When it comes to the food production industry, hygiene and health and safety are the number one priority. The warehouses and factories where the food is produced, handled, packaged and prepared for shipping to people across the UK and beyond – need a variety of signage in order to operate effectively. Employees, visitors and subcontractors accessing the manufacturing base need to ensure they are focused and clean at all times.

Health and safety signage, wayfinding and directional signage and lean manufacturing signage are some of the very effective tools you can use to make sure all your activities run seamlessly and efficiently. Food producers must ensure that their signage is up to date and also looked after, as it can be a source of contamination if it is not managed currently.

Over the years Hardy Signs have become the preferred supplier for many food and beverage companies. From Müller to Nestle and KP Snacks, we have provided potentially thousands of lean manufacturing signs to make sure their production runs smoothly, efficiently and hygienically. All signs strictly follow standard branding guidelines – for example, KP Snacks will always have their logo in the top left-hand corner. 

Our creative team is always up to date with the latest brand guidelines and proofs all the designs with the customers several times to maximise efficiency in printing.

>> Health and Safety Signage:

Health and safety in this industry must be taken extremely seriously. Signage may help an employee to avoid an accident or contaminate the food or beverages.

Health and safety signage in factories are required by law. All employers must provide safety signs if there is a significant risk that can’t be avoided or controlled in any other way; such as through safe systems of work or engineering controls. These types of signs are colour coded; red means prohibited.

Prohibition signs 

Instruct, inform, advise staff and visitors in any action which is specifically prohibited.

They convey “Do Not” commands to indicate the action is not allowed or where a particular material reacts dangerously with water and/or water should not be used to extinguish a fire.

Health-&-Safety-Signage---Prohibited-Signage
Signs prohibiting an activity, consist of a circular red band and single diagonal crossbar descending from left to right at an angle of 45 degrees. The background should be white with the pictogram indicating the nature of the command in black.

Hazard signs

Yellow means warning; they are put in place to warn visitors and employees of nearby danger.

Instruct, advise, forewarn staff and visitors of potential dangers arising around the workplace. Meaning; there is a risk of danger, warning or caution.

For example, (below): Warning employees of hot water to prevent burning themselves or warning visitors or contractors for work being done above ground level. By legislation, they need to wear a helmet or walk at their own risk.

Hazard-Signs---Health-&-Safety
Signs warning of a particular hazard consist of a black band in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The background within the band should be yellow with the pictogram indicating the type of hazard in black positioned centrally on the sign.

Mandatory signage

Blue is used when designing mandatory signage.

These signs instruct, advise and inform staff and visitors of an action that must be carried out to secure a safe working environment. This means that you must carry out actions given by these signs.

For example, common mandatory signage at the moment are those instructing hand washing and wearing face masks. They go in line with the government guidelines.

Mandatory-Signage---Health-&-Safety
Signs indicating mandatory requirements consist of a blue circle with the pictogram or text in white positioned centrally.

Safe condition signage.

Green is used to provide information to the audience to highlight safety.

It is used to indicate emergency exits, escape routes, first aid equipment, emergency stop buttons/showers, etc.

Below are two examples of safe condition signage that we have provided for our customers.

Emergency-Signage---Hardy-Signs
Safe condition signs consist of a green rectangle or square with the pictogram or text in white positioned centrally.

>> COVID-19 Signage:

COVID-19 and government guidelines have influenced how manufacturing companies run. Whether that is split shifts to keep the workshop floor socially distanced or requiring staff members to wear masks. We can provide a wide variety of signage to keep everybody safe at all times.

Floor graphics are an efficient solution for ensuring social distancing. Hardy Signs also provides external floor graphics, that are high quality and long-lasting.

Hand sanitiser stations should be clearly signposted, to ensure that staff are aware of the closest hand washing stations at all times.

LCD Hand Sanitiser Displays are innovative digital signage that has integrated handwashing with digital. This product has proven to increase engagement and sales.

Visitor and contractor management solutions provide clocking in and out of work whilst keeping cleanliness intact at all times. Through our digital system, you can send crucial information to your visitors prior to the visit.

>> Wayfinding & Directional Signage:

Wayfinding and directional signage are very important in the food production industry. Staff and visitors need to know their way around at all times. Wayfinding systems come in many forms; from signs and maps to digital touchscreen panels. 

Innovative touches have been developed over the years, such as the coloured lines running along the corridors in hospitals to lead the way to certain departments.

For example, at Toyota, there are different coloured lines on the floor for the different groups on that floor. Colours represent the different sectors and ensure people aren’t crashing into one another.

In factories and warehouses, directional signs are essential for keeping everything on track and on time. They help to signpost walkways, goods in and out, office locations and parking. Illumination can vastly improve these signs in factories that operate 24 hours a day.

>> Signage Maintenance: 

It is essential to remember that these signs need to be maintained at all times. They could be cleaned easily and must be fixed to its surroundings securely. Tack/tape can melt in hot temperatures and therefore signs can fall off. Their residue can fall into the product which could cause contamination. Our award-winning team can manufacture and then install these signs securely for you.

Most companies use dry-wipe, magnetic whiteboards, with printed graphics and holders. This way the necessary information can be changed quickly, and the holders will be in place to keep documents/risk assessments/ accident forms on-hand at all times.

Floor graphics, ACM, vinyl and Foamex could also be used as safety signs. Ensuring that they are fitted securely makes sign maintenance an easy process.

>> Wallpaper and Wall Graphics:

Digital wallpaper and wall graphics bring office space and manufacturing environment to life. Over the last few years, food production sector has embraced this form of signage, which consists of using images, empowering quotes or photos of different places or things and printing them through digital printers.

They can be used as background, whole wall or just a part and it can be printed and cut in different colours shapes and sizes.

Some of the advantages include development of company branding and values, creating a vibrant space, personalisation, a fashionable and professional look, etc. Moreover, this is a cost-effective product that enhances the longevity and durability of your walls.

A high-quality workspace design leads to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere for the team. It is essential that employers take the physical work environment of their employees into consideration.

Read: Digital Wallpaper and Wall Graphics that bring office space to life >>

Let Hardy Signs manage every stage of your signage project to ensure delivery to a high standard, on time and within budget. We will work closely with clients, local authorities, design agencies, contractors, suppliers, in-house teams and other partners to make the project run smoothly and make it easy for you to deliver your project, stress-free, from start to finish.

About the company: Hardy Signs is a professional and digital signage company that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke signage products to a wide range of business sectors in the United Kingdom. The company has been awarded the manufacturer of the year in 2019 and 2020.

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