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Document 01992L0058-20190726
Council Directive 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)
Consolidated text: Council Directive 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)
Council Directive 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)
01992L0058 — EN — 26.07.2019 — 003.001
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 (OJ L 245 26.8.1992, p. 23) |
Amended by:
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Official Journal |
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No |
page |
date |
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DIRECTIVE 2007/30/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 June 2007 |
L 165 |
21 |
27.6.2007 |
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DIRECTIVE 2014/27/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 February 2014 |
L 65 |
1 |
5.3.2014 |
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REGULATION (EU) 2019/1243 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 June 2019 |
L 198 |
241 |
25.7.2019 |
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/58/EEC
of 24 June 1992
on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)
SECTION I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Object
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive:
safety and/or health signs means signs referring to a specific object, activity or situation and providing information or instructions about safety and/or health at work by means of a signboard, a colour, an illuminated sign or acoustic signal, a verbal communication or a hand signal, as the case may be;
prohibition sign means a sign prohibiting behaviour likely to incur or cause danger;
warning sign means a sign giving warning of a hazard or danger;
mandatory sign means a sign prescribing specific behaviour;
emergency escape or first-aid sign means a sign giving information on emergency exits or first-aid or rescue facilities;
information sign means a sign providing information other than that referred to in (b) to (e);
signboard means a sign which provides specific information by a combination of a geometric shape, colours and a symbol or pictogram and which is rendered visible by lighting of sufficient intensity;
supplementary signboard means a signboard used together with one of the signs described under (g), which provides supplementary information;
safety colour means a colour to which a specific meaning is assigned;
Symbol or pictogram means a figure which describes a situation or prescribes specific behaviour and which is used on a signboard or illuminated surface;
illuminated sign means a sign produced by a device made of transparent or translucent materials which are illuminated from the inside or the rear in such a way as to give the appearance of a luminous surface;
acoustic signal means a coded sound signal which is released and transmitted by a device designed for that purpose, without the use of a human or artificial voice;
verbal communication means a predetermined spoken message communicated by a human or artificial voice;
hand signal a movement and/or position of the arms and/or hands, in coded form, for guiding persons who are carrying out manoeuvres which constitute a hazard or danger for workers.
SECTION II
EMPLOYERS’ OBLIGATIONS
Article 3
General rules
Employers shall take into account any risk evaluation made in accordance with Article 6 (3) (a) of Directive 89/391/EEC.
Article 4
Safety and/or health signs used for the first time
Without prejudice to Article 6, a safety and/or health sign used at work for the first time on or after the date referred to in Article 11(1) first subparagraph must fulfil the minimum requirements set out in Annexes I to IX.
Article 5
Safety and/or health signs already in use
Without prejudice to Article 6, a safety and/or health sign which was already in use at work before the date referred to in Article 11(1) first subparagraph must fulfil the minimum requirements set out in Annexes I to IX by no later than eighteen months after that date.
Article 6
Exemptions
Article 7
Information and instruction for workers
In particular, the instruction referred to in the first subparagraph shall cover the meaning of the signs, especially signs incorporating words, and the general and specific behaviour to be adopted.
Article 8
Consultation of workers and workers' participation
Consultation and participation of workers and/or their representatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC on the matters covered by this Directive, including Annexes I to IX.
SECTION III
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Article 9
Amendments to the Annexes
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 9a to make strictly technical amendments to the Annexes, in order to take account of technical harmonisation and standardisation concerning the design and manufacture of safety and/or health signs or devices at work, as well as technical progress, changes in international regulations or specifications and advances in knowledge in the field of safety and/or health signs or devices at work.
Where, in duly justified and exceptional cases involving imminent, direct and serious risks to workers’ and other persons’ physical health and safety, imperative grounds of urgency require action in a very short timeframe, the procedure provided for in Article 9b shall apply to delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article.
Article 9a
Exercise of the delegation
Article 9b
Urgency procedure
Article 10
However, in the cases referred to in Article 5, that Directive shall continue to apply for a maximum period of eighteen months following that date.
Article 11
Final provisions
They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.
▼M1 —————
Article 12
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX I
GENERAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SAFETY AND/OR HEALTH SIGNS AT WORK
1. Preliminary remarks
1.1. |
Where health and/or safety signs are required by the general rule in Article 3 of the Directive, they must conform to the specific requirements in Annexes II to IX. |
1.2. |
This Annex introduces those requirements, describes the different uses of safety and/or health signs, and gives general rules on the interchanging and combining of signs. |
1.3. |
Health and/or safety signs must be used only to convey the message or information specified in the Directive. |
2. Types of signs
2.1. Permanent signs
2.1.1. Permanent signboards must be used for signs relating to prohibitions, warnings and mandatory requirements and the location and identification of emergency escape routes and first-aid facilities.
Signboards and/or a safety colour must be used to mark permanently the location and identification of fire-fighting equipment.
2.1.2. Signboards on containers and pipes must be placed as laid down in Annex III.
2.1.3. Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles or of falling must be permanently marked with a safety colour and/or with signboards.
2.1.4. Traffic routes must be permanently marked with a safety colour.
2.2. Occasional signs
2.2.1. Illuminated signs, acoustic signals and/or verbal communication must be used where the occasion requires, taking into account the possibilities for interchanging and combining signs set out in Section 3, to signal danger, to call persons to take a specific course of action and for the emergency evacuation of persons.
2.2.2. Hand signals and/or verbal communication must be used where the occasion requires, to guide persons carrying out hazardous or dangerous manoeuvres.
3. Interchanging and combining signs
3.1. |
Any one of the following may be used if equally effective:
—
a safety colour or a signboard to mark places where there is an obstacle or a drop,
—
illuminated signs, acoustic signals or verbal communication,
—
hand signals or verbal communication.
|
3.2. |
Some types of signs may be used together:
—
illuminated signs and acoustic signals,
—
illuminated signs and verbal communication,
—
hand signals and verbal communication.
|
4. |
The instructions in the table below apply to all signs incorporating a safety colour:
|
5. |
The effectiveness of a sign must not be adversely affected by:
|
6. |
Depending on requirements, signs and signalling devices must be cleaned, maintained, checked, repaired, and if necessary replaced on a regular basis to ensure that they retain their intrinsic and/or functional qualitities. |
7. |
The number and positioning of signs or signalling devices to be installed will depend on the extent of the hazards or dangers or on the zone to be covered. |
8. |
Signs requiring some form of power must be provided with a guaranteed emergency supply in the event of a power cut, unless the hazard has thereby been eliminated. |
9. |
The triggering of an illuminated sign and/or acoustic signal indicates when the required action should start, the sign or signal must be activated for as long as the action requires. Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be reactivated immediately after use. |
10. |
Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be checked to ensure that they function correctly and that they are effective before they are put into service and subsequently at sufficiently frequent intervals. |
11. |
If the hearing or the sight of the workers concerned is impaired, including impairment caused by the wearing of personal protective equipment, measures must be taken to supplement or replace the signs concerned. |
12. |
Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant quantities of hazardous substances or mixtures must be indicated by a suitable warning sign taken from Section 3.2 of Annex II, or marked as provided in Section 1 of Annex III, unless the labelling of the individual packages or containers is adequate for this purpose. If there is no equivalent warning sign in Section 3.2 of Annex II to warn about hazardous chemical substances or mixtures, the relevant hazard pictogram, as laid down in Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ), must be used. |
ANNEX II
MINIUM GENERAL REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SIGNBOARDS
1. Intrinsic features
1.1. The shape and colours of signboards are set out in section 3, in accordance with their specific object (signboards indicating a prohibition, a warning, a mandatory action, an escape route, an emergency or fire-fighting equipment).
1.2. Pictograms must be as simple as possible and should contain only essential details.
1.3. The pictograms used may be slightly different from or more detailed than those shown in section 3, provided that they convey the same meaning and that no difference or adaptation obscures the meaning.
1.4. Signboards are to be made of shock and weather-resistant material suitable for the surrounding environment.
1.5. The dimensions and colorimetric and photometric features of signoboards must be such that they can be easily seen and understood.
2. Conditions of use
2.1. Signboards are in principle to be installed at a suitable height and in a position appropriate to the line of sight, taking account of any obstacles, either at the access point to an area in the case of a general hazard, or in the immediate vicinity of a specific hazard or object and in a well-lit and easily accessible and visible location.
Without prejudice to the provisions of Directive 89/654/EEC, phosphorescent colours, reflective materials or artificial lighting should be used where the level of natural light is poor.
2.2. The signboard must be removed when the situation to which it refers ceases to exist.
3. Signboards to be used
3.1. Prohibitory signs
Intrinsic features:
Sign to be used
No smoking
Smoking and naked flames forbidden
No access for pedestrians
Do not exinguish with water
Not drinkable
Not access for unauthorized
No access for industrial vehicles
Do not touch
3.2. Warning signs
Intrinsic features:
Flammable material or high temperature (
3
)
Explosive material
Toxic material
Corrosive material
Radioactive material
Overhead load
Industrial vehicles
Danger: electricity
►(1) M2
(
*1
)
General danger
Laser beam
Oxidant material
Non-ionizing radiation
Strong magnetic field
Obstacles
Drop (
*2
)
Biological risk
Low temperature
►M2
◄
3.3. Mandatory signs
Intrinsic features:
Eye protection must be worn
Safety helmet must be worn
Ear protection must be worn
Respiratory equipment must be worn
Safety boots must be worn
Safety gloves must be worn
Safety overalls must be worn
Face protection must be worn
Safety harness must be worn
Pedestrains must use this route
General mandatory sign
(to be accompanied where necessary by another sign)
3.4. Emergency escape or first-aid signs
Intrinsic features:
Emergency exit/escape route
This way
(supplementary information sign)
First-aid post
Stretcher
Safety shower
Eyewash
Emergency telephone for first-aid or escape
3.5. Fire-fighting signs
Intrinsic features:
Fire hose
Ladder
Fire esctinguisher
Emergency fire telephone
This way
(supplementary information sign)
ANNEX III
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SIGNS ON CONTAINERS AND PIPES
1. Containers used at work for chemical substances or mixtures classified as hazardous according to the criteria for any physical or health hazard class in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and containers used for the storage of such hazardous substances or mixtures, together with the visible pipes containing or transporting such hazardous substances and mixtures, must be labelled with the relevant hazard pictograms in accordance with that Regulation.
The first paragraph does not apply to containers used at work for brief periods nor to containers whose contents change frequently, provided that alternative adequate measures are taken, in particular for information and/or training, which guarantee the same level of protection.
The labels referred to in the first paragraph may be:
2. Signs must be mounted as follows:
3. Where appropriate, the signs referred to in section 1 of this Annex must have the intrinsic features defined in section 1.4. of Annex II and must fulfill the conditions of use for signboards laid down in section 2 of Annex II.
4. Without prejudice to sections 1,2 and 3, the labels used on pipes must be positioned visibly in the vicinity of the most dangerous points, such as valves and joint, and at reasonable intervals.
5. Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant quantities of ►M2 hazardous ◄ substances or ►M2 mixtures ◄ must be indicated by a suitable warning sign taken from section 3.2 of Annex II, or marked as provided in section 1 of Annex III, unless the labelling of the individual packages or containers is adequate for this purpose, taking into account Annex II, point 1.5 with regard to dimensions.
Stores of a number of ►M2 hazardous ◄ substances or ►M2 mixtures ◄ may be indicated by the warning sign for general danger.
The signs or labels referred to above must be positioned, as appropriate, near the storage area or on the door leading into the storage room.
ANNEX IV
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
1. Preliminary remark
This Annex applies to equipment used exclusively for fire-fighting purposes.
2. |
Fire-fighting equipment must be identified by using a specific colour for the equipment and placing a location signboard, and/or by using a specific colour for the places where such equipment is kept, or their access points. |
3. |
The colour for identifying this equipment is red. The red area must be sufficiently large to allow the equipment to be identified easily. |
4. |
The signboards provided for in section 3.5 of Annex Ii must be used to mark the locations of this equipment. |
ANNEX V
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SIGNS USED FOR OBSTACLES AND DANGEROUS LOCATIONS, AND FOR MARKING TRAFFIC ROUTES
1. Signs for obstacles and dangerous locations
1.1. Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles, of falling or of objects falling should be marked with alternating yellow and black, or red and white stripes in built-up zones in the undertaking to which workers have access during their work.
1.2. The dimensions of the markings must be commensurate with the scale of the obstacle or dangerous location in question.
1.3. The yellow and black or red and white stripes must be at an angle of approximately 45 ° and of more or less equal size.
1.4. Example:
2. Marking of traffic routes
2.1. Where the use and equipment of rooms so requires for the protection of workers, traffic routes for vehicles must be clearly identified by continous stripes in a clearly visible colour, preferably white or yellow, taking into account the colour of the ground.
2.2. The stripes must be located so as to indicate the necessary safe distance between the vehicles and any object which may be near by, and between pedestrians and vehicles.
2.3. Permanent traffic routes in built-up areas outdoors should, as far as is practicable, be similarly marked, unless they are provided with suitable barriers or pavements.
ANNEX VI
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ILLUMINATED SIGNS
1. Intrinsic features
1.1. The light emitted by a sign must produce a luminous contrast which is appropriate to its environment, in accordance with the intended conditions of use of the sign, but without producing glare for an excessive amount of light or poor visibility as a result of insufficient light.
1.2. The luminous area emitting a sign may be of a single colour or contain a pictogram on a specified background.
1.3. The single colour must correspond to the table of colours and their meanings set out in section 4 of Annex I.
1.4. Likewise, when the sign contains a pictogram, the latter must comply with all the relevant rules set out in Annex II.
2. Specific rules governing use
2.1. If a device can emit both continuous and intermittent signs, the intermittent sign should be used to indicate a higher level of danger or a more urgent need for the requested/imposed intervention or action than is indicated by the continuous sign.
The duration of each flash and the frequency of the flashers of an intermittent illuminated sign must be such as to
2.2. If a flashing sign is used instead of — or together with — an acoustic signal, identical codes must be used.
2.3. Devices for emitting flashing signs in the event of grave danger must be under special surveillance or be fitted with an auxiliary lamp.
ANNEX VII
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACOUSTIC SIGNS
1. Intrinsic features
1.1. Acoustic signals must:
have a sound level which is considerably higher than the level of ambient noise, so that it is audible without being excessive or painful;
be easily recognizable, particularly in terms of pulse length and the interval between pulses or groups of pulses, and be clearly distinct from any other acoustic signal and ambient noises.
1.2. If a device can emit an acoustic signal at variable and constant frequencies, the variable frequency should be used to indicate a higher level of danger or a more urgent need for the requested/imposed intervention or action in relation to the stable frequency.
2. Code
The signal for evacuation must be continuous.
ANNEX VIII
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR VERBAL COMMUNICATION
1. Intrinsic features
1.1. Verbal communication between a speaker or emitter and one or more hearers is to take the form of (sometimes coded) short texts, phrases, groups of words and/or individual words.
1.2. Spoken messages are to be as short, simple and clear as possible; the verbal skills of the speaker and the hearing abilities of the hearer(s) must be such as to ensure reliable verbal communication.
1.3. Verbal communication is direct (by means of the human voice) or indirect (by means of a human or artificial voice which is broadcast by whatever means is appropriate).
2. Specific rules governing use
2.1. The persons involved must have a good knowledge of the language used so that they are able to pronounce and understand the spoken message correctly and consequently behave in a way which is appropriate to health and/or safety.
2.2. If verbal communication is used instead of — or together with — gestures, code words should be used such as:
— start |
to indicate the start of a command |
||
— stop |
to interrupt or end a movement |
||
— end |
to stop the operation |
||
— raise |
to have a load raised |
||
— lower |
to have a load lowered |
||
— forwards |
|
||
— backwards |
|||
— right |
|||
— left |
|||
— danger |
for an emergency stop |
||
— quickly |
to speed up a movement for safety reasons. |
ANNEX IX
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR HAND SIGNALS
1. Features
Hand signals must be precise, simple, expansive, easy to make and to understand, and clearly distinct from other such signals.
Where both arms are used at the same time, they must be moved symmetrically and for giving one sign only.
Provided that they fulfil the conditions given above, the signals used may vary slightly from or be more detailed than those shown in section 3; they must, however, be equally meaningful and comprehensible.
2. Specific rules governing use
2.1. |
The person giving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the ‘signalman’, will use arm/hand movements to give manoeuvring instructions to the person receiving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the (operator). |
2.2. |
The signalman must be able to monitor all manoeuvres visually without being endangered thereby. |
2.3. |
The signalman’s duties must consist exclusively of directing manoeuvres and ensuring the safety of workers in the vicinity. |
2.4. |
If the conditions described in point 2.2 are not fulfilled, one or more extra singnalmen should be deployed. |
2.5. |
The operator must interrupt the ongoing manoeuvre in order to request new instructions when he is unable to carry out the orders he has received with the necessary safety guarantees. |
2.6. |
Accessories: The operator must be able to recognize the signalman without difficulty. The signalman is to wear one or more appropriate distinctive items, e.g. a jacket, helmet, sleeves or armbandds, or carry bats. The distinctive items are to be brightly coloured, preferably all of the same colour and for the exclusive use of signalmen. |
3. Coded signals to be used
Preliminary remark:
The following set of coded signals are without prejudice to other codes applicable at Community level, used for the same manoeuvres in certain sectors:
Meaning |
Description |
Illustration |
A. General signals |
||
START Attention Start of command |
both arms are extended horizontally with the palms facing forward |
|
STOP Interruption End of movement |
the right arm points upwards with the palm facing forwards |
|
END of the operation |
the right arm points upwards with the palm facing forwards |
|
B. Vertical movements |
||
RAISE |
the right arm points upwards with the palm facing forward and slowly makes a circle |
|
LOWER |
the right arm points downwards with the palm facing inwards and slowly makes a circ le |
|
VERTICAL DISTANCE |
the hands indicate the relevant distance |
|
C. Horizontal Movements |
||
MOVE FORWARDS |
both arms are bent with the palms facing upwards, and the forearms make slow movements towards the body |
|
MOVE BACKWARDS |
both arms are bent with the palms facing downwards, and the forearms make slow movements away from the body |
|
RIGHT to the signalman’s |
the right arm is extended more or less horizontally with the palm facing downwards and slowly makes small movements to the right |
|
LEFT to the signalman’s |
the left arm is extended more or less horizontally with the palm facing downwards and slowly makes small movements to the left |
|
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE |
the hands indicate the relevant distance |
|
D. Danger |
||
DANGER Emergency stop |
both arms point upwards with the palms facing forwards |
|
QUICK |
all movements faster |
|
SLOW |
all movements slower |
|
( 1 ) OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.
( 2 ) Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1).
( 3 ) In the absence of a specific sign for high temperature.
►(1) M2 ( *1 ) This warning sign shall not be used to warn about hazardous chemical substances or mixtures, except for cases when the warning sign is used in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 5 of Annex III to indicate the stores of hazardous substances or mixtures.
( *2 ) Pictogram laid down in Council Directive 90/679/EEC of 26 November 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to biological agents at work (Seventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) / OJ No L 374, 31.12.1990, p. 1.