In most places such as construction sites or buildings being constructed, one would come across construction signs. Such internationally recognised signs signal messages of what kind of work is going on, how things would progress or what to do in case of an emergency situation. These signs are made in such a manner that everyone regardless of what language they speak, are able to derive the meaning without any difficulty. Some common signs such as building under construction, do not enter, men at work, help one to grasp the kind of work going on and what to do avert danger.
Why do we need such signs?
- These signs are universally accepted and adhere to international standards.
- These signs show the status of work to an individual who might not be native to a specific country. So, these signs do not require a person to know a language. The signs are signal enough of the message it has to convey to an individual.
- The use of construction signs help prevent potential hazards, restrict access to certain places or to make sure for workers employed in construction sites to wear protective equipments during work and in case of an emergency.
- Laws have standardised these signs and symbols so that they are recognised by all nations that are a part of the European Union.
- The law has prescribed the shape, colour, and the graphical symbol to be used in these signs.
- These symbols have been tried and tested across all European Union nations to make sure that the symbols used were easily comprehensible and readable.
- These signs also help people with poor eyesight, reading problems and other disabilities.
- The concept of workers safety has recently also emerged as an integral part of human rights. This is seen as a solution to ensure their safety and helps them to understand if and when a danger like situation arises and how to avoid them.
Laws have made it mandatory for construction signs to be used outside places that are either in the process of construction or being renovated. Even the workers are aware of the work going on and get to understand the status of their work. The signs also warn construction employees or anyone else of potential risks and instruct employees of the measures to be undertaken in times of an emergency or a situation where an emergency is most likely to occur. Even under normal circumstances, one must always be prepared for an emergency. Afterall, prevention is better than cure. The stress on placing construction signs outside buildings is one that must be appreciated. These signs signal passersby on the status of the work such that they can take precautions too to avoid going inside or hovering around the property under construction. For construction workers, these signs make it much easier for them to work and coordinate with each other. This helps under circumstances where portions of a building or property are being managed by different workers.