ISO 7010 PPE Symbols & Mandatory PPE Signs

It is used where people may be exposed to high or prolonged noise levels that could damage hearing, such as around industrial machinery, power tools, construction equipment, manufacturing processes or other noisy work areas.

The symbol provides a clear visual instruction to wear appropriate hearing protection, such as ear defenders or ear plugs, helping to reinforce PPE requirements and reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing damage.

Used in areas where there is a risk of eye injury from flying particles, dust, debris, sparks, chemical splashes or other hazardous materials. It is commonly displayed in workshops, factories, laboratories, construction sites and other environments where protective eyewear is required.

It is particularly useful near machinery, grinding and cutting equipment, chemical handling areas and processes that may produce fragments or splashes. Positioning the symbol clearly at entrances, workstations or close to the hazard helps remind people to put on suitable eye protection before starting work.

Using this symbol helps reinforce PPE requirements and reduce the risk of avoidable eye injuries. As an internationally recognised ISO 7010 symbol, M004 provides a clear and consistent instruction that can be quickly understood by employees, contractors and visitors.

This symbol should be displayed in workplaces where processes can expose the eyes to powerful light, ultraviolet or infrared radiation. Typical locations can include welding areas, metal fabrication workshops, laboratories and other environments where high-intensity optical radiation may be produced.

It is especially important where looking directly at a process could cause immediate or lasting eye damage. Placing the symbol at entrances, beside equipment or close to the point of work makes it clear that suitable opaque or filtered eye protection must be put on before exposure occurs.

The symbol is useful because it communicates a specific PPE requirement quickly without relying on lengthy written instructions. It helps distinguish situations that require specialist eye protection from those where standard safety glasses or goggles may be sufficient, supporting safer working practices and reducing the risk of serious eye injury.

This symbol should be displayed in areas such as construction sites, warehouses, factories, workshops, loading bays and engineering environments where employees or visitors may be exposed to hazards at ground level. It is often positioned at site entrances, access points or close to work areas where safety boots or shoes are required.

It is particularly important in workplaces where materials are frequently moved, heavy items are handled or machinery operates close to workers’ feet. Clear signage helps ensure people are wearing footwear with the appropriate level of protection, such as reinforced toe caps, slip-resistant soles or puncture-resistant midsoles where required.

The symbol is useful because it provides an immediate visual reminder that ordinary footwear may not offer sufficient protection. By reinforcing PPE requirements at the point of entry or before work begins, it can help reduce the likelihood and severity of foot injuries and support consistent safety procedures across the workplace.

This symbol should be displayed in workplaces including laboratories, factories, workshops, cleaning areas, construction sites and chemical handling locations where hand protection is required. It is often positioned near entrances, workstations, machinery or storage areas so the requirement is clear before contact with the hazard occurs.

It is particularly useful where different tasks involve a risk of cuts, burns, irritation, chemical exposure or abrasion. The symbol helps remind workers and visitors that appropriate gloves should be selected and worn as part of the required PPE for the activity.

Using the symbol provides a simple and highly visible way to reinforce hand protection requirements across the workplace. It can help reduce preventable hand injuries, support safer working practices and make PPE expectations easier to understand at a glance.

This symbol should be displayed in laboratories, factories, chemical processing areas, workshops, cleanrooms and other workplaces where protective garments form part of the required personal protective equipment. It may be positioned at entrances, changing areas or close to the task so that the requirement is clear before exposure to the hazard occurs.

The type of clothing required will depend on the risks present and may include coveralls, protective suits, aprons, laboratory coats or other specialist garments. Displaying the M010 symbol helps remind employees, contractors and visitors that appropriate protective clothing must be selected and worn for the activity.

Using the M010 symbol provides a clear and internationally recognised way of reinforcing PPE requirements. It can help reduce exposure to hazardous materials, minimise contamination and support more consistent safety procedures by making the need for protective clothing immediately visible.

You will commonly find this symbol in engineering workshops, laboratories, fabrication areas, manufacturing facilities and chemical handling zones. It may also be displayed beside grinding, cutting, machining or processing equipment where a face shield is required as part of the specified personal protective equipment.

Unlike signage that only calls for eye protection, the M013 symbol highlights the need to protect a larger area of the face. This makes it especially useful where the hazard could strike or splash beyond the eyes, helping workers recognise that more comprehensive protection is necessary before the task begins.

Displaying the M013 Wear a Face Shield symbol at entrances, workstations or close to the source of the hazard reinforces PPE requirements at the point where they matter most. Its standardised ISO 7010 design supports clear safety communication, helps encourage correct protective equipment use and can contribute to reducing avoidable face and eye injuries.

Typical locations include construction sites, warehouses, factories, engineering areas, loading zones and maintenance environments where safety helmets or hard hats form part of the required PPE. The sign is often positioned at entrances, access points or before entering a hazardous work zone so the requirement is clear in advance.

Head injuries can occur quickly and may result from hazards that are difficult to predict or avoid. The M014 symbol provides a strong visual reminder that protective headgear must be worn, helping ensure workers, contractors and visitors are properly equipped before entering the area.

Using the M014 Wear Head Protection symbol supports consistent PPE control across a workplace and makes the requirement easier to recognise at a glance. Clear signage can help reduce avoidable head injuries, reinforce site safety rules and improve compliance with established protective equipment procedures.

This symbol is commonly used on construction sites, roadworks, warehouses, loading bays, transport depots, railway environments and industrial premises. It is often placed at site entrances, vehicle access points or before entering operational areas where high-visibility clothing forms part of the required PPE.

Improved visibility can be especially important where workers need to be noticed quickly by drivers, plant operators or other personnel. The M015 symbol reinforces the requirement to wear items such as high-visibility vests, jackets or other suitable garments before entering the affected area.

Displaying the M015 symbol helps create a clear and consistent PPE message across a workplace. It supports safer interaction between pedestrians and moving equipment, reduces reliance on written instructions and helps ensure employees, contractors and visitors understand when high-visibility clothing is mandatory.

This symbol may be displayed in manufacturing areas, laboratories, workshops, construction environments, processing facilities and other workplaces where respiratory protection is necessary. It should be positioned at entrances, workstations or close to the hazard so users are reminded to put on the correct mask before exposure occurs.

The sign is particularly useful where the presence of airborne hazards may not be obvious. By providing a clear visual instruction, the M016 symbol helps employees, contractors and visitors understand that appropriate respiratory protection is mandatory before entering or working in the affected area.

Using the M016 Wear a Mask symbol supports consistent PPE communication and helps reinforce safe working procedures. Clear signage can improve compliance, reduce avoidable exposure to harmful airborne substances and make respiratory protection requirements easier to recognise across a site.

You will typically see this symbol in chemical processing areas, industrial plants, laboratories, confined workspaces, maintenance zones and other environments where respiratory hazards have been identified. It should be positioned at entrances or close to the hazardous activity so that workers know protective breathing equipment is required before exposure occurs.

Unlike the more general M016 Wear a Mask symbol, M017 specifically indicates the need for respiratory protection. Depending on the risk assessment, this may involve filtering respirators, half masks, full-face respirators or other suitable respiratory protective equipment designed for the contaminant and conditions present.

Displaying the M017 symbol helps reinforce respiratory protection requirements at the point of risk and makes the instruction easier to recognise without relying solely on written notices. Consistent use can support PPE compliance, reduce exposure to hazardous airborne substances and remind employees, contractors and visitors that appropriate respiratory protection is mandatory.

This symbol is commonly displayed on roofs, scaffolding, towers, elevated platforms, maintenance areas and other workplaces where people may be exposed to an unprotected edge or fall hazard. It should be positioned before access to the hazardous area so that the requirement is clear before work begins.

The M018 symbol is especially useful where fall protection depends on the correct use of a harness together with suitable lanyards, lifelines or anchorage systems. By providing a clear visual instruction, it helps remind workers and contractors that ordinary PPE is not sufficient and that dedicated fall-arrest or restraint equipment is required.

Using the M018 Wear a Safety Harness symbol supports consistent work-at-height safety procedures and reinforces the need for appropriate fall protection. Clear signage can help reduce the risk of serious injury, improve PPE compliance and make harness requirements easier to recognise throughout a site.

This symbol is commonly used in fabrication workshops, engineering facilities, shipyards, manufacturing plants, maintenance areas and other workplaces where welding is undertaken. It should be displayed at entrances to welding zones, beside welding bays or close to the task so that the PPE requirement is clearly visible before exposure occurs.

Welding can create hazards that are not always obvious to people nearby, particularly intense optical radiation and hot metal particles. The M019 symbol helps reinforce that ordinary eye protection may not be sufficient and that a suitable welding mask or welding shield is required for the activity.

Using the M019 Wear a Welding Mask symbol provides a clear and standardised mandatory instruction for welders, contractors and other personnel. It can help reduce the risk of facial injuries and eye damage, strengthen PPE compliance and make welding safety requirements easier to recognise throughout the workplace.

You will commonly see this symbol in vehicles, forklifts, plant machinery, construction equipment and other mobile or seated equipment fitted with a safety restraint. It should be positioned where the operator or passenger can clearly see the instruction before the equipment is put into use.

The M020 symbol is particularly useful in workplaces where people regularly enter and leave machinery and may be tempted to operate it without fastening the belt. A prominent mandatory sign provides an immediate reminder that the restraint is a required safety measure rather than an optional feature.

Using the M020 Wear Safety Belts symbol helps reinforce safe operating procedures and promotes consistent use of fitted restraint systems. Clear signage can reduce the likelihood of serious injury or death in the event of sudden movement or an accident, while making the safety requirement easy to recognise at a glance.

This symbol is particularly associated with healthcare and medical environments where infants may undergo procedures involving powerful light sources, such as phototherapy equipment. It should be displayed on or close to the relevant equipment where the eye-protection requirement needs to be clearly understood by healthcare staff and carers.

The M025 symbol is useful because an infant’s eyes require specific protection from intense light during these procedures. By providing a prominent visual instruction, the sign reinforces that suitable opaque eye protection must be correctly positioned before treatment or exposure begins.

Using the M025 symbol helps make this specialist safety requirement immediately recognisable and reduces reliance on written instructions alone. It supports consistent operating procedures, reminds users to check that the infant’s eyes are protected and helps prevent accidental exposure to potentially harmful levels of light.

This symbol can be used in laboratories, workshops, food-processing areas, chemical handling zones, manufacturing facilities and other workplaces where apron protection forms part of the required PPE. It should be positioned close to the task, workstation or entry point where the apron must be worn.

The M026 symbol is particularly useful where the hazard is concentrated around the front of the torso rather than requiring full-body protective clothing. Depending on the activity, the apron may be designed to protect against splashes, heat, sharp materials, contamination or other specific workplace risks.

Using the M026 Use Protective Apron symbol provides a clear and standardised instruction that helps reinforce PPE requirements. It can improve awareness, reduce avoidable exposure to hazards and remind employees, contractors and visitors to wear the appropriate protective apron before starting the task.

This symbol is commonly used in electronics manufacturing, laboratories, cleanrooms, chemical processing areas, fuel-handling environments and other workplaces where electrostatic discharge needs to be controlled. It should be positioned at entrances, changing areas or before access to zones where anti-static footwear is mandatory.

The M032 symbol is particularly useful where ordinary footwear could allow a build-up of static charge. By reminding employees, contractors and visitors to wear the correct footwear, the sign helps support electrostatic control measures and reduces the risk of unwanted discharge.

Using the M032 Wear Anti-Static Footwear symbol provides a clear and standardised PPE instruction that can be recognised quickly. It helps reinforce workplace safety procedures, protects sensitive processes and equipment, and supports safer working conditions in areas where static electricity is a known hazard.

This symbol is most relevant in confined spaces, chemical plants, industrial facilities, tanks, process areas and other workplaces where the atmosphere may be hazardous. It should be displayed at access points or close to the affected area so personnel know that independent breathing equipment is required before entry.

The M047 symbol is especially important because some dangerous atmospheres may not be obvious by sight or smell. By providing a clear mandatory instruction, it reminds trained workers and emergency personnel that normal respiratory protection may not be sufficient and that a self-contained air supply is required.

Using the M047 Use Self-Contained Breathing Appliance symbol helps reinforce safe-entry procedures and makes respiratory protection requirements easier to identify. It can reduce the risk of exposure to toxic gases or oxygen-deficient atmospheres and supports consistent safety communication in high-risk environments.

This symbol is particularly suited to skate parks, roller-skating areas, inline-skating facilities, training centres and other venues where roller sports take place. It should be positioned at entrances, access points or before users enter the activity area so the PPE requirement is clear before participation begins.

Falls are a common hazard in roller sports, especially where users may come into contact with ramps, obstacles, hard surfaces or other participants. The M049 symbol provides a direct visual reminder that suitable protective gear should be worn, helping users prepare correctly before entering the activity zone.

Using the M049 symbol supports consistent safety rules and helps venue operators communicate protective-equipment requirements without relying solely on written instructions. Clear signage can encourage safer participation, reduce the severity of impact injuries and make PPE expectations easier for users to recognise at a glance.

This symbol is particularly suitable for boats, marinas, docks, offshore facilities, water sports areas, ports and other locations where people work or travel close to open water. It should be positioned at access points, boarding areas or before entering the activity zone so that the requirement is clear before exposure to the hazard occurs.

The M053 symbol is especially useful where users may otherwise underestimate the risk presented by deep water, strong currents or unexpected immersion. By providing a direct visual instruction, it helps remind employees, passengers and participants that suitable flotation equipment must be worn rather than simply carried or kept nearby.

Using the M053 Wear Personal Flotation Devices symbol supports consistent water-safety procedures and makes the PPE requirement easier to recognise at a glance. It can help reduce the risk of drowning, improve compliance with site or activity rules and reinforce the importance of wearing appropriate buoyancy equipment in environments where water hazards are present.

This symbol is especially suitable for laboratories, research facilities, healthcare environments, testing areas and other workplaces where chemicals, biological substances or potentially contaminating materials are handled. It should be displayed at entrances, changing points or close to workstations where laboratory coats are mandatory.

The M059 symbol is useful because it gives staff, students, contractors and visitors a clear reminder that ordinary clothing alone is not considered sufficient protection for the activity. By showing the requirement before work begins, it helps reinforce laboratory PPE procedures and encourages consistent use of protective clothing.

Using the M059 Wear Laboratory Coat symbol supports clearer safety communication and helps distinguish laboratory coat requirements from more general protective-clothing instructions. It can reduce the risk of contamination or exposure, improve compliance with local safety procedures and make the expected PPE easier to recognise at a glance.

This symbol is especially relevant at ski areas, cycling facilities, skate parks, mountain sport centres, training venues and other recreational locations where wearing a sports helmet is required. It should be displayed at entrances, equipment collection points or before participants enter the activity area so the requirement is clear in advance.

Sporting environments can involve sudden falls or high-speed impacts, making head protection an important part of injury prevention. The M066 symbol provides a simple visual reminder that participants must put on an appropriate helmet before beginning the activity rather than relying solely on written rules or verbal instructions.

Using the M066 Wear a Sports Helmet symbol helps venues communicate protective-equipment requirements consistently to visitors, participants and staff. Clear signage can encourage correct helmet use, support safer participation and make an important PPE requirement easier to recognise at a glance.

This symbol is most appropriate at ski resorts, snowboard parks, mountain recreation areas and other winter sports facilities where eye protection is mandatory. It may be positioned at lift stations, piste access points, equipment areas or before participants enter locations where snow goggles are required.

Bright sunlight reflected from snow can significantly increase exposure to ultraviolet light and glare, while wind and airborne snow can also affect vision. The M067 symbol provides a clear visual reminder that appropriate goggles should be worn before taking part, helping users prepare correctly for the conditions.

Using the M067 Wear Snow Goggles symbol supports consistent safety communication for skiers and snowboarders and makes the protective-equipment requirement easy to recognise. It can help reduce the risk of snow blindness, eye and facial injury, and accidents caused by impaired vision while participating in snow sports.