Posted By TBC Whilst everyone is all 'fired up' about fire extinguishers, FRAs and fire doors. Give a thought for the many companies and retail outlets that get the emergency exit route signs wrong. (I know one very large retail company that has final exit signs above the doors to the stairs and your on the third,second or first floor!!!!) Arrows pointing all over and pointing down to what is a final exit. (The final exit has no arrow) Have a tour around your company, check that you can follow the route correctly and the final exit is to fresh air and safety. This sign company will give you an idea. http://www.fire-safety-e...ty-signs/fire-exit-signs I have no connection with this company it just gives a good description.

Posted By A Campbell TBC, I do empathise with you... to some point. Although the use of the final exit sign being such. Although I very much doubt that an improvement or prohibition notice would be likely as a result of an inspection by the authorities! Would you reasonably expect all employees to distinguish the difference... especially in the 'heat of the moment'? The simple guidance is that the sign indicates the safe route out of the building to a place of safety in the event of emergency.... so maybe not such a 'Hot Topic' as you may think?

Posted By Eliza Flutterby That's quite a common one in retail.... we don't want the public nicking stuff while running for their lives!!!! (JOKE!!!!) When I first took over the H&S role in my store there was a "Staff Only - No Entrance" sign taped up on the only escape route from the sales floor. I really had to argue the point with the managers. Needless to say, the sign ended up in the bin!! I saw a similar thing while watching the show with Mary Portas jiving up a charity shop. "Fire exit - Private" (!)

Posted By Messy Shaw Do you not think the arrow up or down debate is all a little pedantic? During my time as a fire service Inspecting Officer, I would assess how clear the signage was in terms of visibility and how easy it was to understand by those who would be expected to use it. Whilst arrows on the final exit might well cause confusion by directing people away from that exit(!), most 'straight on' arrow signs are easily understood even if the arrow is pointing the 'wrong' way. Now as a risk assessor, I would point out the error but definitely not suggest the signs are changed unless they were truly confusing.

Posted By Ron Hunter Messy Shaw's suggestion of pedantry was limited to the final exit sign only. The need for arrows is surely otherwise obvious.

Posted By Merv Newman I trust you are all familiar with the new ISO 23601:2009 - Safety Identification: escape and evacuation plan signs ? Merv