Symbol Directory: ISO 7010 / GHS / Road Traffic & More
Written by the Technical Team at Caledonia Signs
Last reviewed: September 2026
ISO 7010, GHS & Road Traffic Signs: Symbols, Meanings and Uses
Safety signs play an essential role in helping people quickly understand hazards, instructions, and safety requirements in workplaces and public spaces. The ISO 7010 standard provides a globally recognised system of safety symbols designed to communicate important messages clearly, regardless of language or location. By using consistent colours, shapes, and pictograms, these signs help improve awareness and support safer environments.
This guide provides a comprehensive directory of safety and hazard symbols, including ISO 7010 safety signs, GHS hazardous substance pictograms and other specialist symbol categories. The standard covers a wide range of safety categories, including prohibition signs, warning signs, mandatory action signs, safe condition signs, and fire safety signs. Each symbol has been carefully designed to be easily understood and recognised at a glance.
ISO 7010 symbols are organised into dedicated directories covering fire safety, emergency escape, mandatory actions, prohibition, warning, first aid and other safe-condition information. They help identify hazards, indicate required actions, highlight emergency information, and locate essential safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and first aid facilities.
Understanding the meaning behind ISO 7010 symbols helps organisations select the correct signage, maintain compliance with safety requirements, and ensure that information is communicated effectively to employees, visitors, and the public. Browse the symbol directories below to explore individual symbols, their meanings and common applications.
Fire Safety Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 F-series fire safety symbols used to identify firefighting equipment, alarm points and other fire-response facilities. The directory explains the meaning and typical use of symbols for fire extinguishers, hose reels, alarm call points, emergency telephones, fire protection equipment and related fire safety provisions.
Emergency Escape Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 E-series emergency escape symbols used to identify emergency exits, escape routes, refuge areas and evacuation facilities. The directory explains the meaning and typical use of symbols for emergency exits, evacuation assembly points, escape ladders, refuge locations, evacuation equipment and other emergency escape provisions.
Mandatory Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 M-series mandatory symbols used to communicate actions and safety procedures that must be followed. The directory covers mandatory instructions relating to hygiene, equipment operation, access routes, safety procedures and other required actions, with dedicated coverage of PPE symbols provided separately.
Prohibition Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 P-series prohibition symbols used to identify actions, behaviours and activities that are not permitted in order to reduce the risk of injury, damage or unsafe conditions. The directory covers symbols for restrictions such as no smoking, no entry, no access, no climbing and other prohibited actions, with each entry explaining the symbol’s meaning and typical use.
Warning Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 W-series warning symbols used to identify hazards such as electricity, moving machinery, hazardous substances, extreme temperatures and environmental risks. Each entry explains the symbol's meaning and typical applications.
PPE Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 M-series PPE symbols used to show when specific personal protective equipment must be worn to reduce exposure to workplace hazards. The directory covers symbols for eye, ear, head, hand, foot, respiratory, face and body protection, as well as specialist PPE requirements for particular tasks and environments, with each entry explaining the symbol’s meaning and typical use.
First Aid & Safe Condition Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 E-series first aid and safe condition symbols used to identify medical facilities, emergency equipment, safety controls and other provisions intended to support health and safety. The directory covers first aid, AEDs, eyewash facilities, safety showers, emergency controls, rescue equipment and other safe-condition symbols.
Road Traffic Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore road traffic symbols used to communicate regulatory instructions, warnings, directions and other information to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The directory covers common traffic signs for speed limits, restrictions, junctions, road hazards, pedestrian routes and directional guidance, with each entry explaining the symbol’s meaning and where it is typically used.
GHS Symbols and Their Meanings
Explore GHS hazard symbols used to identify the physical, health and environmental hazards associated with hazardous chemicals and substances. The directory covers pictograms for flammable, explosive, oxidising, corrosive, toxic and other chemical hazards, with each entry explaining the symbol’s meaning, typical applications and where it may appear on labels, packaging and workplace chemical information.
Marine and Water Emergency and Their Meanings
Explore ISO 7010 marine and water safety symbols used to identify life-saving equipment, emergency facilities, mandatory shipboard actions and hazards associated with vessels and water environments. The directory brings together relevant E-series, M-series and W-series symbols, with each entry explaining the symbol’s meaning and typical use.
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