
As each site is different, some businesses may require custom signage to address unique hazards not covered by standard safety signs. Custom signs are an effective way to ensure site-specific risks are communicated clearly and effectively.
Content created in partnership with Spectrum Industrial.
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