1. This Directive shall apply to safety signs at places of work.2. This Directive shall not apply to:    (a) signs used in rail, road, inland waterway, marine or air transport;(b) signs laid down for the placing of dangerous substances and preparations on the market;(c) coal mines. 1. For the purposes of this Directive:    (a) system of safety signsmeans a system of signs referring to a specific object or situation and providing safety information by means of a safety colour or sign;(b) safety colourmeans a colour to which a specific safety meaning is assigned;  (1)OJ No C 178, 2.8.1976, p. 57. (2)OJ No C 278, 24.11.1976, p. 3. (3)OJ No C 13, 12.2.1974, p. 1.(c) contrasting colourmeans a colour contrasting with the safety colour and providing additional information;(d) safety signmeans a sign combining geometrical shape, colour and symbol to provide specific safety information;(e) prohibition signmeans a safety sign prohibiting behaviour likely to cause danger;(f) warning signmeans a safety sign giving warning of a hazard;(g) mandatory signmeans a safety sign prescribing a specific obligation;(h) emergency signmeans a safety sign indicating, in the event of danger, an emergency exit, the way to an emergency installation or the location of a rescue appliance;(i) information signmeans a safety sign providing safety information other than that referred to in points (e) to (h);(j) additional signmeans a safety sign used only in conjunction with one of the safety signs referred to in points (e) to (h) and providing additional information;(k) symbolmeans a pictural representation, describing a specific situation, used on one of the safety signs referred to in points (e) to (h).2. The meaning and use of safety and contrast colours and the shape, design and meaning of safety signs shall be as defined in Annex I. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that:    - safety signs at all places of work conform to the principles laid down in Annex I,- only those safety signs defined in Annex II are used to indicate the dangerous situations and to provide the information specified in that Annex;- road traffic signs in force are used to regulate internal works traffic. Any amendments required to adapt Annex I, points 2 to 6, and Annex II to technical progress and to future developments in international methods regarding signs shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 6. 1. A Committee of Representatives of the Member States, with a Commission representative as chairman, is hereby set up.2. The Committee shall establish its rules of procedure. 1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is invoked, the matter shall be referred to the Committee by its chairman, either on his own initiative or at the request of a representative of a Member State.2. The Commission representative shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall give its opinion on the draft within the time laid down by the chairman, having regard to the urgency of the matter. Decisions shall be taken by a majority of 41 votes, the votes of the Member States being weighted as laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty. The chairman shall not vote.3.    (a) Proposed measures which are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee shall be taken by the Commission.(b) Where the proposed measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall forthwith submit to the Council a proposal on the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.(c) If the Council has not acted within three months of receiving the proposal, the  proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission. 1. Member States shall adopt and publish by 1 January 1979 the measures necessary to comply with this Directive and shall inform the Commission immediately thereof. They shall apply these measures from 1 January 1981 at the latest.2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of any national provisions which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Output: Council Directive on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the provision of safety signs at places of work