Now Wash Your Hands Sign

Now Wash Your Hands Sign (MS0075)

Good hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective controls against the spread of illness aboard a vessel, where crew live and work in close quarters for extended periods and a single outbreak can affect the whole ship’s company. The Now Wash Your Hands sign (MS0075) is a photoluminescent ISO 7010 mandatory-action marking designed to be posted at galley entrances, mess areas, heads, and any location where hand hygiene must be reinforced immediately before proceeding. Manufactured to a maritime-grade photoluminescent specification, the sign remains clearly visible during a blackout or power failure, ensuring the instruction is never missed.

Under SOLAS and the ISM Code, vessel operators must maintain effective health and hygiene standards to protect the wellbeing of everyone aboard. Posting the Now Wash Your Hands sign at galley and mess entrances reinforces good hygiene practice at exactly the point it matters most, supporting the ship’s public health standards and helping to prevent the onboard spread of gastrointestinal and other communicable illness among crew.

Why Face Protection Matters

Hands are the primary vector for transferring bacteria and viruses from surfaces to food, and from person to person in shared living spaces, making consistent handwashing before eating or food preparation one of the most effective, lowest-cost controls available on any vessel. Posting the Now Wash Your Hands sign directly at the point of entry to galleys, mess rooms, and food handling areas serves as an immediate, unmissable prompt at exactly the moment the behaviour matters, for crew, catering staff, and any visitors aboard.

Compliance and Certification

This sign is produced to the ISO 7010 international graphical symbol standard, combining the recognised blue circular mandatory-action pictogram with clear supporting text so the instruction is understood by crew of any nationality. The ISM Code requires shipowners and operators to maintain adequate standards of health and hygiene as part of the vessel’s safety management system, while SOLAS supports the broader duty of care owed to everyone aboard. For the complete international regulatory framework, see the IMO’s SOLAS overview at imo.org. Displaying the Now Wash Your Hands sign supports good hygiene practice and a positive outcome at flag-state and port health inspection.

Installation Recommendations

Mount the sign at eye level at galley entrances, mess room doorways, and heads where handwashing facilities are provided. Charge the photoluminescent surface under normal lighting for the recommended period so it performs correctly if power is lost, and secure the sign with corrosion-resistant fasteners or marine-grade adhesive suited to the mounting surface. Record the sign’s position on the vessel’s hygiene and safety plan so it is checked during routine inspections and replaced if damaged or faded.

• Photoluminescent, ISO 7010-compliant mandatory-action design for reliable low-light visibility
• Durable, corrosion-resistant construction suited to galleys, mess rooms, and washroom areas
• Reinforces good hand hygiene practice at the exact point of entry to food areas
• Supports ISM Code health-standard documentation and public health inspection readiness
• Simple surface-mount installation at galley, mess, and washroom entrances

Support good crew hygiene with the Now Wash Your Hands sign (MS0075) – order today to reinforce hand hygiene at every galley and mess entrance on your vessel.

For additional onboard risk areas, browse our range of Hazard Signs and Fire Fighting Signs to complete your vessel’s mandatory safety signage compliance.