Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje – SENA

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Colour Codes

Names: ___________________________________

Date: ____________________________________

Safety Signs, Symbols and Colour Codes

Colours and symbols appropriately used can provide present information and warnings of hazards
which are essential to safety at work, and in some instances may be independent of language

Safety Signs must be located where there is significant risk to health and safety that has not been
avoided or controlled by other means (e.g. safe systems of work) provided that the use of a sign
can help reduce the risk. All workplaces and activities where people are employed are covered
(with exceptions relating to the transport and supply & marketing of dangerous substances,
products and equipment). They also require, where necessary, the use of road traffic signs in
workplaces to regulate road traffic. Employers must also ensure that all employees receive
appropriate information, instruction and training regarding safety signs. Although most signs are
self-explanatory, some employees (particularly young or new workers) may be unfamiliar with the
signs used.

SO WHAT IS A SAFETY SIGN?

A safety and/or health sign is ‘information or instruction about health and safety at work on a
signboard, a colour, an illuminated sign or acoustic signal, a verbal communication or hand signal.’
These terms are all detailed in guidance to the regulations.

A signboard is a combination of shape, colour and symbol or pictogram made visible by adequate
lighting and which may have supplementary text.

Activity n°1: Look up the following word in the dictionary. You can use www.wordreference.com

a). Danger: _________________ i). Mandatory: __________________

b). Shutdown: _______________
c). devices: __________________
d). edging: ___________________
e). shape: ___________________
f). background: _________________
g). Sign: _____________________
h). warning: __________________
j). specific behavior: ______________
k). Personal protective equipment:
_____________________________________
l). Emergency escape: ___________________
m). First aid: ____________________
n). Fire fighting equipment:
___________________
 Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje – SENA
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REGIONAL DISTRITO CAPITAL Versión 2.0

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Colour Codes

Activity 2: Put the following boxes in the appropriate space

Colour Meaning or Instruction & Intrinsic Example

Purpose Information Features

RED

YELLOW or
AMBER

BLUE

GREEN

RED
(fire-fighting
signs)
 Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje – SENA
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Meaning or purpose

Emergency escape; Prohibition/Danger Fire fighting

Mandatory
first aid. No danger alarm equipment

Warning

Instruction and Information

Dangerous behaviour; stop; Specific behaviour or Be careful;

Identification &
shutdown; emergency cut- action e.g. wear take
location
out devices; evacuate personal protective precautions;
equipment examine

Doors; exits; escape routes

equipment and facilities
Return to normal

Intrinsic Features

Rectangular or square shape; white Triangular shape; black pictogram on

pictogram on red background; red yellow background with black edging;
part to be at least 50% of the area yellow part to be at least 50% of the
of the sign area of the sign

Rectangular or square shape; white Round shape; black pictogram on

pictogram on green background; white background; red edging and
green part to be at least 50% of the diagonal line; red part to be at least
area of the sign 35% of the area of the sign
 Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje – SENA
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REGIONAL DISTRITO CAPITAL Versión 2.0

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Colour Codes

Round shape; white pictogram

on blue background; blue part
to be at least 50% of the area
Examples
of the sign