The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

PART IXMinimum requirements for hand signals

1.    Features

Hand signals must be precise, simple, expansive, easy to make and to understand, and clearly distinct from other such signals.

• Where both arms are used at the same time, they must be moved symmetrically and used for giving one sign only.

• Provided that they fulfil the conditions given above, the signals used may vary slightly from or be more detailed than those shown in paragraph 3; they must, however, be equally meaningful and comprehensible.

2.    Specific rules governing use

2.1. The person giving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the ‘signalman’, will use arm/hand movements to give manoeuvring instructions to the person receiving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the operator.

2.2. The signalman must be able to monitor all manoeuvres visually without being endangered thereby.

2.3. The signalman’s duties must consist exclusively of directing manoeuvres and ensuring the safety of workers in the vicinity.

2.4. If the conditions described in paragraph 2.2. are not fulfilled, one or more extra signalmen should be deployed.

2.5. The operator must interrupt the ongoing manoeuvre in order to request new instrutions when he is unable to carry out the orders he has received with the necessary safety guarantees.

2.6. Accessories

• The operator must be able to recognize the signalman without difficulty.

• The signalman is to wear one or more appropriate distinctive items, e.g. a jacket, helmet, sleeves or armbands, or carry bats.

• The distinctive items are to be brightly coloured, preferably all of the same colour and for the exclusive use of signalmen.

3.    Coded signals to be used

Preliminary remark:

The following set of coded signals are without prejudice to other codes applicable at Community level, used for the same manoeuvres in certain sectors:

Meaning	Description	Illustration
A. General signals
START Attention Start of Command	both arms are extended horizontally with the palms facing forwards
STOP Interruption End of movement	the right arm points upwards with the palm facing forwards.
END of the operation	both hands are clasped at chest height.
B. Vertical movements
RAISE	the right arm points upwards with the palm facing forward and slowly makes a circle.
LOWER	the right arm points downwards with the palm facing inwards and slowly makes a circle.
VERTICAL DISTANCE	the hands indicate the relevant distance.
C. Horizontal Movements
MOVE FORWARDS	both arms are bent with the palms facing upwards, and the forearms make slow movements towards the body.
MOVE BACKWARDS	both arms are bent with the palms facing downwards, and the forearms make slow movements away from the body.
RIGHT to the signalman's	the right arm is extended more or less horizontally with palm facing downwards and slowly makes small movements to the right.
LEFT to the signalman's	the left arm is extended more or less horizontally with palm facing downwards and slowly makes small movements to the left.
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE	the hands indicate the relevant distance.
D. Danger
DANGER Emergency stop	both arms points upwards with the palms facing forwards.
QUICK	all movements faster.
SLOW	all movements slower.