What are safety signs used for in South Africa?

Safety signs communicate hazards, required actions, prohibitions, and emergency information so people can make safe decisions at the point where risk is encountered.

What do the colours and shapes on safety signs mean?

Safety signs use standard colour and shape conventions to communicate meaning quickly. Yellow triangles warn of hazards, blue circles indicate mandatory actions, red circles with a diagonal line prohibit actions, green rectangles indicate safe condition and emergency routes, and red rectangles identify fire fighting equipment.

What is the difference between warning, mandatory, prohibitory, fire, and emergency signs?

Warning signs highlight hazards, mandatory signs state actions that must be followed, prohibitory signs show actions that are not allowed, fire signs identify fire equipment and alarms, and emergency signs indicate escape routes, first aid, and safe condition information.

Which standards apply to safety signs in South Africa?

Safety sign design in South Africa is guided by South African National Standards, SANS, administered through the South African Bureau of Standards, SABS, and it aligns closely with widely used international conventions such as ISO 7010 and ISO 3864 for symbols, colours, and layouts.

How do I choose the right safety sign for a hazard or rule?

Start with the intent. Use a warning sign for a hazard that cannot be removed, a mandatory sign when a specific action is required, a prohibitory sign when an action creates risk, and emergency or fire signs to help people find equipment and routes quickly during an incident.

Do I need text on a safety sign, or is the symbol enough?

Symbols communicate meaning fastest, but text can improve clarity in site specific situations, for visitors, and where multiple languages are present. If you add text, keep it short and ensure it does not change the intended meaning of the symbol.

Where should safety signs be placed for best visibility?

Place signs before the hazard is encountered, at typical eye level, and along normal routes of entry and movement. Keep them unobstructed by doors, stock, equipment, or structures, and ensure they suit the lighting conditions in that area.

What size should I choose for viewing distance?

Choose a size that can be recognised from the expected viewing distance and approach speed. Longer viewing distances and higher speed environments need larger sign faces, especially where quick decisions are required.

What materials should I choose for indoor vs outdoor use?

Indoor signs can often use lighter substrates, while outdoor signs should use weather resistant materials and print finishes that handle UV exposure, moisture, and abrasion. The right choice depends on the environment and expected service life.

When should photoluminescent safety signs be used?

Photoluminescent signs are used where signs must remain visible during power failures, smoke conditions, or low light. They are commonly used for escape routes, emergency exits, and critical emergency equipment identification.

Can safety signs be customised, including bilingual text and site rules?

Yes, customisation is possible for site rules, wording, and bilingual requirements, provided the sign remains clear and the category, colour, and symbol meaning are not compromised. If you are unsure, match the symbol first, then add minimal supporting text.

Safety Signs in South Africa

TYPES, MEANINGS, USES AND SELECTION GUIDANCE

Safety signs are a standardised system of visual communication used in South Africa to identify hazards, indicate required actions, communicate prohibitions, and provide emergency information in workplaces and public environments.

Safety signage is about influencing behaviour at the moment risk is encountered.
It is not a paperwork exercise, and it is not solved by signs alone.

SCOPE OF THIS OVERVIEW

This page serves as a comprehensive reference to safety signs used in South Africa. It explains how safety signs are classified, interpreted, selected, and applied in line with recognised South African National Standards and aligned international conventions.

It does not replace site-specific risk assessments, professional safety advice, or formal training.

WHAT ARE SAFETY SIGNS

Safety signs are standardised visual signs used in South Africa to communicate safety information, warn of hazards, indicate required actions, prohibit unsafe behaviour, and identify emergency equipment and escape routes. Their primary purpose is to reduce risk by ensuring that safety information is visible, understood, and acted on quickly at the point where risk is encountered.

Safety signs communicate meaning through a combination of colour, shape, symbols, and wording, allowing messages to be understood consistently, even in environments where language barriers exist or rapid decision-making is required.

In South Africa, safety signs are widely used across workplaces, public buildings, construction sites, factories, warehouses, offices, retail environments, and public infrastructure.

WHAT SAFETY SIGNS ARE DESIGNED TO DO

Safety signs are designed to:

draw attention to hazards that cannot be completely eliminated
influence behaviour at the point where risk exists
provide clear instructions or restrictions
support safe movement and decision-making
identify emergency routes, equipment, and facilities

WHY SAFETY SIGNS ARE IMPORTANT

Safety signs play a critical role in reducing the likelihood of injury, damage, and disruption by:

alerting people to potential hazards
indicating actions that must or must not be taken
supporting workplace safety procedures
improving awareness and consistency
assisting during emergency situations

Clear and well-placed safety signs help protect employees, contractors, visitors, and members of the public by communicating essential safety information quickly and unambiguously.

SAFETY SIGNS AND WORKPLACE SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, employers and site managers have a general responsibility to provide a safe working environment, which includes identifying hazards and communicating residual risks where they cannot be eliminated through other controls. Safety signs are commonly used to support this responsibility by helping to identify hazards, guide behaviour, and indicate emergency equipment and escape routes.

Safety signage does not remove risk on its own. Instead, it supports safety management by making hazards visible and reinforcing safe behaviour.

SAFETY SIGN STANDARDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, safety sign designs follow South African National Standards (SANS), administered by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), and align closely with ISO 7010 and ISO 3864-3 conventions for safety sign colours, shapes, and symbols.

South African National Standards (SANS), administered through the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), provide guidance on the appearance and use of safety signs to promote uniform understanding across different environments and industries. These standards align closely with widely recognised international safety sign conventions.

While standards help ensure consistency and recognition, safety signage on its own does not address risk. Correct sign selection, placement, and maintenance form part of a broader safety approach that includes risk assessment, training, and appropriate safety controls.

This overview is intended to provide general guidance on safety signage principles and does not replace site-specific safety assessments or professional advice.

Common mistakes in safety signage include overuse, poor placement, and relying on signs to compensate for unmanaged hazards. More signs do not necessarily mean safer environments.

COMMON ENVIRONMENTS WHERE SAFETY SIGNS ARE USED

Safety signs are commonly found in:

industrial and manufacturing facilities
construction sites
warehouses and logistics centres
offices and commercial buildings
hospitals and healthcare facilities
schools and universities
retail centres and shopping malls
public infrastructure and transport areas

SAFETY SIGN COLOURS AND SHAPES

Symbolic safety signs use recognised colour and shape conventions defined by safety sign standards to communicate meaning quickly and consistently, even before any text is read.

COLOUR MEANINGS

Safety sign colours are standardised to ensure immediate recognition and consistent interpretation across different environments.

Fire Extinguisher Fire Fighting Sign — Common safety sign colours and what they communicate.

Smoking Prohibited Sign — Common safety sign colours and what they communicate.

Red – prohibition signs and fire-fighting equipment
Yellow – warning signs indicating potential hazards
Blue – mandatory signs indicating required actions
Green – emergency and safe condition signs, including escape routes and first-aid facilities

SHAPE MEANINGS

Triangular – warning signs
Circular (blue) – mandatory signs
Circular (red with diagonal line) – prohibitory signs
Square or rectangular – emergency, fire-fighting, or information signs

By combining colour and shape, safety signs convey critical information even before any text is read.

HOW SAFETY SIGN CATEGORIES DIFFER

Each safety sign category serves a specific function within a standardised safety communication system:

warning signs highlight potential danger
mandatory signs instruct required behaviour
prohibitory signs prevent unsafe actions
fire signs identify fire-related equipment and locations
emergency signs indicate safe routes and facilities
information signs support general awareness

MAIN SAFETY SIGN CATEGORIES

Safety signs are grouped into standard categories based on their purpose and visual design.

FIRE FIGHTING SIGNS (FB)

Fire-fighting signs are used to identify the location of fire-fighting equipment, fire alarms, and fire-related safety facilities so they can be found quickly in an emergency.

HAZARD WARNING SIGNS (WW)

Hazard warning signs are used to alert people to potential hazards or dangerous conditions that may cause injury or harm if not avoided.

MANDATORY SIGNS (MV)

Mandatory signs indicate actions that must be followed to comply with safety requirements and reduce risk in a specific area or activity.

PROHIBITORY SIGNS (PV)

Prohibitory signs are used to indicate actions or behaviours that are not permitted because they may create or increase risk.

GENERAL INFORMATION SIGNS (GA)

General information signs provide non-hazard safety information, directions, or site-related guidance to support safe movement and awareness.

PHOTOLUMINESCENT SIGNS

Photoluminescent signs are designed to remain visible in low-light or power-failure conditions by emitting stored light to support safe evacuation and emergency response.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SAFETY SIGN

When selecting safety signage, consider:

the type of hazard or information being communicated
who will be exposed to the sign
viewing distance and visibility requirements
lighting conditions
indoor or outdoor placement
material durability and mounting surface

QUICK GUIDANCE FOR SIGN SELECTION

If a hazard exists but cannot be removed, a warning sign is typically used
If an action must be taken to remain safe, a mandatory sign is used
If an action creates risk, a prohibitory sign is used
If equipment must be located quickly in an emergency, fire or emergency signs are used

PLACEMENT AND VISIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

Safety signs should be:

visible before a hazard is encountered, allowing time to react
positioned at an appropriate eye level for the people using the area
placed along normal routes of movement and entry points
unobstructed by equipment, stock, doors, or structures
suitable for the lighting conditions, including low-light or emergency situations
kept clean, legible, and in good condition

Correct placement ensures that safety signs are noticed, understood, and acted upon at the right moment.

ARE SAFETY SIGNS LEGALLY REQUIRED IN SOUTH AFRICA

Safety signs are commonly used to support workplace safety responsibilities. While signage alone does not ensure compliance, it plays an important role in hazard communication and risk awareness as part of an overall safety approach.

EXPLORE SAFETY SIGNS BY CATEGORY

Safety signs are grouped into standard categories. Select a category below to learn how it is used, where it applies, and how to choose the correct sign for your site.

Ready to select safety signs for your site

Browse the full range of SABS Approved Safety Signs or explore each category in more detail before purchasing.

SABS Safety Signs

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