ANNEX 2 Use Of Safety Signs
Published 18 September 2025
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In any area of the ship where a worker is likely to be exposed to noise at or above an upper exposure action value the employer should ensure that the area is demarcated and identified by means of the ear protection sign, in accordance with the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 2001, as detailed below.
Sign with symbol: The background colour should be blue and the symbol should be white and placed centrally on the background. Blue should cover at least 50% of the area of the sign. The diameter should be 150 mm or 300 mm.
Supplementary sign: This should be rectangular. The background colour should be white with black letters or alternatively the background may be the same colour blue as the sign with the symbol and have white letters. The height of the letters should be a minimum of 20 mm.
Sign with Symbol:
Supplementary sign:
Further guidance in respect of the use of safety signs on merchant vessels is included in the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maritime-health-and-safety-must-do-signs