ISO 7010 · M-series · Mandatory action
M001 General mandatory action sign
Something must be done here, and a supplementary sign or text beside it says what. On its own it names no action.
- ISO 7010 reference
- M001
- Registered title
General mandatory action sign
ISO Online Browsing Platform, ISO 7010 - M001, General mandatory action sign, reference number and registered title- Colour and shape
- Blue circle, white symbol: Mandatory action: you must do this here
What the blue circle means
In HSE’s guidance on the UK Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996, a mandatory action sign has a round shape
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Part 2, mandatory signs, intrinsic features (a), page 16 and a white pictogram on a blue background (the blue part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign)
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Part 2, mandatory signs, intrinsic features (b), page 16
Its colour stands for: Mandatory sign
, Specific behaviour or action, eg wear protective equipment
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Table 1, blue, meaning or purpose (page 12)
In the UK: HSE L64
Any supplementary sign or text used with a particular safety sign must be chosen to reflect the same safety sign category. So, for example, if a mandatory sign is used, ensure that accompanying text (if any) describes the mandatory nature (using the word ‘must’ rather than ‘should’ or ‘may’) of the action to be taken
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), paragraph 46
In the US: OSHA
No OSHA general-industry rule we read names this sign or its subject. US signs follow OSHA 1910.145 and ANSI Z535; how the US sign classes work.
Signs people confuse with it, or find beside it
Other mandatory action signs
Sources
ISO 7010 is a paid standard. Its OBP entries are free to view, but they are a script-driven app, so the title and reference number above are copied from the entry's own heading as it lists them (read 2026-09-29), not from the paid text. Other lines in quotation marks are HSE’s or OSHA’s words.
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE): L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition) (published 2015). Used here: paragraph 46; Part 2, mandatory signs, intrinsic features (a), page 16; Part 2, mandatory signs, intrinsic features (b), page 16; Table 1, blue, instruction and information (page 12); Table 1, blue, meaning or purpose (page 12). www.hse.gov.uk Checked 2026-09-29.
- ISO Online Browsing Platform: ISO 7010 - M001, General mandatory action sign (registered safety sign entry). Used here: reference number and registered title. www.iso.org Checked 2026-09-29.