Imperative

Mandatory Signs: What Does the Blue Circle Mean?

Mandatory safety signs state an action that must be carried out. They show a white pictogram inside a blue circle and carry a clear “you must do this” message. Construction sites, production plants, laboratories, areas with mechanical or chemical processes and workplaces that receive visitors are where they are used most.

Which Mandatory Signs Are Included?

• Personal protective equipment: hard hat, hair net, bump cap, goggles, face shield, welding mask, ear plugs, ear defenders, dust mask, breathing apparatus, gloves, safety footwear, overshoes, coveralls, apron, hi-vis vest, life jacket and safety harness.
• Hygiene: wash your hands, disinfect your hands, hygiene mask, hair and beard net.
• Order and behaviour: keep walkways clear, close the door, put rubbish in the bin, return hand tools, use the handrail.
• Machinery and equipment: keep machine guards in place, keep the circular saw guard fitted, keep locked, secure gas cylinders, lubricate, read the operating instructions.
• Electrical and environment: earthing, earthing wrist strap, ventilate, gas detector, sound your horn and the general mandatory action sign.

Where to Place Them

Place a mandatory sign where people see it before they act: PPE signs at the area entrance, hygiene signs at sinks and production doors, machine signs directly on the workbench. The sign should be unobstructed, well lit and at a suitable height for the line of sight. Turkish Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 and the Health and Safety Signs Regulation require such signs wherever the risk assessment shows risks that cannot be removed.

Materials and Sizes

Symbol signs are made in six square sizes from 10×10 cm to 60×60 cm. Choose 1 mm galvanized steel outdoors, 3 mm PVC foam board (dekota) indoors and vinyl stickers for machines and doors. Ilgi Trafik makes all its signs in its own factory; for text-based mandatory signs, also see the Personal Protective Equipment category.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a mandatory sign and a warning sign? A warning sign (yellow triangle) only signals the hazard; a mandatory sign (blue circle) tells people what to do about it.

What is the general mandatory action sign for? The blue circle with an exclamation mark is used together with a supplementary text panel for compulsory instructions that have no specific pictogram.