Safety signs follow a STANDARDISED CODE of shapes and colours for IMMEDIATE, universal understanding (no text, whatever the language) — knowing and using them well makes signage effective. The shape and colour code: (1) PROHIBITION — barred RED circle (diagonal bar) on white. Signals what is FORBIDDEN: no smoking, no pedestrians, do not extinguish with water, no entry. Red + barred circle = "do not do". (2) MANDATORY — BLUE circle (solid) with white pictogram. Signals what is MANDATORY: wearing helmets, goggles, safety shoes, gloves, mandatory hearing protection. Blue circle = "you must do / wear". (3) WARNING / DANGER — YELLOW triangle (black border) with black pictogram. Signals DANGER, a caution: electrical risk, hazardous/toxic/flammable substances, slippery floor, fall risk, suspended loads. Yellow triangle = "caution, danger". (4) RESCUE / AID — GREEN rectangle or square (white pictogram). Locates rescue means and escape routes: emergency issues and exits, evacuation direction, assembly point, first aid, safety shower, eyewash. Green = "safety, rescue, exit". (5) FIRE / fire-fighting — RED rectangle or square (white pictogram). Locates fire-fighting means: extinguisher, alarm, fire hose reel (RIA), hose. Red (rectangular) = "fire equipment". The code's logic: COLOUR gives the message type (red prohibition/fire, blue mandatory, yellow danger, green rescue) and SHAPE reinforces it (circle for prohibition/mandatory, triangle for danger, rectangle for rescue/fire). This international coding lets you grasp a sign at a glance, without reading, in any language. How to use signage WELL: (1) RELEVANCE. Flag the PLACE's REAL risks and instructions: a "helmet wearing" sign where helmets are required, an "electrical danger" sign on an electrical cabinet, an "emergency exit" sign on the right door. Signage must match reality (a wrong or misplaced sign discredits the whole set). (2) Do not OVERLOAD. Too many signs kill the message: in a forest of signs, nothing is seen and everything ends up ignored. Flag the ESSENTIAL, where useful. Sobriety makes signage effective. (3) VISIBILITY and LEGIBILITY. Signs well placed (where information is useful, at eye level), large enough, unhidden, clean and maintained (a dirty, faded or hidden sign is useless). (4) STANDARDISATION. Use standardised signs (standard shapes/colours) — not homemade creations nobody would universally understand. (5) CONSISTENCY and UPDATES. Consistent signage across the site; remove obsolete signs, update (new zones, new risks). (6) COMPLEMENT, not substitute. A "danger" or "mandatory" sign does not remove risk: it informs. It complements real protection (act on risk first), it does not replace it. Mistakes to avoid: (1) OVERLOADED signage (illegible). (2) Non-standard signs (misunderstood). (3) Wrong, misplaced or obsolete signs (discrediting). (4) Hidden, dirty, badly placed signs (invisible). (5) Believing a sign "protects" (it only informs). In short: safety signs follow a standardised code — PROHIBITION (barred red circle), MANDATORY (blue circle), DANGER/warning (yellow triangle), RESCUE/aid (green rectangle), FIRE (red rectangle) — where colour gives the message type and shape reinforces it, for immediate, universal, text-free understanding. Use them well by flagging the place's REAL risks and instructions (relevance), without OVERLOADING (essentials only), ensuring VISIBILITY and LEGIBILITY (well placed, legible, maintained), with STANDARDISED, consistent, up-to-date signs — and remembering they INFORM and complement real protection without replacing it. Relevant, sober, legible signage effectively guides behaviour; overloaded, wrong or invisible signage is useless.

Mandatory posting covers information regulations require making visible to workers — instructions, emergency contacts, rights — but its exact content VARIES by country: check the duties applicable where you are. The principle: beyond safety signage (risk signs), the law often requires POSTING certain information at workplaces, so workers know instructions, useful contacts and their rights. This is an INFORMATION duty. Typically posted information categories (frequent examples, adapt to your country): (1) SAFETY and FIRE instructions. What to do in an emergency, fire conduct, location and use of rescue means. (2) EVACUATION PLAN and evacuation instructions. The premises plan showing emergency exits, routes, assembly points — to evacuate safely. Must be current and legible. (3) EMERGENCY NUMBERS. Numbers to call in an emergency (rescue, fire brigade, medical services) — often posted near phones and strategic points. (4) CONTACTS of players and bodies. Depending on the country: occupational physician / occupational health service, labour inspectorate (or equivalent supervisory authority), staff representative bodies (members, contacts), workplace first-aiders. (5) SMOKING BAN (and vaping) in the places concerned. (6) WORKING HOURS and working-time information. (7) Information on workers' RIGHTS and applicable texts (depending on the country: regulatory references, agreements, equality, harassment…). (8) As applicable: specific-risk information, authorisations, certificates, mandatory inspections. Why these postings: (1) INFORM workers of what to do (safety, evacuation, emergency) — vital information if trouble strikes. (2) Let them know their RIGHTS and useful CONTACTS (occupational health, representatives, inspectorate). (3) Make rules (smoking ban) and references visible. (4) Meet a REGULATORY duty (missing postings can be penalised). How to manage mandatory posting well: (1) CHECK YOUR COUNTRY's duties. Exact content, formats and arrangements vary: consult applicable regulations (labour authority, local official sources) for what is mandatory where you are. The list above is indicative, not universal. (2) Make postings VISIBLE and ACCESSIBLE: in busy places (entrances, break rooms, near workstations), legible, unhidden. (3) Keep UP TO DATE: updated evacuation plan (after any layout change), correct numbers and contacts, current information. Outdated posting (wrong number, obsolete plan) can be dangerous. (4) Often group on a dedicated posting board for clarity. (5) Distinguish MANDATORY posting (imposed) from optional internal communication. Points of attention: (1) Posting INFORMS but does not replace real measures (a posted evacuation plan does not exempt organising and practising evacuation). (2) Content VARIES widely by country — do not take a foreign list as your local reference. (3) Posting must be current to be useful and compliant. In short: mandatory posting covers regulation-imposed information at workplaces — typically SAFETY and FIRE instructions, the EVACUATION PLAN, EMERGENCY NUMBERS, CONTACTS of players (occupational physician, inspectorate/authority, staff representatives, first-aiders), the smoking ban, hours, and RIGHTS information — to inform workers of what to do, their rights and useful contacts. But exact content VARIES by country: check the duties applicable where you are (local official sources). Make these postings visible, accessible and above all CURRENT (evacuation plan, numbers, contacts) — outdated posting is useless or even dangerous. Posting informs but does not replace real measures (organising and practising evacuation, for example). ⚠️ This guide gives frequent examples, not a universal legal list: refer to your country's regulations.