1. Introductory Text

  2. SECTION I GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. Article 1.Object

    2. Article 2.Definitions

  3. SECTION II EMPLOYERS’ OBLIGATIONS

    1. Article 3.General rules

    2. Article 4.Safety and/or health signs used for the first time

    3. Article 5.Safety and/or health signs already in use

    4. Article 6.Exemptions

    5. Article 7.Information and instruction for workers

    6. Article 8.Consultation of workers and workers' participation

  4. SECTION III MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

    1. Article 9. Amendments to the Annexes

    2. Article 9a. Exercise of the delegation

    3. Article 9b. Urgency procedure

    4. Article 10.(1) Directive 77/576/EEC shall be repealed on the date referred...

    5. Article 11.Final provisions

    6. Article 12.This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

    1. ANNEX I

      GENERAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SAFETY AND/OR HEALTH SIGNS AT WORK

      1. 1. Preliminary remarks

        1. 1.1. Where health and/or safety signs are required by the general...

        2. 1.2. This Annex introduces those requirements, describes the different uses of...

        3. 1.3. Health and/or safety signs must be used only to convey...

      2. 2. Types of signs

        1. 2.1. Permanent signs

          1. 2.1.1. Permanent signboards must be used for signs relating to prohibitions,...

          2. 2.1.2. Signboards on containers and pipes must be placed as laid...

          3. 2.1.3. Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles...

          4. 2.1.4. Traffic routes must be permanently marked with a safety colour....

        2. 2.2. Occasional signs

          1. 2.2.1. Illuminated signs, acoustic signals and/or verbal communication must be used...

          2. 2.2.2. Hand signals and/or verbal communication must be used where the...

      3. 3. Interchanging and combining signs

        1. 3.1. Any one of the following may be used if equally...

        2. 3.2. Some types of signs may be used together:

      4. 4. The instructions in the table below apply to all signs...

      5. 5. The effectiveness of a sign must not be adversely affected...

        1. 5.1. the presence of another emission source of the same type...

          1. 5.1.1. the placing of too many signs too close together should...

          2. 5.1.2. two illuminated signs which are likely to be confused are...

          3. 5.1.3. an illuminated sign is not to be used in the...

          4. 5.1.4. two acoustic signals are not to be used at the...

          5. 5.1.5. an acoustic signal is not be used if there is...

        2. 5.2. poor design, insufficient number, incorrect positioning, poor state of repair...

      6. 6. Depending on requirements, signs and signalling devices must be cleaned,...

      7. 7. The number and positioning of signs or signalling devices to...

      8. 8. Signs requiring some form of power must be provided with...

      9. 9. The triggering of an illuminated sign and/or acoustic signal indicates...

      10. 10. Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be checked to ensure...

      11. 11. If the hearing or the sight of the workers concerned...

      12. 12. Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant...

    2. ANNEX II

      MINIUM GENERAL REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SIGNBOARDS

      1. 1. Intrinsic features

        1. 1.1. The shape and colours of signboards are set out in...

        2. 1.2. Pictograms must be as simple as possible and should contain...

        3. 1.3. The pictograms used may be slightly different from or more...

        4. 1.4. Signboards are to be made of shock and weather-resistant material...

        5. 1.5. The dimensions and colorimetric and photometric features of signoboards must...

      2. 2. Conditions of use

        1. 2.1. Signboards are in principle to be installed at a suitable...

        2. 2.2. The signboard must be removed when the situation to which...

      3. 3. Signboards to be used

        1. 3.1. Prohibitory signs

        2. 3.2. Warning signs

        3. 3.3. Mandatory signs

        4. 3.4. Emergency escape or first-aid signs

        5. 3.5. Fire-fighting signs

    3. ANNEX III

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SIGNS ON CONTAINERS AND PIPES

      1. 1. Containers used at work for chemical substances or mixtures classified...

      2. 2. Signs must be mounted as follows:

      3. 3. Where appropriate, the signs referred to in section 1 of...

      4. 4. Without prejudice to sections 1,2 and 3, the labels used...

      5. 5. Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant...

    4. ANNEX IV

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

      1. 1. Preliminary remark

      2. 2. Fire-fighting equipment must be identified by using a specific colour...

      3. 3. The colour for identifying this equipment is red.

      4. 4. The signboards provided for in section 3.5 of Annex Ii...

    5. ANNEX V

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SIGNS USED FOR OBSTACLES AND DANGEROUS LOCATIONS, AND FOR MARKING TRAFFIC ROUTES

      1. 1. Signs for obstacles and dangerous locations

        1. 1.1. Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles,...

        2. 1.2. The dimensions of the markings must be commensurate with the...

        3. 1.3. The yellow and black or red and white stripes must...

        4. 1.4. Example:

      2. 2. Marking of traffic routes

        1. 2.1. Where the use and equipment of rooms so requires for...

        2. 2.2. The stripes must be located so as to indicate the...

        3. 2.3. Permanent traffic routes in built-up areas outdoors should, as far...

    6. ANNEX VI

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ILLUMINATED SIGNS

      1. 1. Intrinsic features

        1. 1.1. The light emitted by a sign must produce a luminous...

        2. 1.2. The luminous area emitting a sign may be of a...

        3. 1.3. The single colour must correspond to the table of colours...

        4. 1.4. Likewise, when the sign contains a pictogram, the latter must...

      2. 2. Specific rules governing use

        1. 2.1. If a device can emit both continuous and intermittent signs,...

        2. 2.2. If a flashing sign is used instead of — or...

        3. 2.3. Devices for emitting flashing signs in the event of grave...

    7. ANNEX VII

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACOUSTIC SIGNS

      1. 1. Intrinsic features

        1. 1.1. Acoustic signals must:

        2. 1.2. If a device can emit an acoustic signal at variable...

      2. 2. Code

    8. ANNEX VIII

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR VERBAL COMMUNICATION

      1. 1. Intrinsic features

        1. 1.1. Verbal communication between a speaker or emitter and one or...

        2. 1.2. Spoken messages are to be as short, simple and clear...

        3. 1.3. Verbal communication is direct (by means of the human voice)...

      2. 2. Specific rules governing use

        1. 2.1. The persons involved must have a good knowledge of the...

        2. 2.2. If verbal communication is used instead of — or together...

    9. ANNEX IX

      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR HAND SIGNALS

      1. 1. Features

      2. 2. Specific rules governing use

        1. 2.1. The person giving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the...

        2. 2.2. The signalman must be able to monitor all manoeuvres visually...

        3. 2.3. The signalman’s duties must consist exclusively of directing manoeuvres and...

        4. 2.4. If the conditions described in point 2.2 are not fulfilled,...

        5. 2.5. The operator must interrupt the ongoing manoeuvre in order to...

        6. 2.6. Accessories:

      3. 3. Coded signals to be used

        1. Preliminary remark: