Directive 92/58/EEC
European Union directive
TitleCOUNCIL 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)
Made byCouncil
Journal referenceL 245, 26 August 1992, pp. 23–42
History
Date made24 June 1992
Came into force22 July 1992
Other legislation
ReplacesDirective 77/576/EEC
Amended byRegulation (EU) 2019/1243
Current legislation
An exit sign designed in accordance with the Directive

The Directive 92/58/EEC specifies the minimum requirements for safety signs within the European Union.[1] It superseded the Directive 77/576/EEC.[1] While not being replaced by the standard ISO 7010, both signage systems can be used.[2] This directive does not apply to signage used for controlling roadway, railway, waterway or air transportation.[1]

Structure

Directive 92/58/EEC consists of 3 sections, 12 articles and 9 annexes.[1] Section one simply defines the function of the directive, as well as provide definitions. Section 2 specifies that employers are required to post safety/health signs, whenever a hazard can't be eliminated.[1] It also provides guidance to member states regarding adoption of the directive in their laws and the implementation of the law. Signs already in use had to be brought up to Directive 92/58/EEC standards within 18 months after 24 June 1994. Signs posted on or after 24 June 1994 were required to comply with the directive when posted.[1] Section 3 contained the effective date for the directive, repealed the older Directive 77/576, and reporting obligations of member states to the European Commission.[1]

Annexes

The nine annexes of the directive layout the actual designs and requirements of signs regulated by the directive.[1]

Annex I

Annex I, General Minimum Requirements Concerning Safety And/Or Health Signs At Work, lays out the types of signs, the colors used on signs, and the implementation/installation of signs.[1]

ColourPurposeExamples
RedProhibited signRestriction of dangerous or undesirable behaviours or objects
Danger alarmStop, shutdown, evacuate, identification and location of emergency stop switches
Fire-fighting equipmentIdentification and location of fire-fighting equipment
Yellow/amberWarning signIdentification of hazards
BlueMandatory signrequiring a specific behaviour or action, wearing personal protective equipment
GreenEmergency escape, first aid signlocation and identification of doors, exits, evacuation routes, equipment and facilities
No dangerReturn to normal working

Annex II (Signboards)

Annex II, Minimum General Requirements Concerning Signboards, spells out the designs of symbols used in the directive. While specific symbol designs are provided, pictograms are permitted to vary so long as the variation in design does not reduce the symbol's effectiveness at conveying its meaning.[1]

The directive contains five categories of signs, as shown below:[1]

Prohibitory signs

Warning signs

Mandatory signs

Emergency escape or first-aid signs

Fire-fighting signs

Annex III

Annex III, Minimum Requirements Governing Signs on Containers and Pipes', lays out specific requirements for labeling of pieping systems and storage containers containing dangerous substances defined by Directives 67/548 and 88/379.

Annex IV

Annex IV, Minimum Requirements for the identification and location of fire-fighting equipment, is specific to fire-fighting equipment, specifying that red should be used to mark the equipment and its storage location, to supplement the fire-fighting signage provided in Annex III.

Annex V

Black and yellow hazard stripes defined by Annex V.

Annex V, Minimum Requirements Governing Signs Used For Obstacles and Dangerous Locations, and Marking Traffic Routes, lays out the use of colored stripes for marking obstacles and identifying of traffic routes in work places.[1]

Annex VI

Annex VI, Minimum Requirements for Illuminated Signs, sets standards for the use of illuminated signage, the incorporation of colors and pictograms, as defined in Annex I and II and usage with acoustic signals.[1]

Annex VII

Annex VII, Minimum requirements for Acoustic Signs, sets requirements for sound signals, such as horns, sirens, alarm bells.[1]

Annex VIII

Annex VIII, Minimum requirements for Verbal Communication, sets requirements for communications using words, and defines specific code words.[1]

Code wordMeaning
StartTo indicate the start of a command
StopTo interrupt or end a movement
EndTo stop the operation
RaiseTo have a load raised
LowerTo have a load lowered
ForwardsTo be coordinated with the corresponding hand signals
Backwards
Right
Left
DangerFor an emergency stop
QuicklyTo speed up a movement for safety reasons

Annex IX

Annex IX, Minimum Requirements for Hand Signals, describes specific hand signals and the requirements of a "signalman", the person giving the hand signs.[1]

MeaningDescriptionIllustration
A. General Signals
Start.
Attention.
Start of command.		Both arms extended horizontally with the palms facing forward.
Stop.
Interruption.
End of movement.		The right arm points upward with the palm facing forwards.
End
of the operation.		Both hands are clasped at chest height.
B. Vertical Movements
RaiseThe right arm points skywards with the palm facing forward and slowly makes a circle.
LowerThe right arm points downwards with the palm facing inwards and slowly makes a circle.
Vertical DistanceThe 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.		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.		The left arm is extended more or less horizontally with the palm facing downwards and slowly makes small movements to the left.
Horizontal DistanceThe hands indicate the relevant distance
D. Danger
Danger.
Emergency stop.		Both arms point upwards with the palms facing forwards.
QuickMake all movements faster—
SlowMake all movements slower—

Implementation in member states

European member states adopted the directive in the following legal acts in their nation.

  • Austria: Kennzeichnungsverordnung[4]
  • Belgium:
  • Denmark:
  • France: Arrêté du 4 novembre 1993 relatif à la signalisation de sécurité et de santé au travail[5]
  • Germany: Arbeitsstättenverordnung,[6] specified by Technische Regel für Arbeitsstätten ASR A1.3[7]
  • Greece:
  • Hungry: 2/1998. (I. 16.) MüM rendelet a munkahelyen alkalmazandó biztonsági és egészségvédelmi jelzésekről [8]
  • Ireland: Safety, Health and Welfare At Work (Signs) Regulations, 1995[9]
  • Italy: Decreto Legislativo 14 agosto 1996 , n. 493,[10] replaced by Decreto Legislativo 9 aprile 2008, n. 81[11]
  • Netherlands: Arbeidsomstandighedenregeling
  • Portugal:
  • Spain: Real Decreto n° 485/97 [12]
  • United Kingdom: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996[13]

See also

  • ISO 3864 - ISO standard for safety sign design
  • ISO 7010 - ISO standard for safety symbols

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "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)". Official Journal of the European Communities. 35: 23–42. 26 August 1992. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Non-binding guidelines regarding Directive 92/58/EEC : safety and/or health signs at work (European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion ed.). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. November 2022. ISBN 978-92-76-43370-5. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Directive 2014/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 amending Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC, 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, in order to align them to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures". Official Journal of the European Union. 57: 1–7. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2023. (a) warning sign 'Harmful or irritant material' is deleted.
  4. ↑ Republic of Austria (11 April 1997). "Kennzeichnungsverordnung" (PDF). ris.bka.gv.at (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Légifrance (19 January 2014). "Arrêté du 4 novembre 1993 relatif à la signalisation de sécurité et de santé au travail". legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). French government. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Verordnung über Arbeitsstätten". gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "ASR A1.3 Sicherheits- und Gesundheitsschutzkennzeichnung". Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin. 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Magyar Közlöny (2 ed.). Budapest, Hungary: Government of Hungary. 1998-01-16. pp. 174–192. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Government of Ireland (1995). "S.I. No. 132/1995 - Safety, Health and Welfare At Work (Signs) Regulations, 1995". irishstatutebook.ie. Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 14 agosto 1996, n. 493 - Attuazione della direttiva 92/58/CEE concernente le prescrizioni minime per la segnaletica di sicurezza e/o di salute sul luogo di lavoro". normattiva.it. 14 August 1996. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 9 aprile 2008, n. 81 - Attuazione dell'articolo 1 della legge 3 agosto 2007, n. 123, in materia di tutela della salute e della sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro". normattiva.it. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "Real Decreto 485/1997, de 14 de abril, sobre disposiciones mínimas en materia de señalización de seguridad y salud en el trabajo". boe.es. 14 April 1997. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996". legislation.gov.uk. 1996. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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