The following sections of this chapter discuss various aspects of sign posting, for the information of an event manager. These sections give an indication of the benefi ts of various types of signs, their positioning construction and use. When approach- ing the police and local authority for advice and permission, it may help an event manager to consider which signs could be of benefi t at their unique event, and what questions to ask.
Remember, these sections are to raise awareness of the use of signs and ‘advertise- ments’, but as the event manager you are responsible for obtaining permission from the police, highways authority or local planning offi ce to erect and use any signs.
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Sign posting – safety
When erecting and removing signs, safety is a critical consideration. You must also remember that where authorised, signs must be erected within stringent rules and regulations. As an alternative to providing, erecting and removing signs yourself, the RAC and AA both offer a service of providing signs to temporary events. You may wish to discuss your event and proposed sign-posting requirements with them, and ask for a quote to produce, erect and remove signs for your event. Remember that the erection and removal of signs creates a potential risk for several groups of people.
The sign posting vehicle
The signs must be erected at key points and junctions over a considerable area, so if authorised, it is almost certain that your sign-erecting staff would be moving from site to site, or junction to junction in a vehicle.
The proposed erection sites are probably near major junctions and roundabouts etc. – busy points and potential accident spots. The added complication of your staff stopping unexpectedly or parking dangerously on bends and junctions could be the direct or indirect cause of an accident, for which you would be liable. The vehicle being used to erect or collect sign posts must be insured for that use – a driver must check to be sure that his insurance covers this activity.
Make sure that when they stop, your sign posting vehicle drivers are instructed to take particular care not to cause an obstruction, or park in such a way that they do not block traffi c, or block the view of other motorists at a junction or roundabout etc. As elsewhere, if in doubt, consult the local authority. It is possible that for a fee you could even arrange for them to supply and erect appropriate signage.
Your staff
By defi nition, if permission is given, your staff members would be sign posting at major junctions and so will have to leave their vehicle and move about on or very near to the road, which is probably carrying fast-moving traffi c. I suggest that if you do not want to pay the AA, RAC or possibly the local authority to erect the signs for you, and you want your staff to erect the signs:
•
staff should be equipped with a fl uorescent high-visibility jackets that meet Health and Safety requirements – be sure to check for the latest specifi cation (the approved design is updated quite regularly),•
they should be instructed to make safety their top priority,•
they should take extra care in stopping and pulling away in vehicles,130
•
they should aim to park safely away from the junction they wish to signpost,•
they should be instructed as to where to fi x the signs, as directed by the local author- ity or police, or if not specifi ed by them, in accordance with the legislation,•
they should also be instructed in the method of fi xing the signs to posts etc., which must not cause damage to any street furniture, fences etc.,•
signs should not be erected in a way that causes or allows them to overhang the road, where a vehicle may hit them, or cause a high-sided vehicle to swerve around them,•
event signs should not obscure or distract members of the public, particularly drivers, from any existing signs,•
the signs must be erected securely so that they will not fall onto the road, or on vehicles or pedestrians etc.,•
staff must only erect signs as per an agreed sign schedule, and must record where signs have been placed – for later collection,•
they must be trained in and familiar with all tools and equipment they are using,•
all tools and equipment must be of an acceptable standard and quality and•
when removing signs all traces of their presence should be removed, and damage caused reported to the highways authority.Assistants to sign erector
For safety reasons any member of staff who is erecting signs should have an assistant to help them.
The assistant can watch and steady the bottom of a ladder and guide the public around any ladders or other equipment. They will also be warning oncoming traffi c of the work, warning the sign erector of any dangerous traffi c approaching because he or she will be looking at the sign itself. The assistant can also help to carry the equipment from a safe parking area; without an assistant, the sign erection staff may be tempted to park close to a junction and consequently park dangerously.
Insurance
When enquiring about insurance, you should enquire about the possibility and cost of insuring staff for the erection and removal of signs, against injury to themselves and against the signs falling on and damaging property or people, or causing damage to street signs or fences etc., or causing accidents during erection or removal.
The public
The authorities will almost certainly insist that you or the signing organisation are insured against injury to members of the public. If liable, the event manager could be
131 liable for hundreds of thousands of pounds of damages. For this reason it is best to pay an organisation to supply, erect and remove the signs, then they carry the liability. If not, you must insure yourself and your staff to cover the erection and removal of the signs, as well as any injury to the public, whether caused by accident or negligence.
Your insurance cover should also indemnify you against claims that the presence of your signs caused an accident, by obstructing the view of an existing sign, or blocking the view of a driver at a junction for example.
The cost
The cost of making a sign can vary between minimal – if you use available materials for on-site signs – and considerable – if you are required to have off-site signs made to street sign standards.
Only you know what is involved in your event, so only you can make the decision as to whether the cost of making signs by your chosen method, to the correct legal standards, can be justifi ed by the income to be derived. As a rule of thumb, the fi rst couple of times an event is run, ‘cheap and cheerful’ is probably the best policy. If an event becomes a large annual extravaganza, then it may be worth investing in some more permanent and professionally produced signs, advertisements and notice boards.
Until then, be miserly with sign-posting budgets where possible, while making sure that they fulfi l the purpose for which they are intended, attracting people, indicating the route, pointing to entrances and exits, warning of danger, etc.
Remember, if you select your site carefully, with easy access routes, in close prox- imity to major roads and motorways, your need for off-site direction signs will be negligible anyway.
Whatever materials are used, the regulations require the signs to be simple, clearly understood and large enough to be seen and understood by drivers travelling at speeds in excess of 30 miles an hour. All signs should have lettering that is large enough to be easy to read, as specifi ed in the legislation. Off-site, signs should contain minimal information, so that a driver only has to glance at the sign to understand its meaning.
On-site, signs may contain more information, assuming that generally pedestrians will read them. The sign should also be easily identifi able, not mounted behind a bush, or allowed to become splashed with mud or dirt so as to be unreadable.
Advertising
Signs can also be used to advertise the event before the actual date on which it is to take place. With local authority permission and possibly permission from the owner of the land where you want to erect the signs, you can put up a substantial sign advertising the forthcoming event. These are particularly effective on a main road, where larger
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numbers of people will see that sign. You must however still abide by legislation and the rules relating to advertisements and signs. Do not expect a passing driver to take his eyes off the road to read a sign containing a lot of information!
Remember that depending on the size, construction and location of the sign, the length of time it is expected to be on site, the content of the sign and the event it may be advertising, planning permission may be required. Consult the local author- ity well in advance.
If allowed, include only the bare essentials in an advance sign at the event site, e.g.
event type, event date(s), event time, entry fee and possibly contact phone number.
Where people are just walking past, a sign like this is very effective. However, you might get planning permission for a series of signs. So, the fi rst large sign may say