What colour are mandatory safety signs?

Blue. A mandatory sign is a blue disc with a white symbol and means "take a specific action", such as wearing eye protection.

What ISO 7010 number is the "wear eye protection" sign?

M004. Wear ear protection is M003, safety footwear M008, protective gloves M009 and protective clothing M010.

IMO Symbols / Safety Signs

Mandatory Signs

Mandatory Signs is a group of 89 IMPA-coded items (codes 335110–335903) under IMO Symbols / Safety Signs in the Safety Equipment section (IMPA 33). All of them are priced per piece. The list runs through 4 metric sizes from 100×300 mm to 250×200 mm.

Buying guide

Mandatory signs tell people to take a specific action. They are a blue disc with the symbol in white, for example a head wearing goggles for "goggles to be worn". If no suitable symbol exists, wording is used instead, and a text-only supplementary sign may be placed below to make the meaning clear.^[1]

The group has 89 lines, mostly self-adhesive white vinyl signs in 150 × 150, 200 × 150 and 100 × 300 mm. Most are personal protective equipment signs: helmet, eye protection, face shield, mask, respirator, ear protection, gloves, boots, protective clothing, harness, lifejacket and high-visibility clothing. Others say lift correctly, wash hands, keep guards in position, and give launching instructions for lifeboats, liferafts and rescue boats.

How to specify it

Specify each sign by its ISO 7010 number as well as its wording. IMO’s shipboard signage resolution lists mandatory signs as category MSS, taken from the M series of ISO 7010: M003 wear ear protection, M004 wear eye protection, M008 wear safety footwear, M009 wear protective gloves, M010 wear protective clothing. ISO 7010 is the registered set; the shape and colour come from ISO 3864-1.^[2]^[3]^[4]

For survival craft, IMO lists mandatory action signs that can be put up together as a launching sequence. They cover fastening seat belts, closing hatches, starting the engine, lowering the boat or raft, releasing the falls and gripes, and starting the water spray and air supply (ISO 7010 M020 and M037 to M045). Order the full set for each launching station.^[2]

Give size, material and language. If the ship’s working language is not English, COSWP asks for any text with a sign to be shown in that language too.^[1]

Rules and certificates

On UK ships, permanent safety signs must comply with the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 2001 and MGN 556. Other national and international standards giving an equivalent level of safety are accepted. Signs are placed according to the risk assessment, removed when the hazard has gone, and not crowded together.^[1]

Resolution A.1116(30) applies its signs to ships built on or after 1 January 2019, and to ships repaired or altered within the scope of SOLAS chapters II-2 or III from then on. It names ISO 7010 as the definitive source of the safety symbols.^[2]

Questions buyers ask

What colour are mandatory safety signs?: Blue. A mandatory sign is a blue disc with a white symbol and means "take a specific action", such as wearing eye protection.
What ISO 7010 number is the "wear eye protection" sign?: M004. Wear ear protection is M003, safety footwear M008, protective gloves M009 and protective clothing M010.

Sources

Published by Sherif Awad, founder of GeoMarineHub — in ship supply since 1990, a family business since 1981 (45 years). Last checked 2026-10-10.

At a glance

Part of Safety Equipment (IMPA section 33): Life-saving and fire-fighting equipment — extinguishers, breathing apparatus, lifejackets, detectors, pyrotechnics.

It is one of 29 groups under IMO Symbols / Safety Signs; the others include Accommodation Signs, Combination Signs, Deck and Engine Room Signs, Fire Control & Life Saving Application Plan Modification, Fire Control Symbols to ISO 17631 and 23 more.

Post the ones you need as a requirement and verified suppliers activated at your port bid on them — sealed, so nobody sees another bid.

Items: 89
IMPA codes: 335110–335903
Priced: per piece
Sizes: 100×300 mm – 250×200 mm

Items

IMPA	Item	Unit
335110	SAFETY SIGN LSA RESCUE BOAT, LAUNCHING 150X200MM	PCS
335111	SAFETY SIGN LSA LIFERAFT, LAUNCHING 150X200MM	PCS
335112	SAFETY SIGN LSA LIFEBOAT, LAUNCHING 150X200MM	PCS
335641	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5641 150X150MM EXCLAMATION	PCS
335642	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5642 150X150MM HELMET	PCS
335643	MANDATORY SIGN HI VISIBILITY, CLOTHING #5643 150X150MM	PCS
335644	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5644 150X150MM EYE PROTECTION	PCS
335645	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5645 150X150MM FACE SHIELD	PCS
335646	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5646 150X150MM MASK	PCS
335647	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5647 150X150MM RESPIRATOR	PCS
335648	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5648 150X150MM EAR PROTECTION	PCS
335649	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5649 150X150MM GLOVES	PCS
335650	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5650 150X150MM BOOTS	PCS
335651	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5651 150X150MM PROTECT CLOTH	PCS
335652	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5652 150X150MM HARNESS	PCS
335653	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5653 150X150MM LIFT CORRECTLY	PCS
335654	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5654 150X150MM WASH HANDS	PCS
335655	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5655 150X150MM GUARDS	PCS
335656	MANDATORY SIGN LIFEJACKETS, #5656 150X150MM	PCS
335675	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5675 100X300MM THINK SAFETY	PCS
335677	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5677 100X300MM PROTECTIVE	PCS
335678	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5678 100X300MM PERSONAL	PCS
335679	MANDATORY SIGN MUST COMPLY, W/SAFETY REGULATION 100X300MM	PCS
335709	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5709 200X150MM WEAR HELMET	PCS
335710	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, 5710 200X150MM HEAD PROTECTION	PCS
335712	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5712 200X150MM EYE PROTECTION	PCS
335715	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5715 200X150MM WEAR GOGGLES	PCS
335716	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, 5716 200X150MM WEAR FACESHIELD	PCS
335719	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5719 200X150MM WEAR MASK	PCS
335721	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5721 200X150MM EAR PROTECTION	PCS
335722	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, 5722 200X150MM WEAR EAR PROTEC	PCS
335723	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, 5723 200X150MM EAR PROTEC MUST	PCS
335724	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5724 200X150MM WEAR GLOVES	PCS
335725	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5725 200X150MM BOOTS MUST BE	PCS
335726	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, 5726 200X150MM WEAR PROTECTIVE	PCS
335727	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5727 200X150MM LIFT CORRECTLY	PCS
335728	SIGN WHITE VINYL SELF ADHESIVE, #5728 200X150MM NOW WASH YOUR	PCS
335729	MANDATORY SIGN GUARDS MUST BE, IN POSITION 200X150MM	PCS
335730	MANDATORY SIGN EYE PROTECTION, IS PROVIDED 200X150MM	PCS
335731	MANDATORY SIGN WEAR RESPIRATOR, 200X150MM	PCS
335732	MANDATORY SIGN FACE PROTECTION, MUST BE WORN 200X150MM	PCS
335733	MANDATORY SIGN THIS IS SAFETY, HELMET AREA 200X150MM	PCS
335734	MANDATORY SIGN EYE PROTECTION, MUST BE WORN 200X150MM	PCS
335735	MANDATORY SIGN FACE PROTECTION, MUST BE WORN WELDING 200X150MM	PCS
335737	MANDATORY SIGN HAND WASH ONLY, 200X150MM	PCS
335742	MANDATORY SIGN LIFEJACKETS, MUST BE WORN 200X150MM	PCS
335743	MANDATORY SIGN HARNESS MUST, BE WORN #5743KJ 200X150MM	PCS
335744	MANDATORY SIGN SWITCH OFF WHEN, NOT IN USE #5744KJ 200X150MM	PCS
335782	MANDATORY SIGN HIGH VISIBILITY, CLOTH WORN (SPECIFY SIZE)	PCS
335800	MANDATORY SIGN KEEP CLEAR, EXIT FOR ESCAPE 150X150MM	PCS
335801	MANDATORY SIGN THIS DOOR MUST, BE KEPT CLOSED 150X150MM	PCS
335802	MANDATORY SIGN KEEP CLEAR, 150X150MM	PCS
335803	MANDATORY SIGN CLOSE THIS DOOR, AT NIGHT (SPECIFY SIZE)	PCS
335804	MANDATORY SIGN CLOSE THESE, DOORS AT NIGHT (SPECIFY SIZE)	PCS
335805	MANDATORY SIGN THIS DOOR TO BE, KEPT LOCKED 150X150MM	PCS
335806	MANDATORY SIGN TO BE KEPT, UNLOCKED 150X150MM	PCS
335807	MANDATORY SIGN FIRE DOOR, KEEP LOCKED SHUT 150X150MM	PCS
335808	MANDATORY SIGN AUTOMATIC, FIRE DOOR KEEP CLEAR 150X150MM	PCS
335809	MANDATORY SIGN STAIRCASE, MUST KEPT CLEAR (SPECIFY SIZE)	PCS
335811	MANDATORY SIGN FIRE ESCAPE, KEEP CLEAR (SPECIFY SIZE)	PCS
335812	MANDATORY SIGN GANGWAY, KEEP CLEAR 150X150MM	PCS
335814	MANDATORY SIGN FIRE DOOR, KEEP SHUT 150X150MM	PCS
335815	MANDATORY SIGN KEEP LOCKED, SHUT 150X150MM	PCS
335816	MANDATORY SIGN KEEP CLEAR, WHEN DOOR CLOSING 150X150MM	PCS
335817	MANDATORY SIGN HATCH MUST BE, KEPT CLOSED AT SEA 150X150MM	PCS
335818	MANDATORY SIGN DOOR MUST BE, KEPT CLOSED AT SEA 150X150MM	PCS
335819	MANDATORY SIGN WATERTIGHT, DOOR KEPT SHUT 150X150MM	PCS
335820	MANDATORY SIGN AUTOMATIC W/T, DOOR KEPT CLEAR 150X150MM	PCS
335821	MANDATORY SIGN ENSURE THIS, DOOR FULLY CLOSED 150X150MM	PCS
335822	MANDATORY SIGN EXIT KEEP CLEAR, (SIZE TO BE SPECIFIED)	PCS
335830	MANDATORY SIGN EMERGENCY EXIT, KEEP CLEAR 150X500MM	PCS
335831	MANDATORY SIGN ESCAPE ROUTE, KEEP CLEAR 150X500MM	PCS
335837	MANDATORY SIGN FIRE DOOR, KEEP SHUT #5837KJ 200X150MM	PCS
335838	MANDATORY SIGN FIRE DOOR, KEEP LOCKED #5838KJ 200X150MM	PCS
335851	MANDATORY SIGN ACCIDENT, MUST BE REPORTED 100X300MM	PCS
335852	MANDATORY SIGN VENTILATION, USED PRIOR TO ENTRY 100X300MM	PCS
335853	MANDATORY SIGN NO FIRE LOOP, TO BE ISOLATED 100X300MM	PCS
335854	MANDATORY SIGN ALL VISITORS, REPORT TO OFFICER 100X300MM	PCS
335870	MANDATORY SIGN KEEP CLEAR, 200X150MM	PCS
335871	MANDATORY SIGN KEEP SHUT, 200X150MM	PCS
335872	MANDATORY SIGN DOOR KEPT, CLOSED DURING LOAD 200X150MM	PCS
335873	MANDATORY SIGN WHEN PLANT, IS NOT IN USE 200X150MM	PCS
335874	MANDATORY SIGN ADJUST PRESSURE, ACCD'NG TO THE TORCH 200X150MM	PCS
335875	MANDATORY SIGN SECURE PAINTER, BEFORE LAUNCHING 200X150MM	PCS
335876	MANDATORY SIGN CO2 PROTECTED, AREA 200X150MM	PCS
335900	SIGN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, INSTRUCTIONS 250X200MM	PCS
335901	SIGN EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS, FOR PASSENGER 250X200MM	PCS
335902	MANDATORY SIGN MAN OVERBOARD, 200X150MM	PCS
335903	SIGN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, INSTRUCTION 200X150MM	PCS

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