Overview
SIST EN ISO 7010:2020/A6:2023 is the sixth amendment to the established international standard ISO 7010:2019, published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). This standard focuses on graphical symbols, safety colours, and registered safety signs used worldwide to improve safety communication and accident prevention through standardized visual elements. The amendment was approved in March 2023 and ensures uniformity across CEN member countries, including Austria, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and many others.
The key purpose of this amendment is to update and expand the collection of safety signs to address evolving safety concerns, covering natural disaster refuge, evacuation lifts, trolley handling, stove safety, and child seat installation. Implementing the updated symbols helps organizations comply with legal requirements, enhances hazard awareness, and facilitates clear communication in public and workplace environments.
Key Topics
- Registered Safety Signs: The amendment introduces new graphical symbols with specific functions to address emerging safety needs.
- Safety Colours and Symbols: Adheres to established rules for colour usage and symbol design to maximize recognition and clarity.
- Human Behaviour Influence: Signs are designed to prompt safe actions and prevent hazards by communicating effectively across language barriers.
- Supplementary Text Usage: Due to comprehension testing results, some signs require supplementary text or training aids to enhance understanding.
- Standardization Compliance: Member states must adopt this amendment as a national standard, ensuring a cohesive approach across Europe.
New Safety Signs Included:
- E065: Natural disaster outdoor refuge area
- E070: Evacuation lift for people unable to use stairs
- M060: Hold the trolley handle on moving walkways or escalators
- P073: Do not shut lid when burners are operating (to prevent glass shattering)
- P074: Child seat installation prohibited where passenger airbags are active
Applications
SIST EN ISO 7010:2020/A6:2023 applies to a wide range of sectors and environments where safety signs are critical:
- Public Spaces: Parks, transport hubs, and urban areas utilize signs like the natural disaster refuge symbol (E065) to guide individuals during emergencies.
- Buildings & Facilities: Incorporation of evacuation lift signage (E070) assists mobility-impaired individuals during evacuations.
- Retail & Transportation: The trolley handle safety sign (M060) is essential in airports, malls, and stations for escalator and moving walkway safety.
- Residential Kitchens: The sign prohibiting shutting the lid on operating burners (P073) reduces risks of injury from explosive glass breakage.
- Automotive Industry: The child seat installation prohibited sign (P074) ensures compliance with vehicle safety regulations and educates users on airbag-related hazards.
- Occupational Health & Safety: Enhances clarity and uniformity in safety communication, aiding accident and disaster prevention efforts.
Related Standards
To ensure proper implementation and visual consistency, SIST EN ISO 7010:2020/A6:2023 should be used in conjunction with these relevant standards:
- ISO 3864-4: Specifies the principles for colourimetry and photometry to ensure accurate colour reproduction of safety signs.
- ISO 9186-1: Provides methods for testing the comprehensibility of graphical symbols used in safety signage.
- UN-ECE Regulation 129: Governs child restraint systems in vehicles related to airbag deployment, relevant for signage like P074.
- ISO 7010:2019 (base standard): The main document outlining registered safety signs and colour usage protocols before amendment.
Practical Benefits
- Promotes universal understanding of safety warnings and instructions across different languages and cultures.
- Helps organizations meet European and international regulatory requirements.
- Reduces incident rates by directing safe human behaviour through standardized visual communication.
- Enhances safety management in critical locations such as evacuation areas and vehicle passenger compartments.
- Facilitates consistent sign recognition, improving emergency response times and public safety awareness.
For full access to the registered safety signs and the latest updates, the ISO Online Browsing Platform provides resources at https://www.iso.org/obp/ui.
Keywords: SIST EN ISO 7010:2020/A6:2023, graphical symbols, safety colours, safety signs, registered safety signs, CEN standards, emergency signage, evacuation lift sign, natural disaster refuge, trolley safety, child seat prohibition, burner safety sign, accident prevention, safety communication, international safety standards.
