Directive 92/58/EEC explained

Number:92/58/EEC
Type:Directive
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)
Madeby:Council
Ojrefurl:https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:1992:245:TOC
Ojref:L 245, 26 August 1992, pp. 23–42
Made:24 June 1992
Commenced:22 July 1992
Replaces:Directive 77/576/EEC
Amendedby:
  • Regulation (EU) 2019/1243
  • Directive 2014/27
Status:amended

The Directive 92/58/EEC specifies the minimum requirements for safety signs within the European Union.[1] It superseded the Directive 77/576/EEC. 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. 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were required to comply with the directive when posted.[1] Section 3 contained the effective date for the directive, repealed the older Directive 77/576, and reporting obligations of member states to the European Commission.[1]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]

Colour Purpose Examples
Red Prohibited sign Restriction of dangerous or undesirable behaviours or objects
Danger alarm Stop, shutdown, evacuate, identification and location of emergency stop switches
Fire-fighting equipment Identification and location of fire-fighting equipment
Yellow/amber Warning sign Identification of hazards
Blue Mandatory sign requiring a specific behaviour or action, wearing personal protective equipment
Green Emergency escape, first aid sign location and identification of doors, exits, evacuation routes, equipment and facilities
No danger Return 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]

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

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 word Meaning
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 To be coordinated with the corresponding hand signals
Backwards
Right
Left
Danger For an emergency stop
Quickly To 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]

Meaning Description Illustration
A. General Signals
Start.
Attention.
Start of command.
Both arms extended horizontally with the palms facing forward. style=text-align:center
Stop.
Interruption.
End of movement.
The right arm points upward with the palm facing forwards. style=text-align:center
End
of the operation.
Both hands are clasped at chest height. style=text-align:center
B. Vertical Movements
Raise The right arm points skywards with the palm facing forward and slowly makes a circle. style=text-align:center
Lower The right arm points downwards with the palm facing inwards and slowly makes a circle. style=text-align:center
Vertical Distance The hands indicate the relevant distance. style=text-align:center
C. Horizontal Movements
Move forwards. Both arms are bent with the palms facing upwards, and the forearms make slow movements towards the body. style=text-align:center
Move backwards. Both arms are bent with the palms facing downwards, and the forearms make slow movements away from the body. style=text-align:center
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. style=text-align:center
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. style=text-align:center
Horizontal Distance The hands indicate the relevant distance style=text-align:center
D. Danger
Danger.
Emergency stop.
Both arms point upwards with the palms facing forwards. style=text-align:center
Quick Make all movements faster
Slow Make all movements slower

Implementation in member states

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

Similar implementations in non-member states

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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 . 26 August 1992 . 35 . 23–42 . 22 August 2023.
  2. Book: Non-binding guidelines regarding Directive 92/58/EEC : safety and/or health signs at work . November 2022 . Publications Office of the European Union . Luxembourg . 978-92-76-43370-5 . European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion . 22 August 2023 . en.
  3. Web site: Republic of Austria . Kennzeichnungsverordnung . ris.bka.gv.at . 1 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306052313/https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblPdf/1997_101_2/1997_101_2.pdf . 6 March 2023 . German . 11 April 1997.
  4. Web site: Arrêté royal du 17 juin 1997 .
  5. Web site: РД-07/8 от 20 декември 2008 г .
  6. Web site: NN 29/2005 .
  7. Web site: Σημανσης Ασφαλειας Και Υγειας Στους Χωρους Εργασιας 2012 .
  8. Web site: Č 11/2002 Sb. .
  9. Web site: Č 375/2017 Sb. .
  10. Web site: BEK nr 1246 af 11/12/2009 .
  11. Web site: Vastu võetud 30.11.1999 nr 75 .
  12. Web site: 687/2015 .
  13. Web site: Légifrance . Légifrance . Arrêté du 4 novembre 1993 relatif à la signalisation de sécurité et de santé au travail . legifrance.gouv.fr . . 1 September 2023 . French . 19 January 2014.
  14. Web site: Verordnung über Arbeitsstätten . 1 September 2023 . gesetze-im-internet.de.
  15. Web site: 2022 . ASR A1.3 Sicherheits- und Gesundheitsschutzkennzeichnung . 1 September 2023 . Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin.
  16. Web site: Π.Δ. 105/1995 .
  17. Book: Magyar Közlöny . 1998-01-16 . Government of Hungary . Budapest, Hungary . 174–192 . 2 . 29 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Government of Ireland . S.I. No. 132/1995 - Safety, Health and Welfare At Work (Signs) Regulations, 1995. irishstatutebook.ie . Government of Ireland . 1 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230901052259/https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1995/si/132 . 1 September 2023 . English . 1995 . Government of Ireland .
  19. Web site: 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. . 14 August 1996 . 29 October 2023 . normattiva.it.
  20. Web site: 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. . 9 April 2008 . 29 October 2023 . normattiva.it.
  21. Web site: Rīgā 2002.gada 3.septembrī prot. Nr.37 17.§ .
  22. Web site: 1999 m. lapkričio 24 d. Nr. 95 Vilnius .
  23. Web site: S.L.424.16 2002 .
  24. Web site: Arbeidsomstandighedenregeling .
  25. Web site: Portaria n.º 1456-A 1995, de 11 de dezembro .
  26. Web site: Hotararea de Guvern 971 din 2006 .
  27. Web site: Real Decreto 485/1997, de 14 de abril, sobre disposiciones mínimas en materia de señalización de seguridad y salud en el trabajo. . 14 April 1997 . 29 October 2023 . boe.es.
  28. Web site: 1996 . The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 . 29 August 2023 . legislation.gov.uk.