Mandatory sign - blue circle
PPE signs
PPE signs tell people which protective equipment to wear before they go further. These printable signs use the blue circle and white symbol that mark a mandatory sign, for hard hats, hi-vis clothing, safety footwear, safety gloves, respiratory protection, protective clothing and safety harnesses. There are also a general PPE must be worn sign and the common site-gate wording for hard hat, hi-vis and safety footwear. Print on A4 or A3 in portrait or landscape. Eye and ear protection have their own pages.
PPE must be worn in this area sign
Sign text: "PPE must be worn / in this area". PDF, 40 KB. A5, A4 or A3, portrait or landscape.
Buy a durable version
Rigid plastic, aluminium or self-adhesive ppe signss, ready to put up. The pictures are our own free designs, not the Amazon products.
Rigid PPE must be worn sign
View on Amazon - Rigid PPE must be worn sign (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Self-adhesive hard hat required sign
View on Amazon - Self-adhesive hard hat required sign (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
PPE signs set for workshops
View on Amazon - PPE signs set for workshops (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Also useful: A4 laminating pouches (to protect a printed sign) on Amazon (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
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Choose your wording
9 versions. Each one downloads as a PDF in A5, A4 or A3, portrait or landscape.
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Hard hat area
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High-visibility clothing must be worn
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Safety footwear must be worn
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Safety gloves must be worn
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Respiratory protection must be worn
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Protective clothing must be worn
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Safety harness must be worn
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Hard hat, hi-vis and safety footwear must be worn on site
Download all 9 signs
Every wording, size and orientation in one ZIP file, 1.3 MB.
Print tips
- Print at "actual size" or 100%, not "fit to page", so the margins stay even.
- Use thicker paper or card (160gsm or more) if the sign will be handled.
- For outdoor or long-term use, laminate it or buy a rigid version.
Where to use it
- Site and workshop entrances, where PPE starts
- Doors to machine, chemical and paint areas
- Loading yards, warehouses and work-at-height zones
- School and college workshops and labs
- Farms and estates for staff and contractors
Questions
What does a blue PPE sign mean?
It is a mandatory sign: the equipment shown must be worn in the area. It does not supply the equipment.
Do I have to provide the PPE as well?
Where a risk cannot be controlled another way, the employer is expected to provide suitable PPE and training, and a sign is only a reminder. Ask the HSE or your adviser about your case.
Where are the eye and ear protection signs?
They each have a page with more wordings: see Related.
Which size should I print?
A3 at gates and entrances, A4 on doors, A5 in small workshops.
More safety clothing signs
Eye Protection Signs
Ear Protection SignsRelated signs
Mandatory Signs
Construction Signs
Wash Hands SignsMandatory class. A blue disc with a white symbol means you must do this. All sign categories