How Directional Signage Keeps People Safe

Posted By  
| 10 Oct 2024
How directional signage keeps people safe

Directional and wayfinding signage lets people know where they are and how to get where they want to go. They’re crucial for the visitor experience, since no one enjoys getting lost in an unfamiliar space (especially if it causes them to be late!). However, these signs are essential safety features.

Clear signage minimizes confusion and chaos, particularly in high-stress scenarios like emergencies and disasters. They also help prevent unavoidable accidents resulting from guests and pedestrians wandering into unsafe areas.

To learn more about how directional signage keeps people safe, keep reading! Then, contact New Style Signs to shop for directional and wayfinding signage for your company or organization.

Direct Foot Traffic Easily and Safely

Directional signage exists to direct people as they navigate your property or building. It helps them find their destination easily and effectively by showing them the best route.

This is, of course, extremely useful. Furthermore, it prevents feelings of frustration, confusion, and even anger. Guests have a more seamless and enjoyable experience in your building, which results in positive associations with your organization.

However, directional signage also has a safety component. You don’t want visitors getting lost in your building as it can compromise their safety. After all, who knows where they might wander! They may end up in a part of your building that is unsafe for visitors. Alternatively, they could get so lost that they are unable to find their way back to their group or the exit.

Getting lost is uncomfortable—even anxiety-inducing. Consequently, it’s very important that guests are able to situate themselves within your building and stay on the correct path.

Prevent Confusion and Panic

Directional signage is crucial for guiding foot traffic in a way that is straightforward, easy, and stress-free. Without effective directional signage, confusion is inevitable. Visitors won’t know how to find what they’re looking for or the best route to take to get there.

This is particularly problematic (and dangerous) in crowded places, like airports and shopping centres. Directional signage is vital for maintaining order and preventing confusion that could lead to accidents or delays.

Block Off Restricted or Dangerous Areas

You can block off restricted or dangerous areas using clear directional signage. By making it easy to identify restricted areas and potential hazards, you can keep guests safe.

It’s crucial to limit visitors to safe parts of your building for their own well-being. Most buildings have areas where visitors should not go, especially accidentally or without supervision. Failing to provide these areas with clear, impossible-to-miss, and easy-to-see signage is a huge mistake that puts guests at risk.

Guide Pedestrians Through Car-Trafficked Areas

Directional signage helps keep visitors safe even after they leave your business’ building. Indeed, hazards exist beyond your front doors too, such as car traffic, for instance.

Traffic is a significant hazard for pedestrians. Therefore, wayfinding signs are essential for safety in areas where people are likely to encounter vehicles. It’s crucial to guide pedestrians to safe walking paths and warn them about traffic crossings; otherwise, accidents can occur.

Using directional signage, you can alert pedestrians to high-traffic areas, bus crossings, and pick-up zones. It’s very dangerous to stand in the flow of traffic, so highlighting these areas will help keep people safe. Instead, direct pedestrians to a safe place to wait for their pickup, towards the crosswalk, or towards a safe walking path.

Additionally, clearly mark loading and unloading zones, so pedestrians can avoid these areas. You should also warn them about bus crossings or other traffic crossings outside your building.

Place Warnings During Construction

Construction is an inherently dangerous time for visitors (or anyone not wearing a hard hat). Consequently, clear directional signage is an absolute must for safety. If your business’s property or building is undergoing construction, then you need to position directional signage in key areas to keep guests from getting hurt.

Place warning and danger signs around the perimeter. In addition, ensure that you use wayfinding signage to guide guests safely. There should be a designated, safe walking route for pedestrians so they do not step foot into the actual construction area.

Furthermore, it is imperative that these signs are highly visible and easy to understand. Pedestrians must be able to understand where they are (and are not) allowed to walk.

Getting lost is never good. However, it’s extremely dangerous if a pedestrian gets lost on a construction site. You must take steps to prevent this from happening. Directional signage and warning signs in key areas are non-negotiable.

Facilitate Safe Evacuations

In case of an emergency, visitors need to know how to evacuate safely. Otherwise, there will be confusion, panic, and potential injuries. No guests should find themselves trapped within your building, unsure of which way to go to find safety.

Emergencies are inevitably high-stress scenarios, so evacuation routes must be clearly marked and easy to identify. People are already anxious. Not being able to find the exit will only make matters worse. Also, it’s easier to miss an evacuation route in the chaos of an emergency. This is why all emergency exits need to be clearly identifiable and unmissable.

Directional signage tells people where to go, what to do, and what not to do during an emergency. It plays a crucial role in keeping people safe during emergencies and disasters.

Not only does it guide visitors and staff towards designated evacuation routes, it also provides instructions so they evacuate in a safe manner. For example, directional signage warns visitors to use the stairs and not elevators in case of a fire.

Contact New Style Signs for Directional Signage in Toronto

New Style Signs supplies directional and wayfinding signage to businesses and organizations in Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. With more than 50 years of design and manufacturing experience, our signs are long-lasting and highly effective.

Additionally, we are ready to help create a safe and easy-to-navigate environment for your guests and staff. Contact us today for a free estimate on directional and wayfinding signage.

To learn more about directional signage, call New Style Signs at 866-591-6938 or contact us here.

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