AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE CONCERNING THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF SAFETY AND/OR HEALTH SIGNS AT WORK - 9th individual Directive within the meaning of Directive 89/391/EEC
Date: 1991-10-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: humanisation of work, occupational safety, public health, safety standard, traffic signs

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(91) 383  final  - SYN  322 

Brussels, 9  October  1991 

AMENDED PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
CONCERNING THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 
PROVISION OF SAFETY AND/OR HEALTH SIGNS AT WORK 

9th  individual  Directive within the 
meaning of Directive 89/391/EEC 

(Presented by the Commission pursuant  to Article  149(3) 
of the EEC Treaty) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

Following the opinion of the Parliament on a first reading on 10.7.1991, the 
Commission  is forwarding  to the Council  an amended proposal  for a Directive 
pursuant  to Article 149(3) of the EEC Treaty.  The amendments mainly  relate to 
four  types of provisions: 

one group of amendments  is intended to bring certain provisions  into line 
with similar provisions  in other Directives.  This  is the case for the use 
of signs  in relation to other  techniques for collective protection or 
organizational measures, as described  in Directive 89/656/EEC, possible 
exemptions, as described  in Directive 89/391/EEC and the date of entry  into 
force, which  is brought  into  line with that given  in a number of other 
individual  Directives; 

there  is a series of amendments to ensure that the wording used expresses a 
compulsory  requirement, which was not the case  in a number of the  language 
versions; 

certain useful  additions have been made to a number of provisions, and a 
small number of signboards relating to high-risk situations have been 
added ; 

finally, some of  the requirements have been defined  in greater  detail, 
though not  in excessively  technical  terms, so that  they still  remain 
minimum  requirements. 

The amended Commission  proposal  thus has broadly  the same structure and aims as 
the original  proposal, but develops certain provisions  in greater  detail. 

SAFETY AND/OR  HEALTH SIGNS 

15/7/91 

Original Commission proposal 

Amended proposal  (where no new 
wording  is given, the original 
proposal  remains unchanged 

ARTICLE 3 
General  rules 

1. The safety and/or  health signs 
laid down  in this Directive shall 
be provided where there are risks 
or dangers which have not been 
eliminated  by techniques for 
collective protection or by the 
measures, methods or procedures 
used  in the organization of work. 

1. The safety and/or  health signs 
laid down  in this Directive shall be 
provided where there are risks which 
cannot be prevented or sufficiently 
limited by techniques for collective 
protection or by the measures, 
methods or procedures used  in the 
organization of work. 

ARTICLE 7 
Exemption? 

1. Taking account of the types of 
activity and size of the 
undertakings concerned, Member 
States may specify sectors of 
activity, categories of 
undertakings or  types of 
workstation allowed a total, 
partial or  temporary exemption 
from the obligation to use 
luminous and/or acoustic signs as 
provided  for  in this Directive, 
provided  that alternative 
measures are taken which afford 
the same  level of protection. 

ARTICLE 12 
Final provisions 

1. Member  States shall bring  into 
force the  laws, regulations and 
administrative provisions 
required  to comply with this 
Directive with effect  from 1 
January  1994.  They shall 
immediately  inform the Commission 
thereof. 

ANNEX I 

Paragraph  2, points 2.1 - 2.6 

Paragraph  4 

1. Taking account of  the types of 
activity and size of  the undertakings 
concerned, Member  States may specify 
categories of undertakings allowed a 
total, partial or  temporary exemption 
from the obligation to use  luminous 
and/or acoustic signs as provided for 
in this Directive, provided  that 
alternative measures are taken which 
afford  the same  level of protection. 

1. Member States shall bring  into 
force the  laws, regulations and 
administrative provisions required to 
comply with this Directive with 
effect  from 1 January  1993.  They 
shall  immediately  inform the 
Commission thereof. 

The wording  in all  languages must 
make  it clear  that  these are 
compulsory  requirements. 

At the bottom of  the table add  in the 
appropriate three columns; 
yellow/black or  red/white 
identify perimeter of a hazard or 
hazardous area 
hazard or hazardous area 

7.  The number of signs or 
signalling devices to be 
installed will depend on the 
extent of  the risks or dangers or 
on the zone to be covered and/or 
the number of persons concerned. 

7.  The number  and positioning of the 
signs or signalling devices to be 
installed will  depend on the extent 
of the risks or dangers or on the 
zone to be covered  and/or  the number 
of persons concerned. 

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SAFETY AND/OR  HEALTH SiGNS 

15/7/91 

Original  Commission proposal 

Amended proposal  (where no new 
wording  Is riven, the original 
proposal  remains unchanged 

8. Signs requiring some form of 
power must be provided with a 
guaranteed supply. 

8. Signs requiring some form of power 
must be provided with a guaranteed 
emergency power  supply  in the event 
of power  failure. 

9. The triggering of a  luminous 
and sound sign  indicates when the 
required action should start; the 
sign must be activated  for as 
long as  it takes to complete the 
act ion. 

Luminous and acoustic signs should 
automat ica!!y reset. 

11.  If the hearing or  the sight 
of  the workers concerned  is 
impaired,  including  Impairment 
caused by  the wearing of personal 
protective equipment, measures 
must  be taken to supplement or 
replace the signs concerned. 

11.  If the hearing or  the sight of 
the workers concerned  is impaired, 
including  impairment caused by the 
wearing of personal  protective 
equipment, suitable and sufficient 
measures must be taken to supplement 
or  replace  the signs concerned. 

ANNEX  II 

1.3 The pictograms used may be 
slightly  different  from or more 
detailed  than those shown in 
paragraph  3, provided  that they 
convey  the same meaning. 

2.1  Signboards are to be 
installed at a suitable height, 
taking account of any obstacles, 
either  at the access point  to an 
area  in the case of a general 
risk, or  in the  immediate 
vicinity of a specific risk or 
object  and  in a well-lit and 
easily accessible  location. 

3. Signboards  to be used. 

1.3 The pictograms used may be 
slightly different  from or more 
detailed  than those shown in 
paragraph  3, provided  that they 
convey  the same meaning and that any 
differences or adaptations do not 
obscure the meaning. 

2.1  In principle signboards are to be 
installed at a suitable height and 
position  in relation  to the  line of 
sight, taking account of any 
obstacles, either  at the access point 
to an area  in the case of a general 
risk, or  In the  immediate vicinity of 
a specific  risk or object  and  in a 
well-lit and easily accessible 
locat ion. 

3. Definition of signboards to be 
used. 

3.2 

3.2 Add 

noise 

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SAFETY AND/OR  HEALTH SIGNS 

15/7/91 

Original  Commission proposal 

Amended  proposal  (^here no new 
wording  Is given, the original 
proposal  remains unchanged 

Add 

3.3 

3.3 Add 

fragile roof 

3.4 

3.4 Add 

general  obi igat ion 
(with supplementary  signboard) 

emergency  and  first aid 

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SAFETY AND/OR  HEALTH SIGNS 

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Original  Commission proposal 

Amended proposal  (where no new 
wording  Is given, the original 
proposal  remains unchanged 

3.5 

3.5 Add 

ANNEX V 

1.1  Places where  there  Is a risk 
of colliding with obstacles, of 
falling or of objects  falling 
should be marked with alternating 
yellow and black  stripes In 
built-up zones  in the undertaking 
to which workers have access 
dur ing their work. 

f ire 

1.1  Places to which workers have 
access during their work  and where 
there  is a risk of colliding with 
obstacles, of  falling or of objects 
falling should  be marked with 
alternating  yellow and black  stripes 
or  red and white stripes. 

I 1.3 The yellow and black stripes 
I must be at an angle of 
j approximately 45  and of more or 

less equal  size. 

1.3 The yeilow and black  stripes or 
red and white stripes must b© at an 
angle of approximately 45" and of 
more or  less equal  size. 

ANNEX VI 

1.1  The  light emitted by a sign 
must produce a  luminous contrast 
which  is appropriate  to Its 
environment,  in accordance with 
the  intended conditions of use of 
the sign, but without  producing 
glare. 

1.1  The  light emitted  by a sign must 
produce a  luminous contrast which  is 
appropriate to  its environment, in 
accordance with  the  intended 
conditions of use of  the sign, but 
without  producing giare because of 
excessive  luminance or being poorly 
visible because  the  luminance  is 
inadequate. 

2.3  (new) 

Luminous signs  indicating serious 
hazards must undergo special  checks 
or  incorporate a stand-by  lamp. 

ANNEX VII 

1.1  have a sound  level which 
considerably  higher  than the 
level of ambient noise, so that 
it  is audible without being 
excessive. 

is 

1.1  have a sound  level which  is 
considerably  higher  than the  level of 
ambient noise, so that  it  is audible 
without  being excessive or painful. 

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cA^FTY  MID/OK  HEALTH  SIGNS 

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Original  Commission  proposa 

Amended  proposal 
wording  Is given 
proposai  remains 

\m 
,  the  or l<5 in 
unchanged 

1.3 (new) 

if a device can emit both continuous 
and  Intermittent acoustic signs, the 
intermittent  sign should be used to 
Indicate a higher  level of danger or 
a more urgent need  for the 
requested/imposed  intervention or 
action  than  indicated by the 
cont inuous sign. 

Add at the bottom of  the table  In the 
appropriate columns: 

VERTICAL DISTANCE 

The hands  Indicate the distance. 

Add at  the bottom of  the table  in the 
appropriate columns 

HORIZONTAL  DISTANCE 

The hands  indicate the distance. 

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ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(91) 383 final 

DOCUMENTS 

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ISBN 92-77-75879-1 

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