Whether you’re in construction as a newcomer to the market or a seasoned professional, you may ask yourself,

“Is spending money on site safety signage really worth it?”  🤔

Marketing and branding issues aside – failing to provide even basic safety signage could result in a significant cost to your business.

Your Obligations

As a site owner/manager, you’re obliged to make sure your site safety signage is present and compliant. Many factors can come into play, which govern the style, size and type of site signage required on your site:

• what you do,
• how you (or your employees) need to do it,
• what protective equipment is needed and
• the legal requirements that your site must meet to convey these messages appropriately.

No one wants to see an employee or visitor hurt on site or worse, permanently disabled or even killed. There is a legal requirement to ensure that you provide the safest workplace that you possibly can. The primary importance of displaying safety signs is to:

• Prevent injury
• Ensure staff and visitors are well aware of the possible dangers and hazards ahead in certain situations and/or environments.
• Without signs, many employees would lack the necessary direction in times of crisis, and employers might find themselves in significant legal difficulties if any accidents were to arise as a result.

The Consequences

Accidents can and do happen, but if you’re questioning if you really need that safety sign, the answer is always a resounding YES. If you’re wondering what the risks are, here are a few points to consider. Failure to provide adequate safety signage can result in:

• On the spot fines
• Notices to appear in Court
• Fines ranging in cost from $50,000 to $3 million
• Possible jail time of up to 5 years.
• Emotional and psychological trauma of all parties involved

It’s certainly not worth the risk – especially when lives are at stake. By equipping your worksite with relevant safety signage, you can help alert your staff and on-site visitors to possible hazards. End result: fewer industrial accidents and reduced risk to employees and passers-by.

So what do I need?

Professional signage companies like SiteSmART are thoroughly versed in current WHS requirements for safety signage. Enlisting our help is one way to protect yourself, your business, and most importantly, your employees and the public from potential harm. We can advise you on a custom package to meet all your compliance obligations for your specific site and industry.

Safe workplaces benefit everyone involved. For a relatively small investment, you can have peace of mind that you have executed your duty of care. That’s is always worth the cost.