Should a business have special signs to warn visitors of hazards?
There is no specific legal requirement to have warning signs for visitors but workplaces must take all practicable steps to ensure:
(1) that hazards in a place of work don't harm customers,
(2) that hazards in a place of work don't harm people in the vicinity,
(3) that the work activities of employees and self-employed people don't harm any other person.
Signs can sometimes be useful to help meet these duties, but it is more important to manage the hazards and work activities to prevent harm to visitors. Any signs used should be relevant to the hazards and work activities taking place.
Appropriate signs can inform visitors of particular hazards (e.g, hazardous substances, or x-rays), or that protective clothing and equipment (e.g. hard hats, earmuffs) must be worn.
Signs warning visitors that entry to particular areas is restricted to authorised persons may also contribute to security.
Signs that simply say things like "warning - hazardous area" are generally unhelpful because they don't convey any useful information to visitors.
Date Modified: Tuesday, September 01, 2009
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and should not be used as a substitute for legislation or legal advice. State sector employers
and employees may be affected by some differences in the laws that apply to them (e.g. State
Sector Act 1988). The Department of Labour takes no responsibility for the results of any actions taken
on the basis of information on this website, nor for any errors or omissions.
