26.8.1992 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 245/6 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/57/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the implementation of minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile constructions sites (eighth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 118a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), submitted after consulting the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work, In cooperation with the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Article 118 a of the Treaty provides that the Council shall adopt, by means of directives, minimum requirements for encouraging improvements, especially in the working environment, to ensure a better level of protection of the safety and health of workers; Whereas, under the terms of that Article, those directives are to avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium-sized undertakings; Whereas the communication from the Commission on its programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work (4) provides for the adoption of a Directive designed to guarantee the safety and health of workers at temporary or mobile construction sites; Whereas, in its resolution of 21 December 1987 on safety, hygiene and health at work (5), the Council took note of the Commission's intention of submitting to the Council in the near future minimum requirements concerning temporary or mobile construction sites; Whereas temporary or mobile construction sites constitute an area of activity that exposes workers to particularly high levels of risk; Whereas unsatisfactory architectural and /or organizational options or poor planning of the works at the project preparation stage have played a role in more than half of the occupational accidents occurring on construction sites in the Community; Whereas in each Member State the authorities responsible for safety and health at work must be informed, before the beginning of the works, of the execution of works the scale of which exceeds a certain threshold; Whereas, when a project is being carried out, a large number of occupational accidents may be caused by inadequate coordination, particularly where various undertakings work simultaneously or in succession at the same temporary or mobile construction site; Whereas it is therefore necessary to improve coordination between the various parties concerned at the project preparation stage and also when the work is being carried out; Whereas compliance with the minimum requirements designed to guarantee a better standard of safety and health at temporary or mobile construction sites is essential to ensure the safety and health of workers; Whereas, moreover, self-employed persons and employers, where they are personally engaged in work activity, may, through their activities on a temporary or mobile construction site, jeopardize the safety and health of workers; Whereas it is therefore necessary to extend to self-employed persons and to employers where they are personally engaged in work activity on the site certain relevant provisions of Council Directive 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (second individual Directive) (6), and of Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual Directive) (7); Whereas this Directive is an individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Council Directive 89/391 /EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (8); whereas, therefore, the provisions of the said Directive are fully applicable to temporary or mobile construction sites, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive; Whereas this Directive constitutes a practical step towards the achievement of the social dimension of the internal market with special reference to the subject matter of Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to construction products (9) and the subject matter covered by Council Directive 89/440/EEC of 18 July 1989 amending Directive 71/305/EEC concerning coordination of procedures for the award of public work contracts (10); Whereas, pursuant to Council Decision 74/325/EEC (11), the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work is consulted by the Commission with a view to drawing up proposals in this field, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Subject 1. This Directive, which is the eighth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum safety and health requirements for temporary or mobile construction sites, as defined in Article 2 (a). 2. This Directive shall not apply to drilling and extraction in the extractive industries within the meaning of Article 1 (2) of Council Decision 74/326/EEC of 27 June 1974 on the extension of the responsibilities of the Mines Safety and Health Commission to all mineral-extracting industries (12). 3. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC are fully applicable to the whole scope referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Directive: (a) ‘temporary or mobile construction sites’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘construction sites’) means any construction site at which building or civil engineering works are carried out; a non-exhaustive list of such works is given in Annex I; (b) ‘client’ means any natural or legal person for whom a project is carried out; (c) ‘project supervisor’ means any natural or legal person responsible for the design and /or execution and /or supervision of the execution of a project, acting on behalf of the client; (d) ‘self-employed person’ means any person other than those referred to in Article 3 (a) and (b) of Directive 89/391 /EEC whose professional activity contributes to the completion of a project; (e) ‘coordinator for safety and health matters at the project preparations stage’ means any natural or legal person entrusted by the client and /or project supervisor, during preparation of the project design, with performing the duties referred to in Article 5; (f) ‘coordinator for safety and health matters at the project execution stage’ means any natural or legal person entrusted by the client and /or project supervisor, during execution of the project, with performing the duties referred to in Article 6. Article 3 Appointment of coordinators — Safety and health plan — Prior notice 1. The client or the project supervisor shall appoint one or more coordinators for safety and health matters, as defined in Article 2 (e) and (f), for any construction site on which more than one contractor is present. 2. The client or the project supervisor shall ensure that prior to the setting up of a construction site a safety and health plan is drawn up in accordance with Article 5 (b). The Member States may, after consulting both management and the workforce, allow derogations from the provisions of the first paragraph, except where the work concerned involves particular risks as listed in Annex II. 3. In the case of constructions sites: — on which work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days and on which more than 20 workers are occupied simultaneously, or — on which the volume of work is scheduled to exceed 500 person-days, the client or the project supervisor shall communicate a prior notice drawn up in accordance with Annex III to the competent authorities before work starts. — The prior notice must be clearly displayed on the construction site and, if necessary, periodically updated. Article 4 Project preparation stage: general principles The project supervisor, or where appropriate the client, shall take account of the general principles of prevention concerning safety and health referred to in Directive 89/391/EEC during the various stages of designing and preparing the project, in particular: — when architectural, technical and/or organizational aspects are being decided, in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession, — when estimating the period required for completing such work or work stages. Account shall also be taken, each time this appears necessary, of all safety and health plans and of files drawn up in accordance with Article 5 (b) or (c) or adjusted in accordance with Article 6 (c). Article 5 Project preparation stage: duties of coordinators The coordinator(s) for safety and health matters during the project preparation stage appointed in accordance with Article 3 (1) shall: (a) coordinate implementation of the provisions of Article 4; (b) draw up, or cause to be draw up, a safety and health plan setting out the rules applicable to the construction site concerned, taking into account where necessary the industrial activities taking place on the site; this plan must also include specific measures concerning work which falls within one or more of the categories of Annex II; (c) prepare a file appropriate to the characteristics of the project containing relevant safety and health information to be taken into account during any subsequent works. Article 6 Project execution stage: duties of coordinators The coordinator(s) for safety and health matters during the project execution stage appointed in accordance with Article 3 (1) shall: (a) coordinate implementation of the general principles of prevention and safety: — when technical and/or organizational aspects are being decided, in order to plan the various items or stages of work which are to take place simultaneously or in succession, — when estimating the period required for completing such work or work stages; (b) coordinate implementation of the relevant provisions in order to ensure that employers and, if necessary for the protection of workers, self-employed persons: — apply the principles referred to in Article 8 in a consistent manner, — where required, follow the safety and health plan referred to in Article 5 (b); (c) make, or cause to be made, any adjustments required to the safety and health plan referred to in Article 5 (b) and the file referred to in Article 5 (c) to take account of the progress of the work and any changes which have occurred; (d) organize cooperation between employers, including successive employers on the same site, coordination of their activities with a view to protecting workers and preventing accidents and occupational health hazards and reciprocal information as provided for in Article 6 (4) of Directive 89/391/EEC, ensuring that self-employed persons are brought into this process where necessary; (e) coordinate arrangements to check that the working procedures are being implemented correclty; (f) take the steps necessary to ensure that only authorized person are allowed onto the construction site. Article 7 Responsibilities of clients, project supervisors and employers 1. Where a client or project supervisor has appointed a coordinator or coordinators to perform the duties referred to in Articles 5 and 6, this does not relieve the client or project supervisor of his responsibilities in that respect. 2. The implementation of Articles 5 and 6, and of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not affect the principle of employers' responsibility as provided for in Directive 89/391/EEC. Article 8 Implementation of Article 6 of Directive 89/391/EEC When the work is being carried out, the principles set out in Article 6 of Directive 89/391/EEC shall be applied, in particular as regards: (a) keeping the construction site in good order and in a satisfactory state of cleanliness; (b) choosing the location of workstations bearing in mind how access to these workplaces is obtained, and determining routes or areas for the passage and movement and equiment; (c) the conditions under which various materials are handled; (d) technical maintenance, pre-commissioning checks and regular checks on installations and equipment with a view to correcting any faults which might affect the safety and health of workers; (e) the demarcation and laying-out of areas for the storage of various materials, in particular where dangerous materials or substances are concerned; (f) the conditions under which the dangerous materials used are removed; (g) the storage and disposal or removal of waste and debris; (h) the adaptation, based on progress made with the site, of the actual period to be allocated for the various types of work or work stages; (i) cooperation between employers and self-employed persons; (j) interaction with industrial activities at the place within which or in the vicinity of which the construction site is located. Article 9 Obligations of employers In order to preserve safety and health on the construction site, under the conditions set out in Article 6 and 7, employers shall: (a) in particular when implementing Article 8, take measures that are in line with the minimum requirements set out in Annex IV; (b) take into account directions from the coordinator(s) for safety and health matters. Article 10 Obligations of other groups of persons 1. In order to preserve safety and health on the construction site, self-employed persons shall: (a) comply in particular with the following, mutatis mutandis: (i) the requirements of Article 6 (4) and Article 13 of Directive 89/391/EEC and Article 8 and Annex IV of this Directive; (ii) Article 4 of Directive 89/655/EEC and the relevant provisions of the Annex thereto; (iii) Article 3, Article 4 (1) to (4) and (9) and Article 5 of Directive 89/656/EEC; (b) take into account directions from the coordinator(s) for safety and health matters. 2. In order to preserve safety and health on the site, where employers are personally engaged in work activity on the construction site, they shall: (a) comply in particular with the following, mutatis mutandis: (i) Article 13 of Directive 89/391/EEC; (ii) Article 4 of Directive 89/655/EEC and the relevant provisions of the Annex thereto; (iii) Articles 3,4(1), (2), (3), (4), (9) and 5 of Directive 89/656/EEC; (b) take account of the comments of the coordinator(s) for safety and health. Article 11 Information for workers 1. Whitout prejudice to Article 10 of Directive 89/391/EEC, workers and/or their representatives shall be informed of all the measures to be taken concerning their safety and health on the construction site. 2. The information must be comprehensible to the workers concerned. Article 12 Consultation and participation of workers Consultation and participation of workers and /or of their representatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC on matters covered by Articles 6, 8 and 9 of this Directive, ensuring whenever necessary proper coordination between workers and/or workers' representatives in undertakings carrying out their activities at the workplace, having regard to the degree of risk and the size of the work site. Article 13 Amendment of the Annexes 1. Amendments to Annexes I, II and III shall be adopted by the Council in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 118a of the Treaty. 2. Strictly technical adaptations of Annex IV as a result of: — the adoption of directives on technical harmonization and standardization regarding temporary or mobile construction sites, and/or — technical progress, changes in international regulations or specifications or knowledge in the field of temporary or mobile construction sites shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC. Article 14 Final provisions 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 December 1993 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. 2. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States. 3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions of national law which they have already adopted or adopt in the field governed by this Directive. 4. Member States shall report to the Commission every four years on the practical implementation of the provisions of this Directive, indicating the points of view of employers and workers. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work. 5. The Commission shall submit periodically to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the implementation of this Directive, taking into account paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4. Article 15 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 24 June 1992. For the Council The President Jose da SILVA PENEDA (1) OJ No C 213, 28. 8. 1990, p. 2 and OJ No C 112,27.4. 1991, p. 4. (2) OJ No C 78, 18. 3. 1990, p. 172 and OJ No C 150, 15. 6. 1992. (3) OJ No C 120, 6. 5. 1991, p. 24. (4) OJ No C 28, 3. 2. 1988, p. 3. (5) OJ No C 28, 3. 2. 1988, p. 1. (6) OJ No L 393, 30. 12. 1989, p. 13. (7) OJ No L 393, 30. 12. 1989, p. 18. (8) OJ No L 183, 29. 6. 1989, p. 1. (9) OJ No L 40, 11. 2. 1989, p. 12. (10) OJ No L210, 21. 7. 1989, p. 1. Amended by Commission Decision 90/380/EEC (OJ No L 187, 19. 7. 1990, p. 55). (11) OJ No L 185, 9. 7. 1974, p. 15. Last amended by the 1985 Act of Accession. (12) OJ No L 185, 9. 7. 1974, p. 18. ANNEX I NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2 (a) OF THE DIRECTIVE 1. Excavation 2. Earthworks 3. Construction 4. Assembly and disassembly of prefabricated elements 5. Conversion or fitting-out 6. Alterations 7. Renovation 8. Repairs 9. Dismantling 10. Demolition 11. Upkeep 12. Maintenance — Painting and cleaning work 13. Drainage ANNEX II NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF WORK INVOLVING PARTICULAR RISKS TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3 (2), SECOND PARAGRAPH OF THE DIRECTIVE 1. Work which puts workers at risk of burial under earthfalls, engulfment in swampland or falling from a height, where the risk is particularly aggravated by the nature of the work or processes used or by the environment at the place of work or site (1). 2. Work which puts workers at risk from chemical or biological substances constituing a particular danger to the safety and health of workers or involving a legal requirement for health monitoring. 3. Work with ionizing radiation requiring the designation of controlled or supervised areas as defined in Article 20 of Directive 80/836/Euratom (2). 4. Work near high voltage power lines. 5. Work exposing workers to the risk of drowning. 6. Work on wells, underground earthworks and tunnels. 7. Work carried out by drivers having a system of air supply. 8. Work carried out by workers in caisson with a compressed-air atmosphere. 9. Work involving the use of explosives. 10. Work involving the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated components. (1) In implementing point 1, Member States have the option of setting figures for individual situations. (2) OJ No L 246, 17. 9. 1980, p. 1. Last amended by Directive 84/467/Euratom (OJ No L 265, 5. 10. 1984, p. 4). ANNEX III CONTENT OF THE PRIOR NOTICE REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3 (3), FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE DIRECTIVE I ANNEX IV MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION SITES Referred to in Article 9 (a) and Article 10 (1) (a) (i) of the Directive Preliminary remarks The obligations laid down in this Annex apply wherever required by the features of the construction site, the activity, the circumstances or a hazard. For the purposes of this Annex, ‘rooms’ covers, inter alia, hutted accommodation. PART A GENERAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ON-SITE WORKPLACES 1. Stability and solidity 1.1. Materials, equipment and, more generally, any component which, when moving in any way, may affect the safety and health of workers must be stabilized in an appropriate and safe manner. 1.2. Access to any surface involving insufficiently resistant materials is not authorized unless appropriate equipment or means are provided to enable the work to be carried out safely. 2. Energy distribution installations 2.1. The installations must be designed, constructed and used so as not to present a fire or explosion hazard; persons must be adequately protected against the risk of electrocution caused by direct or indirect contact. 2.2. The design, construction and choice of equipment and protection devices must take account of the type and power of the energy distributed, external conditions and the competence of persons with access to parts of the installation. 3. Emergency routes and exits 3.1. Emergency routes and exits must remain clear and lead as directly as possible to a safe area. 3.2. In the event of danger, it must be possible for workers to evacuate all workstations quickly and as safely as possible. 3.3. The number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits depend on the use, equipment and dimensions of the site and of the rooms and the maximum number of persons that may be present. 3.4. Specific emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs in accordance with the national regulations implementing Directive 77/576/EEC (1). Such signs must be sufficiently resistant and be placed at appropriate points. 3.5. Emergency routes and exits, and the traffic routes and doors giving access to them, must be free from obstruction so that they can be used at any time without hindrance. 3.6. Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails. 4. Fire detection and fire fighting 4.1. Depending of the characteristics of the site, the dimensions and use of the rooms, the on-site equipment, the physical and chemical properties of the substances present and the maximum potential number of people present, an adequate number of appropriate fire-fighting devices and, where required, fire detectors and alarm systems must be provided. 4.2. These fire-fighting devices, fire detectors and alarm systems must be regularly checked and maintained. Appropriate tests and drills must take place at regular intervals. 4.3. Non-automatic fire-fighting equipment be easily accessible and simple to use. The equipment must be indicated by signs in accordance with the national regulations implementing Directive 77/576/EEC. Such signs must be sufficiently resistant and placed at appropriate points. 5. Ventilation Steps shall be taken to ensure that there is sufficient fresh air, having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the workers. If a forced ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in working order and must not expose workers to draughts which are harmful to health. Any breakdown must be indicated by a control system where this is necessary for workers' health. 6. Exposure to particular risks 6.1. Workers must not be exposed to harmful levels of noise or to harmful external influences (e.g. gases, vapours, dust). 6.2. If workers have to enter an area where the atmosphere is liable to contain a toxic or harmful substance or to have an insufficient oxygen level or to be inflammable, the confined atmosphere must be monitored and appropriate steps taken to prevent any hazards. 6.3. A worker may not in any circumstances be exposed to a high-risk confined atmosphere. He must at least be watched at all times from outside and all appropriate precautions must be taken to ensure that he can be assisted effectively and immediately. 7. Temperature During working hours, the temperature must be appropriate for human beings, having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the workers. 8. Natural and artificial lighting of workstations, rooms and traffic routes on the site 8.1. Workstations, rooms and traffic routes must as far as possible have sufficient natural lighting and be provided with appropriate and sufficient artificial lighting at night and when natural daylight is inadequate; where necessary, portable light sources that are protected against impact must be used. The colour of artificial light used must not alter or affect the perception of signals or signposts. 8.2. Lighting installations for rooms, workstations and traffic routes must be placed in such a way that there is no risk of accident to workers as a result of the type of lighting fitted. 8.3. Rooms, workstations and traffic routes where workers are especially exposed to risks in the event of artificial lighting must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity. 9. Doors and gates 9.1. Sliding doors must be fitted with a safety device to prevent them from being derailed and falling over. 9.2. Doors and gates opening upwards must be fitted with a mechanism to secure them against falling back. 9.3. Doors and gates along escape routes must be appropriately marked. 9.4. In the immediate vicinity of gates intended primarily for vehicle traffic, there must be doors for pedestrian traffic unless it is safe for pedestrians to cross; such doors must be clearly marked and kept free at all times. 9.5. Mechanical doors and gates must operate without any risk of accident to workers. They must be fitted with emergency stop devices which are easily identifiable and accessible and, unless they open automaticially in the event of a power-cut, it must be possible for them to be opened manually. 10. Traffic routes — danger areas 10.1. Traffic routes, including stairs, fixed ladders and loading bays and ramps, must be calculated, located, laid out and made negotiable to ensure easy, safe and appropriate access in such a way as not to endanger workers employed in the vicinity of these traffic routes. 10.2. Routes used for pedestrian traffic and/or goods traffic including those used for loading and unloading must be dimensioned in accordance with the number of potential users and the type of activity concerned. If means of transport are used on traffic routes, a sufficient safety clearance or adequate protective devices must be provided for other site users. Routes must be clearly marked, regularly checked and properly maintained. 10.3. Sufficient clearance must be allowed between vehicle traffic routes and doors, gates, passages for pedestrians, corridors and staircases. 10.4. If the site includes limited-access areas, these must be equipped with devices to prevent unauthorized workers from entering. Appropriate measures must be taken to protect workers who are authorized to enter the danger areas. Danger areas must be clearly signposted. 11. Loading bays and ramps 11.1. Loading bays and ramps must be suitable for the dimensions of the loads to be transported. 11.2. Loading bays must have at least one exit point. 11.3. Loading ramps must be sufficiently safe to prevent workers from falling off. 12. Freedom of movement at the workstation The floor area at the workstation must be such as to allow workers sufficient freedom of movement to perform their work, taking account of any necessary equipment or applicances present. 13. First aid 13.1. The employer must ensure that first aid can be provided, and that the staff trained to provide it can be called upon, at any time. Measures must be taken to ensure that workers who have had an accident or have suddenly been taken ill can be removed for medical treatment. 13.2. One or more first-aid rooms must be provided where the scale of the works or the types of activity being carried out so require. 13.3. First-aid rooms must be fitted with essential first-aid installations and equipment and be easily accessible to stretchers. They must be signposted in accordance with the national regulations implementing Directive 77/576/EEC. 13.4. In addition, first-aid equipment must be available at all places where working conditions so require. This equipment must be suitably marked and easily accesible. The address and telephone number of the local emergency service must be clearly displayed. 14. Sanitary equipment 14.1. Changing rooms and lockers. 14.1.1. Appropriate changing rooms must be provided for workers if they have to wear special work clothes and if, for reasons of health or propriety, they cannot be expected to change in another area. Changing rooms must be easily accessible, be of sufficient capacity and be provided with seating. 14.1.2. Changing rooms must be sufficiently large and have facilities to enable each worker, where necessary, to dry his working clothes as well as his own clothing and personal effects and to lock them away. If circumstances so require (e.g. dagerous substances, humidity, dirt), facilities must be provided to enable working clothes to be kept in a place separate from workers' own clothes and personal effects. 14.1.3. Provisions must be made for separate changing rooms or separate use of changing rooms for men and women. 14.1.4. If changing rooms are not required as referred to in point 14.1.1, first paragraph, each worker must be provided with a place in which he can lock away his own clothes and personal effects. 14.2. Showers and washbasins 14.2.1. Suitable showers in sufficient numbers must be provided for workers if required by the nature of the work or for health reasons. Provisions must be made for separate shower rooms or separate use of shower rooms for men and women. 14.2.2. The shower rooms must be sufficiently large to permit each worker to wash without hindrance in conditions of an appropriate standard of hygiene. The showers must be equipped with hot and cold running water. 14.2.3. Where showers are not required under the first paragraph of 14.2.1, a sufficient number of suitable washbasins with running water (hot water if necessary) must be provided in the vicinity of the workstations and the changing rooms. Provisions must be made for separate washbasins, or separate use of washbasins for men and women when so required for reasons of propriety. 14.2.4. Where the rooms housing, the showers or washbasins are separate from the changing rooms, there must be easy communication between the two. 14.3. Lavatories and washbasins Special facilities with an adequate number of lavatories and washbasins must be provided for workers in the vicinity of workstations, rest rooms, changing rooms and rooms housing showers or washbasins. Provisions must be made for separate lavatories or separate use of lavatories for mens and women. 15. Rest rooms and/or accommodation areas 15.1. Where the safety or health of workers, in particular because of the type of activity carried out or the presence of more than a certain number of employees as well as the remote nature of the site, so require, workers must be provided with easily accessible rest rooms and/or accommodation areas. 15.2. Rest rooms and/or accommodation areas must be large enough and equipped with an adequate number of tables and seats with backs for the number of workers concerned. 15.3. If there are no facilities of this kind, other facilities must be provided in which workers can stay during interruptions in work. 15.4. Fixed accommodation areas unless used only in exceptional cases, must have sufificient sanitary equipment, a rest room and a leisure room. They must be equipped with beds, cupboards, tables and seats with backs taking account of the number of workers, and be allocated taking account, where appropriate, of the presence of workers of both sexes. 15.5. Appropriate measures should be taken for the protection of non-smokers against discomfort caused by tobacco smoke in rest rooms and/or accommodation areas. 16. Pregnant women and nursing mothers Pregnant women and nursing mothers must be able to lie down to rest in appropriate conditions. 17. Handicapped workers Workplaces must be organized to take account of handicapped workers, if necessary. The provision applies in particular to the doors, passageways, staircases, showers, washbasins, lavatories and workstations used or occupied directly by handicapped persons. 18. Miscellaneous provisions 18.1. The surroundings and the perimeter of the site must be signposted and laid out so as to be clearly visible and identifiable. 18.2. Workers must be provided at the site with a sufficient quantity of drinking water and possibly another suitable non-alcoholic beverage both in occupied rooms and in the vicinity of workstations. 18.3. workers must: — be provided with facilities enabling them to take their meals in satisfactory conditions, — where appropriate, be provided with facilities enabling them to prepare their meals in satisfactory conditions. PART B SPECIFIC MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR ON-SITE WORKSTATIONS Preliminary remark If special situations so dictate, the classification of these minimum requirements into two sections, as below, should not regarded as binding. Section I On-site indoor workstations 1. Stability and solidity Premises must have a structure and stability appropriate to the nature of their use. 2. Emergency doors Emergency doors must open outwards. Emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency. Sliding or revolving doors are not permitted if intended as emergency exits. 3. Ventilation If air-conditioning or mechanical ventilation installations are used, they must operate in such a way that workers are not exposed to draughts which cause discomfort. Any deposit or dirt likely to create an immediate danger to the health of workers by polluting the atmosphere must be removed without delay. 4. Temperature 4.1. The temperature in rest areas, rooms for duty staff, sanitary facilities, canteens and first-aid rooms must be appropriate to the particular purpose of such areas. 4.2. Windows, skylights and glass partitions should allow excessive effects of sunlight to be avoided, having regard to the nature of the work and the use of the room. 5. Natural and artificial lighting Workplaces must as far as possible have sufficient natural light and be equipped with the means of providing artificial lighting which is adequate for the purposes of protecting workers' safety and health. 6. Floors, walls, ceilings and roofs of rooms 6.1. The floors of workplaces must have no dangerous bumps, holes or slopes and must be fixed, stable and not slippery. 6.2. The surfaces of floors, walls and ceilings in rooms must be such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate standard of hygiene. 6.3. Transparent or translucent walls, in particular all-glass partitions, in rooms or in the vicinity of workplaces and traffic routes must be clearly indicated and made of safety material or be shielded from such places or traffic routes to prevent workers from coming into contact with walls or being injured should the walls shatter. 7. Windows and skylights 7.1. It must be possible for workers to open, close, adjust or secure windows, skylights and ventilators in a safe manner. When open, they must not be positioned so as to constitute a hazard to workers. 7.2. Windows and skylights must be designed in conjunction with equipment or otherwise fitted with devices allowing them to be cleaned without risk to the workers carrying out this work or to workers present. 8. Doors and Gates 8.1. The position, number nad dimensions of doors and gates, and the materials used in their construction, are determined by the nature and use of the rooms or areas. 8.2. Transparent doors must be appropriately marked at a conspicious level. 8.3. Swing doors and gates must be transparent or have see-through panels. 8.4. If transparent or translucent surfaces in doors and gates are not made of safety material and if there is a danger that workers may be injured if a door or gate should shatter, the surfaces must be protected against breakage. 9. Traffic routes Where the use and equipment of rooms so requires for the protection of workers, traffic routes must be clearly identified. 10. Specific measures for escalators and travelators Escalators and travelators must function safely. They must be equipped with any necessary safety devices. They must be fitted with easily identifiable and accessible emergency shut-down devices. 11. Room dimensions and air space in rooms Workrooms must have sufficient surface area and height to allow workers to perform their work without risk to their safety, health or well-being. Section II On-site outdoor workstations 1. Stability and solidity 1.1. High-level or low-level movable or fixed workstations must be solid and stable, taking account of: — the number of workers occupying them, — the maximum loads they may have to bear and the weight distribution, — the outside influcences to which they may be subject. If the support and the other components of these workstations are not intrinsically stable, their stability will have to be ensured by appropriate and safe methods of fixing to avoid any untimely or spontaneous movement of the whole or of parts of the workstations. 1.2. Checking Stability and solidity must be checked appropriately and especially after any change in the heigt or depth of the workstation. 2. Energy distribution installations 2.1. On-site energy distribution installations, especially those subject to outside influences, must be regularly checked and maintained. 2.2. Installations existing before the site began must be identified, checked and clearly signposted. 2.3. Whenever possible, where overhead electric power lines exist, either they must be redirected away from the area of the site or else the current must be cut off. If this is not possible, there will be barriers or notices to ensure that vehicles and installations are kept away. Suitable warnings and suspended protections must be provided where vehicles have to pass beneath the lines. 3. Atmospheric influences Workers must be protected against atmospheric influences which could affect their health and safety. 4. Falling objects Wherever technically feasible, workers must be protected by collective methods against falling objects. Materials and equipment must be laid out or stracked in such a way as to prevent their collapsing or overturning. Where necessary, there must be covered passageways on the side or access to danger areas must be made impossible. 5. Falls from a height 5.1. Falls from a height must be physically prevented in particular by means of solid cradles which are sufficiently high and have at least an end-board, a main handrail and an intermediate handrail or an equivalent alternative. 5.2. In principle, work at a height must be carried out only with appropriate equipment or using collective protection devices such as cradles, platforms or safety nets. If the use of such equipment is not possible because of the nature of the work, suitable means of access must be provided and safety harnesses or other anchoring safety methods must be used. 6. Scaffolding and leaders (2) 6.1. All scaffolding must be properly designed, constructed and maintained to ensure that it does not collapse or move accidentally. 6.2. Work platforms, gangways and scaffolding stairways msut be constructed, dimensioned, protected and used in such a way as to prevent people from falling or being exposed to falling objects. 6.3. Scaffolding must be inspected by a competent person: (a) before being put into service; (b) subsequently, at periodic intervals; (c) after any modification period without use, exposure to bad weather or seismic tremors, or any other circumstance which may have affected its strength or stability. 6.4. Ladders must be sufficiently strong and correctly maintained. They must be correctly used, in appropriate places and in accordance with their intended purpose. 6.5. Mobile scaffolding must be secured against spontaneous movements. 7. Lifting equpiment (2) 7.1. All lifting devices and accessories, including their component parts, attachments, anchorings and supports, must be: (a) properly designed and constructed and sufficiently strong for the use to which they are put; (b) correctly installed and used; (c) maintained in good working order; (d) checked and subjected to periodic tests and inspections in accordance with current legislation', (e) operated by qualified workers who have received appropriate training. 7.2. All lifting devices and acccesories must clearly display their maximum load values. 7.3. Lifting equipment and accessories may not be used for other than their intended purposes. 8. Excavating and materials-handling vehicles and machinery (2) 8.1. All excavating and materials-handling vehicles and machinery must be: (a) properly designed and constructed taking account, as far as possible, of the principles of ergonomics; (b) kept in good working order; (c) used correctly. 8.2. Drivers and operators of excavating and materials-handling vehicles and machinery must be specially trained. 8.3. Preventive measures must be taken to ensure that excavating and materials-handling vehicles and machinery do not fall into the excavations or into water. 8.4. Where appropriate, excavating machinery and materials-handling machinery must be fitted with structures to protect the driver against being crushed if the machine overturns, and against falling objects. 9. Installations, machinery, equipment (3) 9.1. Installations, machinery and equipment, including hand tools whether power-driven or not, must be: (a) properly designed and constructed taking accounts, as far as possible, of the principle of ergonomics; (b) kept in good working order; (c) used solely for the work for which they were designed; (d) operated by workers who have received appropriate training. 9.2. Installations and equipment under pressure must be checked and subjected to regular tests and inspections in accordance with existing legislation. 10. Excavations, wells, underground works, tunnels and earthworks 10.1. Suitable precautions must be taken in an excavation, well, underground, working or tunnel: (a) using an appropriate support or embankment; (b) to prevent hazards entailed in the fall of a person, materials or objects, or flooding; (c) to provide sufficient ventilation at all workstations so as to ensure a breathable atmosphere which is not dangerous or harmful to health; (d) to enable workers to reach safety in the event of fire or inrush fo water or materials. 10.2. Before excavation starts, measures must be taken to identify and reduce to a minimum any hazard due to underground cables and other distribution systems. 10.3. Safe routes into and out of the excavation must be provided. 10.4. Piles of earth, materials and moving vehicles must be kept away from the excavation; appropriate barriers must be built if necessary. 11. Demolition work Where the demolition of a building or construction may present a danger: (a) appropriate precautions, methods and procedures must be adopted; (b) the work must be planned and undertaken only under the supervision of a competent person. 12. Metal or concrete frameworks, shutterings and heavy prefabricated components 12.1. Metal or concrete frameworks and their components, shutterings, prefabricated components or temporary support, and buttresses must be erected and dismantled only under the supervision of a competent person. 12.2. Adequate precautions must be taken to protect workers against risks arising from the temporary fragility or instability of a structure. 12.3. Shutterings, temporary supports and buttresses must de devises and designed, installed and maintained so as to safely withstand any strains and stresses which may be placed on them. 13. Cofferdams and caissons 13.1. All cofferdams and caissons must be: (a) well constructed, of appropriate, solid materials of adequate strength; (b) appropriately equipped so that workers can gain shelter in the event of an irruption of water and materials. 13.2. The construction, installation, transformation or dismantling of a cofferdam or caisson must take place only under the supervision of a competent person. 13.3. All cofferdams and caissons must be inspected by a competent person at regular intervals. 14. Work on roofs 14.1. Where necessary to avert a risk or where the height or the slope exceed values set by the Member States, collective preventive measures must be taken to prevent workers, and tools or other objects or materials, from falling. 14.2. Where workers have to work on or near a roof or any other surface made of fragile materials through which it is possible to fall, preventive measures must be taken to ensure that they do not inadvertently walk on the surface made of fragile materials, or fall to the ground. (1) OJ No L 229, 7. 9. 1977, p. 12. Last amended by Directive 79/640/EEC (OJ No L 183, 19. 7. 1979, p. 1). (2) This point will be specified in the framework of the future Directive amending Directive 89/655/EEC, particularly with a view to supplementing point 3 of the Annex thereto. (3) This point will be specified in the framework of the future Directive amending Directive 89/655/EEC, particularly with a view to supplementing point 3 of the Annex thereto.

Summary: Temporary and mobile work sites Temporary and mobile work sites SUMMARY OF: Directive 92/57/EEC — minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE? It aims to promote better working conditions on construction sites where workers can be exposed to particularly high risks. It requires: safety and health considerations to be taken on board during the design and organisation of projects;a chain of responsibility to be set up, linking all the people involved, in order to prevent any risks. It is the eighth individual directive within the meaning of Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, which introduces general rules to encourage improvements in the health and safety of workers at work. KEY POINTS Scope The directive applies to temporary or mobile construction sites* in all sectors of activity, whether public and private, including industrial, agricultural, commercial, administrative, service, educational, cultural and leisure sectors. It does not apply to drilling and extraction in extractive industries. Safety and health plan The client* or the project supervisor* must: appoint one or more coordinators for safety and health matters for any construction site on which more than one contractor is present. This coordinator ensures that a safety and health plan is drawn up before setting up a site; communicate a prior notice (drawn up in accordance with the directive’s Annex III) for sites on which work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days and on which more than 20 workers are occupied simultaneously, or on which the volume of work is scheduled to exceed 500 person-days. Preparation of the project The client or project supervisor must apply the general prevention principles of Directive 89/391/EEC and the safety plan in the course of: the work site project preparation stage; architectural and organisational choices taken; the various phases of work. Coordinators must: ensure that the general prevention principles are implemented; draw up a safety and health plan; prepare a file containing relevant safety and health information to be taken into account during any subsequent works. Project implementation During implementation, coordinators must: ensure that employers and self-employed persons* apply the relevant principles of prevention and follow the safety and health plan where this is required; organise cooperation between employers with respect to safety and health matters; check that the working procedures are being implemented correctly; take the necessary steps to ensure that only authorised persons are allowed on the construction site. Responsibilities of clients, project supervisors and employers Even where a coordinator has been appointed, the client or project supervisor still has responsibilities with respect to safety and health matters: employers must comply with the minimum safety and health requirements applicable to sites, as set out in Annex IV (aspects such as energy distribution installations, emergency routes and exits, ventilation, temperature, traffic routes, sanitary equipment, etc.). They must also take into account directions from the coordinator for safety and health matters; self-employed persons must comply with the safety requirements, specifically concerning the use of work equipment and personal protection. Worker information, consultation and participation In accordance with Directive 89/391/EEC, workers and/or their representatives must be: informed in a comprehensible manner of all the measures taken for their safety and health on the site; consulted on matters covered by this directive whenever necessary. Amending directive Directive 2007/30/EC simplified the requirements on reporting to the European Commission concerning the implementation of Directive 89/391/EEC and its various individual directives. EU countries now have to prepare a single report every 5 years covering the implementation of all of these directives. A study of the implementation of the directive was published in 2017. FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY? It has applied since 17 July 1992 and had to become law in EU countries by 31 December 1993. BACKGROUND For more information, see: Directive 92/57/EEC — temporary or mobile construction sites (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work). KEY TERMS Temporary or mobile construction sites: any construction site at which building or civil engineering works are carried out (a non-exhaustive list is given in the directive’s Annex I). Client: any individual or legal entity for whom a project is carried out. Project supervisor: any individual or legal entity responsible for designing and/or implementing and/or supervising the implementation of a project, acting on behalf of the client. Self-employed person: any person other than the employee or employer, whose professional activity contributes to the completion of a project. MAIN DOCUMENT Council Directive 92/57/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the implementation of minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites (eighth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, pp. 6-22) Successive amendments to Directive 92/57/EEC have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only. RELATED DOCUMENT Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, pp. 1-8) See consolidated version. last update 26.11.2018


26.8.1992 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 245/23 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and /or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 118 a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), submitted following consultation of the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work, In cooperation with the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Article 118 a of the Treaty provides that the Council must adopt, by means of directives, minimum requirements to encourage improvements, especially in the working environment, as regards the health and safety of workers; Whereas, under that Article, such directives must avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium-sized undertakings; Whereas the Commission communication on its programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work (4) provides for a revision and extension of the scope of Council Directive. 77/576/EEC of 25 July 1977 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the provision of safety signs at places at work (5); Whereas, in its Resolution of 21 December 1987 on safety, hygiene, and health at work (6), the Council took note of the Commission's intention of submitting to it within a short period of time a proposal for revising and extending the abovementioned Directive; Whereas Directive 77/576/EEC should be replaced by this Directive for the sake of consistency and clarity; Whereas this Directive is an individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (l)of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (7); wheres the provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC therefore apply in full to the provision of safety and health signs at work, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive; Whereas existing Community rules relate mainly to safety signs and the marking of dangerous obstacles and locations, and are therefore restricted to a limited number of types of signs; Whereas the effect of this restriction is that some hazards are not appropriately marked; whereas new types of signs should therefore be introduced in order to enable employers and workers to identify and avoid risks to safety and/or health at work; Whereas safety and/or health signs must be provided where hazards cannot be adequately reduced by techniques for collective protection or by measures, methods or procedures used in the organization of work; Whereas the many differences between the safety and/or health signs currently in use in the Member States lead to uncertainty, and this may become more widespread with the free movement of workers within the internal market; Whereas the use of standardized signs at work is, in general, likely to reduce the hazards which may arise from linguistic and cultural differences between workers; Whereas this Directive constitutes a tangible step towards developing the social dimension of the internal market; Whereas, pursuant to Decision 74/325/EEC (8), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work is to be consulted by the Commission on the drafting of proposals in this field, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: SECTION I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 Object 1. This Directive, which is the ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum requirements for the provision of safety and /or health signs at work. 2. This Directive shall not apply to signs for the placing on the market of dangerous substances and preparations, products and /or equipment, unless other Community provisions make specific reference thereto. 3. This Directive shall not apply to signs used for regulating road, rail, inland waterway, sea or air transport. 4. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC shall apply in full to the whole area referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more stringent and /or specific provisions in this Directive. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Directive: (a) safety and/or health signs means signs referring to a specific object, activity or situation and providing information or instructions about safety and/or health at work by means of a signboard, a colour, an illuminated sign or acoustic signal, a verbal communication or a hand signal, as the case may be; (b) prohibition sign means a sign prohibiting behaviour likely to incur or cause danger; (c) warning sign means a sign giving warning of a hazard or danger; (d) mandatory sign means a sign prescribing specific behaviour; (e) emergency escape or first-aid sign means a sign giving information on emergency exits or first-aid or rescue facilities; (f) information sign means a sign providing information other than that referred to in (b) to (e); (g) signboard means a sign which provides specific information by a combination of a geometric shape, colours and a symbol or pictogram and which is rendered visible by lighting of sufficient intensity; (h) supplementary signboard means a signboard used together with one of the signs described under (g), which provides supplementary information; (i) safety colour means a colour to which a specific meaning is assigned; (j) Symbol or pictogram means a figure which describes a situation or prescribes specific behaviour and which is used on a signboard or illuminated surface; (k) illuminated sign means a sign produced by a device made of transparent or translucent materials which are illuminated from the inside or the rear in such a way as to give the appearance of a luminous surface; (l) acoustic signal means a coded sound signal which is released and transmitted by a device designed for that purpose, without the use of a human or artificial voice; (m) verbal communication means a predetermined spoken message communicated by a human or artificial voice; (n) hand signal a movement and/or position of the arms and /or hands, in coded form, for guiding persons who are carrying out manoeuvres which constitute a hazard or danger for workers. SECTION II EMPLOYERS' OBLIGATIONS Article 3 General rules 1. Employers shall provide safety and/or health signs as laid down in this Directive where hazards cannot be avoided or adequately reduced by techniques for collective protection or measures, methods or procedures used in the organization of work, or ensure that such signs are in place. Employers shall take into account any risk evaluation made in accordance with Article 6 (3) (a) of Directive 89/391/EEC. 2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Annex V, the signs used for road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air transport shall be installed, wherever appropriate for such forms of transport, inside undertakings and/or firms. Article 4 Safety and/or health signs used for the first time Without prejudice to Article 6, a safety and /or health sign used at work for the first time on or after the date referred to in Article 11 (1) first subparagraph must fulfil the minimum requirements set out in Annexes I to IX. Article 5 Safety and/or health signs already in use Without prejudice to Article 6, a safety and/or health sign which was already in use at work before the date referred to in Article 11 (1) first subparagraph must fulfil the minimum requirements set out in Annexes I to IX by no later than eighteen months after that date. Article 6 Exemptions 1. Taking account of the types of activity and/or size of the undertakings concerned, Member States may specify categories of undertakings allowed to replace totally, partially or temporarily the illuminated signs, and /or acoustic signals provided for in this Directive by alternative measures which afford the same level of protection. 2. Member States may derogate, after consulting both sides of industry, from the application of Annex VIII, section 2 and/or Annex IX, section 3, whilst laying down alternative measures guaranteeing the same level of protection. 3. Member States shall consult, in accordance with national laws and/or practice, employers' and workers' organizations when implementing paragraph 1. Article 7 Information and instruction for workers 1. Without prejudice to Article 10 of Directive 89/391/EEC, workers and/or their representatives shall be informed of all the measures to be taken concerning the safety and /or health signs used at work. 2. Without prejudice to Article 12 of Directive 89/391 /EEC, workers must be given suitable instruction, in particular in the form of specific directions concerning the safety and /or health signs used at work. In particular, the instruction referred to in the first subparagraph shall cover the meaning of the signs, especially signs incorporating words, and the general and specific behaviour to be adopted. Article 8 Consultation of workers and workers' participation Consultation and participation of workers and/or their representatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC on the matters covered by this Directive, including Annexes I to IX. SECTION III MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Article 9 Adaptation of the Annexes Adaptations of a technical nature to Annexes I to IX shall be adopted, in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC, in the light of: — the adoption of directives on technical harmonization and standadization concerning the design and manufacture of safety and/or health signs or devices at work, — technical progress, changes in international rules or specifications and advances in knowledge in the field of safety and/or health signs at work. Article 10 1. Directive 77/576/EEC shall be repealed on the date referred to in Article 11 (1), first subparagraph. However, in the cases referred to in Article 5, that Directive shall continue to apply for a maximum period of eighteen months following that date. 2. Any reference to the repealed Directive shall be taken to refer to the corresponding provisions of this Directive. Article 11 Final provisions 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions required to comply with this Directive no later than 24 June 1994. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof. 2. When Member States adopt these measures they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States. 3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the provisions of domestic law which they have already adopted or adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 4. Member States shall report to the Commission every five years on the practical implementation of the provisions of this Directive, indicating the views of employers and workers. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health at Work thereof. 5. The Commission shall forward periodically to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the implementation of this Directive, taking into account paragraphs 1 to 4. Article 12 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 24 June 1992. For the Council The President Jose da SILVA PENEDA (1) OJ NoC 53,28. 2.1991, p. 46 and OJ No C 279, 26.10.1991, p. 13. (2) OJ No C 240, 16. 9. 1991, p. 102 and OJ No C 150, 15. 6. 1992. (3) OJ No C 159, 17. 6. 1991, p. 9. (4) OJ No C 28, 3. 2. 1988, p. 3. (5) OJ No L 229, 7. 9. 1977, p. 12. Last amended by Commission Directive 79/640/EEC. (OJ No L 183, 19. 7. 1979, p. 11.) (6) OJ No C 28, 3. 2. 1989, p. 1. (7) OJ No L 183, 29. 6. 1989, p. 1. (8) OJ No L 185, 9. 7. 1974, p. 15. ANNEX I GENERAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SAFETY AND/OR HEALTH SIGNS AT WORK 1. Preliminary remarks 1.1. Where health and/or safety signs are required by the general rule in Article 3 of the Directive, they must conform to the specific requirements in Annexes II to IX. 1.2. This Annex introduces those requirements, describes the different uses of safety and/or health signs, and gives general rules on the interchanging and combining of signs. 1.3. Health and/or safety signs must be used only to convey the message or information specified in the Directive. 2. Types of signs 2.1. Permanent signs 2.1.1. Permanent signboards must be used for signs relating to prohibitions, warnings and mandatory requirements and the location and identification of emergency escape routes and first-aid facilities. Signboards and/or a safety colour must be used to mark permanently the location and identification of fire-fighting equipment. 2.1.2. Signboards on containers and pipes must be placed as laid down in Annex III. 2.1.3. Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles or of falling must be permanently marked with a safety colour and/or with signboards. 2.1.4. Traffic routes must be permanently marked with a safety colour. 2.2. Occasional signs 2.2.1. Illuminated signs, acoustic signals and/or verbal communication must be used where the occasion requires, taking into account the possibilities for interchanging and combining signs set out in Section 3, to signal danger, to call persons to take a specific course of action and for the emergency evacuation of persons. 2.2.2. Hand signals and/or verbal communication must be used where the occasion requires, to guide persons carrying out hazardous or dangerous manoeuvres. 3. Interchanging and combining signs 3.1. Any one of the following may be used if equally effective: — a safety colour or a signboard to mark places where there is an obstacle or a drop, — illuminated signs, acoustic signals or verbal communication, — hand signals or verbal communication. 3.2. Some types of signs may be used together: — illuminated signs and acoustic signals, — illuminated signs and verbal communication, — hand signals and verbal communication. 4. The instructions in the table below apply to all signs incorporating a safety colour: Colour Meaning or purpose Instructions and information Red Prohibition sign Dangerous behaviour Danger alarm Stop, shutdown, emergency cutout devices Evacuate Fire-fighting equipment Identification and location Yellow or Amber Warning sign Be careful, take precautions Examine Blue Mandatory sign Specific behaviour or action Wear personal protective equipment Green Emergency escape, first aid sign Doors, exits, routes, equipment, facilities No danger Return to normal 5. The effectiveness of a sign must not be adversely affected by: 5.1. the presence of another emission source of the same type which interferes with visibility or audibility; therefore, in particular, 5.1.1. the placing of too many signs too close together should be avoided; 5.1.2. two illuminated signs which are likely to be confused are not to be used at the same time; 5.1.3. an illuminated sign is not to be used in the proximity of another similar illuminated source; 5.1.4. two acoustic signals are not to be used at the same time; 5.1.5. an acoustic signal is not be used if there is too much ambient noise; 5.2. poor design, insufficient number, incorrect positioning, poor state of repair or incorrect functioning of the signs or signalling devices. 6. Depending on requirements, signs and signalling devices must be cleaned, maintained, checked, repaired, and if necessary replaced on a regular basis to ensure that they retain their intrinsic and/or functional qualitities. 7. The number and positioning of signs or signalling devices to be installed will depend on the extent of the hazards or dangers or on the zone to be covered. 8. Signs requiring some form of power must be provided with a guaranteed emergency supply in the event of a power cut, unless the hazard has thereby been eliminated. 9. The triggering of an illuminated sign and/or acoustic signal indicates when the required action should start, the sign or signal must be activated for as long as the action requires. Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be reactivated immediately after use. 10. Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be checked to ensure that they function correctly and that they are effective before they are put into service and subsequently at sufficiently frequent intervals. 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. 12. Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant quantities of dangerous substances or preparations must be indicated by a suitable warning sign taken from section 3.2. of Annex II, or marked as provided in section 1 of Annex III, unless the labelling of the individual packages or containers is adequate for this purpose. ANNEX II MINIUM GENERAL REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SIGNBOARDS 1. Intrinsic features 1.1. The shape and colours of signboards are set out in section 3, in accordance with their specific object (signboards indicating a prohibition, a warning, a mandatory action, an escape route, an emergency or fire-fighting equipment). 1.2. Pictograms must be as simple as possible and should contain only essential details. 1.3. The pictograms used may be slightly different from or more detailed than those shown in section 3, provided that they convey the same meaning and that no difference or adaptation obscures the meaning. 1.4. Signboards are to be made of shock and weather-resistant material suitable for the surrounding environment. 1.5. The dimensions and colorimetric and photometric features of signoboards must be such that they can be easily seen and understood. 2. Conditions of use 2.1. Signboards are in principle to be installed at a suitable height and in a position appropriate to the line of sight, taking account of any obstacles, either at the access point to an area in the case of a general hazard, or in the immediate vicinity of a specific hazard or object and in a well-lit and easily accessible and visible location. Without prejudice to the provisions of Directive 89/654/EEC, phosphorescent colours, reflective materials or artificial lighting should be used where the level of natural light is poor. 2.2. The signboard must be removed when the situation to which it refers ceases to exist. 3. Signboards to be used 3.1. Prohibitory signs — Intrinsic features: — round shape — black pictogram on white background, red edging and diagonal line (the red part to take up at least 35 % of the area of the sign). 3.2. Warning signs — Intrinsic features: — triangular shape — black pictogram on a yellow background with black edging (the yellow part to take up at least 50 % of the area of the sign). (1) (2) 3.3. Mandatory signs — Intrinsic features: — round shape — white pictogram on a blue background (the blue part to take up at least 50 % of the area of the sign). 3.4. Emergency escape or first-aid signs — Intrinsic features: — rectangular or square shape — white pictogram on a green background (the green part to take up at least 50 % of the area of the sign). 3.5. Fire-fighting signs — Intrinsic features: — rectangular or square shape — white pictogram on a red background (the red part to take up at least 50 % of the area of the sign). (1) Pictogram laid down in Council Directive 90/679/EEC of 26 November 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to biological agents at work (Seventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) /OJ No L 374, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1. (2) The background to this sign may exceptionally be amber if justified in order to differentiate it from a similar road safety sign. ANNEX III MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SIGNS ON CONTAINERS AND PIPES 1. Containers used at work for dangerous substances or preparations defined in Directives 67 /548 /EEC (1) and 88/379/EEC (2) and containers used for the storage of such dangerous substances or preparations, together with the visible pipes containing or transporting dangerous substances and preparations, must be labelled (pictogram or symbol against a coloured background) in accordance with those Directives. Paragraph 1 does not apply to containers used at work for brief periods nor to containers whose contents change frequently, provided that alternative adequate measures are taken, in particular for information and/or training, which guarantee the same level of protection. The labels referred to in paragraph 1 may be: — replaced by warning signs as provided for in Annex II, using the same pictograms or symbols, — supplemented by additional information, such as the name and/or formula of the dangerous substance or preparation and details of the hazard, — for the transporting of containers at the place of work, supplemented or replaced by signs applicable throughout the Community for the transport of dangerous substances or preparations. 2. Signs must be mounted as follows: — on the visible side(s), — in unpliable, self-adhesive or painted form. 3. Where appropriate, the signs referred to in section 1 of this Annex must have the intrinsic features defined in section 1.4. of Annex II and must fulfil the conditions of use for signboards laid down in section 2 of Annex II. 4. Without prejudice to sections 1,2 and 3, the labels used on pipes must be positioned visibly in the vicinity of the most dangerous points, such as valves and joint, and at reasonable intervals. 5. Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant quantities of dangerous substances or preparations must be indicated by a suitable warning sign taken from section 3.2 of Annex II, or marked as provided in section 1 of Annex III, unless the labelling of the individual packages or containers is adequate for this purpose, taking into account Annex II, point 1.5 with regard to dimensions. Stores of a number of dangerous substances or preparations may be indicated by the warning sign for general danger. The signs or labels referred to above must be positioned, as appropriate, near the storage area or on the door leading into the storage room. (1) OJ No L 196, 16. 8. 1967, p. 1. (2) OJ No L 187, 16. 7. 1988, p. 14. ANNEX IV MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT 1. Preliminary remark This Annex applies to equipment used exclusively for fire-fighting purposes. 2. Fire-fighting equipment must be identified by using a specific colour for the equipment and placing a location signboard, and/or by using a specific colour for the places where such equipment is kept, or their access points. 3. The colour for identifying this equipment is red. The red area must be sufficiently large to allow the equipment to be identified easily. 4. The signboards provided for in section 3.5 of Annex Ii must be used to mark the locations of this equipment. ANNEX V MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SIGNS USED FOR OBSTACLES AND DANGEROUS LOCATIONS, AND FOR MARKING TRAFFIC ROUTES 1. Signs for obstacles and dangerous locations 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, or red and white stripes in built-up zones in the undertaking to which workers have access during their work. 1.2. The dimensions of the markings must be commensurate with the scale of the obstacle or dangerous location in question. 1.3. The yellow and black or red and white stripes must be at an angle of approximately 45o and of more or less equal size. 1.4. Example: 2. Marking of traffic routes 2.1. Where the use and equipment of rooms so requires for the protection of workers, traffic routes for vehicles must be clearly identified by continous stripes in a clearly visible colour, preferably white or yellow, taking into account the colour of the ground. 2.2. The stripes must be located so as to indicate the necessary safe distance between the vehicles and any object which may be near by, and between pedestrians and vehicles. 2.3. Permanent traffic routes in built-up areas outdoors should, as far as is practicable, be similarly marked, unless they are provided with suitable barriers or pavements. ANNEX VI MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ILLUMINATED SIGNS 1. Intrinsic features 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 for an excessive amount of light or poor visibility as a result of insufficient light. 1.2. The luminous area emitting a sign may be of a single colour or contain a pictogram on a specified background. 1.3. The single colour must correspond to the table of colours and their meanings set out in section 4 of Annex I. 1.4. Likewise, when the sign contains a pictogram, the latter must comply with all the relevant rules set out in Annex II. 2. Specific rules governing use 2.1. If a device can emit both continuous and intermittent 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 is indicated by the continuous sign. The duration of each flash and the frequency of the flashers of an intermittent illuminated sign must be such as to — ensure the proper perception of the message, and — avoid any confusion either between different illuminated signs or with a continuous illuminated sign. 2.2. If a flashing sign is used instead of — or together with — an acoustic signal, identical codes must be used. 2.3. Devices for emitting flashing signs in the event of grave danger must be under special surveillance or be fitted with an auxiliary lamp. ANNEX VII MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ACOUSTIC SIGNS 1. Intrinsic features 1.1. Acoustic signals must: (a) have a sound level which is considerably higher than the level of ambient noise, so that it is audible without being excessive or painful; (b) be easily recognizable, particularly in terms of pulse length and the interval between pulses or groups of pulses, and be clearly distinct from any other acoustic signal and ambient noises. 1.2. If a device can emit an acoustic signal at variable and constant frequencies, the variable frequency should be used to indicate a higher level of danger or a more urgent need for the requested/imposed intervention or action in relation to the stable frequency. 2. Code The signal for evacuation must be continuous. ANNEX VIII MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR VERBAL COMMUNICATION 1. Intrinsic features 1.1. Verbal communication between a speaker or emitter and one or more hearers is to take the form of (sometimes coded) short texts, phrases, groups of words and/or individual words. 1.2. Spoken messages are to be as short, simple and clear as possible; the verbal skills of the speaker and the hearing abilities of the hearer(s) must be such as to ensure reliable verbal communication. 1.3. Verbal communication is direct (by means of the human voice) or indirect (by means of a human or artificial voice which is broadcast by whatever means is appropriate). 2. Specific rules governing use 2.1. The persons involved must have a good knowledge of the language used so that they are able to pronounce and understand the spoken message correctly and consequently behave in a way which is appropriate to health and /or safety. 2.2. If verbal communication is used instead of — or together with — gestures, code words should be used such as: — start to indicate the start of a command — stop to interrupt or end a movement — end to stop the operation — raise to have a load raised — lower to have a load lowered — forwards to be coordinated with the corresponding hand signals — backwards — right — left — danger for an emergency stop — quickly to speed up a movement for safety reasons. ANNEX IX MINIMUM 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 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 section 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 point 2.2 are not fulfilled, one or more extra singnalmen should be deployed. 2.5. The operator must interrupt the ongoing manoeuvre in order to request new instructions 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 armbandds, 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 co4es 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 forward 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 the 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 the 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 point upwards with the palms facing forwards QUICK all movements faster SLOW all movements slower

Summary: Provision of health and safety signs at work Provision of health and safety signs at work SUMMARY OF: Directive 92/58/EEC on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE? It sets out minimum requirements concerning health and safety signs at work, in particular, prohibitory signs (e.g. no access for industrial vehicles), warning signs (e.g. overhead load), mandatory signs (e.g. eye protection must be worn), emergency escape or first-aid signs (e.g. emergency exit /escape route) or fire-fighting signs (e.g. fire hose). It also lays down minimum requirements for illuminated and acoustic signs, hand signals and for verbal communication. KEY POINTS The directive complements Framework Directive 89/391/EEC on health and safety at work (see summary). The directive does not apply to signs for the placing on the market of dangerous substances and preparations, products and/or equipment, unless other European Union (EU) rules make specific reference to it, nor to signs used for regulating road, rail, inland waterway, and sea or air traffic. Employers’ obligations Employers must provide safety signs where hazards cannot be avoided or adequately reduced by preventive measures or procedures used in the organisation of work. Wherever appropriate, signs used for road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air transport are to be installed inside companies or undertakings. Supplementary information EU Member States may specify certain exemptions within certain precise limits. Workers must be informed of the measures to be taken and must be given appropriate training (precise instructions). Workers must be consulted and allowed to participate on the matters covered by the directive. Delegated acts Regulation (EU) 2019/1243 amends Directive 92/58/EEC giving the European Commission powers, as of 26 July 2019, to adopt delegated acts to make strictly technical amendments to its annexes, in order to take account of technical harmonisation and standardisation concerning the design and manufacture of safety and/or health signs or devices at work, technical progress, changes in international regulations or specifications and advances in knowledge in the field of safety and/or health signs or devices at work. Repeal Directive 92/58/EEC repeals Directive 77/576/EEC on safety signs in the work place. FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY? It has applied since 27 July 1992 and had to become law in the Member States by 24 June 1994. BACKGROUND For further information, see: Directive 92/58/EEC — safety and/or health signs (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work). MAIN DOCUMENT Council Directive 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, pp. 23–42). Successive amendments to Directive 92/58/EEC have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only. RELATED DOCUMENTS Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, pp. 1–8). See consolidated version. last update 13.12.2021