What types of warning signs are there in the UK? If you live in UK, it is important to know how these signs look like, where they can usually be found, and what they mean. That way, you won't get yourself in unfortunate or even life threatening situations.

Here are common categories of UK warning signs along with some examples:

1. Hazard - These signs remind you that a substance or a place is dangerous in some way. Here are some examples of hazard signs and their descriptions: Irritant - a large X inside a square frame; Toxic - classic skull with crossed bones; Radioactive - a "fan" sign, or the trefoil, in the middle of a frame; Explosive - a bomb exploding; Corrosive - two test tubes pouring drops of chemicals into dissolving metals; Flammable - the image of a flame; Miscellaneous danger sign - a large exclamation point in the middle of a frame. Hazard signs are usually square-shaped or diamond-shaped.

2. Caution - These signs remind you that there is an imminent source of danger which requires you to be more careful or to stay away. Here are some examples of caution signs and their descriptions: Guard dogs - the silhouette of a dog's head; Fragile roof - the image of a person walking on a roof; High-voltage area - the classical zig-zag sign (along with the number of volts in some instances); Strong magnetic field - the picture of a magnet. Many hazard signs are also caution signs. There are many other caution signs, with most signs indicating in English what to be careful about plus an illustration. Caution signs are usually triangular in shape.

3. Fire safety - Many fire safety signs found in big buildings indicate what to do in case of fire. Some fire safety signs are simply arrows indicating which way to go in case of fire. Some signs indicate the location of a fire exit or an emergency exit. Other signs indicate that a certain point in the building serves as an assembly point. Many fire safety signs are also valuable during earthquakes when people have to get out of buildings in a calm way, or in any natural calamity when people have to assemble at a certain point to get help.

4. Prohibition - These signs remind people that an activity is not permitted. A typical example is the "No Somking" sign, which has the illustration of a cigarette with a thick diagonal red line above it. All prohibition signs in the UK look like that. Other common ones include: No pedestrians; No drinking and no eating; Do not touch; No dogs allowed (except guide dogs); and No entry to certain vehicles. Many prohibition signs just feature a blank circle crossed with a thick diagonal red line, along with a description in English of the prohibition beside it.

What types of warning signs are there? The signs mentioned above are the most common ones that come to mind; there are many more. Nevertheless, for the benefit of public places, workplaces, and consumers, these UK signs are present to guide us in daily activities.