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5 Design of shipboard safety signs
Shipboard safety signing and associated systems and notices shall communicate the intended safety information by the use of one or more of the following elements. Designers shall combine these elements to give the essential details of the specific safety message needed according to the type of safety sign required.
5.1 Assignment of meaning to the safety sign for which the graphical symbol is to be designed
The graphical symbol or symbols used on a safety sign shall be used to convey only one safety message, in accordance with BS 5499-1, as follows:
a) a prohibition sign shall show only what or who is forbidden
b) a mandatory sign shall show only what action is required
c) a hazard sign shall show only the nature of the potential harm
d) a safe condition sign shall show only the safety action or the location of the safety equipment or the safety facility
e) a fire equipment sign shall show only the location of the fire equipment or the type of fire equipment or how it should be used
The safety sign for which the new graphical symbol is being designed shall be assigned a meaning and a function, and the image content of the graphical symbol shall be decided, including identification of the critical details (see Figure 1).
(NOTE: The assigned meaning and function should be unambiguous)
Figure ? ― Example of assignment of meaning to a safety sign
| Meaning − |
No smoking. |
| Function − |
To prohibit the smoking of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc. |
| Image content − |
Cigarette shown in profile with smoke. Critical details are cigarette end and smoke plume. |
5.2 Colour and geometric shape
The colours and geometric shapes and their assigned safety meaning to be used for shipboard safety signs shall be as given in Figure 1.
Shipboard safety signs, markers and notices shall be designed using the safety colours and the specific safety meaning as given and specified in ISO 3864 Part 1 2002. (All safety signs shall be designed according ISO 17631:2002, ISO 3864-1:2001 and IMO MSC/Circ. 760(18) as appropriate).
Shipboard safety signs and markers shall be designed using the geometric shapes and their assigned meanings as specified in ISO 3864 Part 1 2002.
Geometric shapes, safety colours and contrast colours for safety signs
| Geometric shape |
Meaning |
Safety colour |
Contrast colour |
Graphical symbol colour |
Examples of use |
| A circle
|
Prohibition |
Red |
White |
Black |
|
| A circle
|
Mandatory action |
Blue |
White |
White |
|
| An equilateral triangle with radiused outer
corners
|
Hazard |
Yellow |
Black |
Black |
|
A rectangle
(square or oblong)
|
Safe condition Escape route Safety equipment |
Green |
White |
White |
|
A rectangle
(square or oblong)
|
Fire equipment |
Red |
White |
White |
|
|
Figure ?
5.3 Colour area of the safety sign
The safety colour shall represent no less than the areas of the safety sign as required in ISO 3864 Part 1 except for the application requirement of certain shipboard safety signs for the incorporation of explanatory text within the geometric shape, the area for which shall be considered as that of the safety colour.
5.4 Colour of explanatory text
Explanatory text shall be in the safety colour against the safety contrast colour as an enclosure as shown in figure ?.
5.5 Graphical symbols
Prior to designing new graphical symbols, designers shall search existing sources for the intended meaning.
5.5.1 Shipboard safety signs that are intended to communicate specific safety messages to passengers and crew that are usually found in public areas or workplaces shall use the graphical symbols for these specific safety meanings from ISO 7010 2003.
5.5.2 Shipboard safety signs that are required to convey specific safety meanings on board ship are given in Part 2 of this Standard. Designers are encouraged to seek standardization of shipboard safety signs into Part 2 of this standard and submit to ISO/TC 145 SC2 for inclusion in ISO 7010 if they may have a more general use in other contexts as well as on board ships and marine installations.
5.5.3 Graphical symbols for specific safety messages that are not currently published in either ISO 7010 nor in Part 2 of this Standard shall be designed and submitted to ISO/TC 8 SC1 prior to use. The application form for standardization is given in Annex 1. The design templates for graphical symbols is given in the Appendix.
5.5.4 Graphical symbols shall be designed to be simple and understandable and style shall be used only to create better understanding. Designers seeking graphical symbols for the communication of safety messages to passengers and without the use of supplementary text shall evaluate the comprehension, legibility and recognition by audience test. Where appropriate, and for standardization in ISO 7010, then ISO 9186 2000 shall be used to evaluate comprehension.
5.5.5 Graphical symbols appearing on safety instructions, notices and plans shall be the same as appear on the safety sign except those graphical symbols specifically for the use of specialist, trained crew members or professional fire fighters and safety or medical personnel. Designers shall propose graphical symbols that can be sized appropriately to ensure legibility is maintained for the safety sign at the required observation distance.
5.5.6 Design of the graphical symbol and creation of the graphical symbol original
General
NOTE 1: The design of a graphical symbol should:
a) be simple in order to facilitate comprehension and reproduction
b) be readily associated with its intended meaning
c) be easily distinguishable from other graphical symbols
d) contain only those details that contribute to understanding
The graphical symbol original shall be created in accordance with 7.2 to 7.7.
NOTE 2: The additional design guidelines given in annexes A and B should also be follows:
5.5.7 Graphical symbol original
The graphical symbol original shall be created within the template specified for the particular type of safety sign in Clause 8.
The graphical symbol original shall be as large as possible within the template, but shall not extend into the exclusion band of the safety sign as indicated on the template.
5.6 Line thickness
Any lines used in a graphical symbol original shall be a minimum of 1 mm thick (see Figure ?
Figure ? ― Example of the use of line thickness in a graphical symbol original
| Meaning − |
Beware slippery surface |
| Function − |
To warn of a hazard from slippery floor surfaces |
| Image content − |
Human figure slipping on floor surface, represented by a line. Critical details are human figure and floor line. |
5.7 Combination of graphical symbols or graphical symbol elements
If two or more graphical symbols or graphical symbol elements are combined to form a new graphical symbol, the meaning assigned to the new graphical symbol shall be consistent with the meanings of the individual graphical symbols or graphical symbol elements used, see Figure ?.
NOTE 1: The new graphical symbol should consist of as few component elements as possible and the meaning should be unambiguous.
NOTE 2: Examples of the combination of graphical symbols to form a new graphical symbol are graphical symbols which include a determinant, see Figure ?.
Safety signs in which two or more graphical symbols or graphical symbol elements have been combined to produce a new graphical symbol shall be considered as new safety signs.
Figure ?
| Meaning − |
Location of first aid eyewash/location of emergency eyewash. |
| Function − |
To indicate the location of an eyewash facility for use for first aid and in emergencies. |
| Image content − |
Spray of droplets towards an eye with determinant (cross) at the top right hand side. Critical details are determinant (cross), eye and droplet spray. |
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