Doyice Cotten

Most of my risk management photo posts have been from third world countries depicting, more accurately, the lack of risk management rather than kudos for safety. Not so from our recent trip to England, Wales, and Scotland where warnings abound.

England

The following warnings are common in England, but, to me, the most unique was the first one we encountered – when we were about to cross the street in London. In the tourist areas we visited, these reminders (Photo 1) of which way to look for oncoming traffic were very helpful since the vehicles travel on the “wrong” side of the road and approach from the “other” direction.

Photos 2 and 3 from the Imperial War Museum in London warned of climbing on the big guns in front of the building. Photos 4 and 5 warned tourists of the inherent risks of getting too close to the mounted Horse Guards. Photo 6 posted several warnings at a Lake District dock.

Wales

Photo 7 depicts a warning sign on a wall some 30 or 40 feet above the pictured stream. Photos 8, 9, and 10 are warning signs for workers or tourists to keep them  out of dangerous areas.

Photos 11 and 12 remind us that Wales is a bilingual country, hence signs are in two languages … English and Welsh.

Scotland

Photos 13, 14, and 15 show signage at a particularly steep staircase. With all of the signage pictured, one could not effectively argue they were not warned.

Photo 16 shows effective signage — placed where it would be hard to miss and warning of three dangers at once. Photo 17 is a sign containing both a warning and giving an instruction.

Photos 18 and 19 were in a cathedral — one on a high ledge overlooking a chapel and the other in a high traffic area warning of a trip hazard. In the U.S., we have many lawsuits resulting from failure to warn of cords and other trip hazards.

Photos 20 and 21 illustrate a safety feature I have not seen in the U.S., though I may have missed it. In the National Museum of Scotland, the stairs have dots which helps one to recognize that there are steps. In addition, the level areas between flights have horizontal dark lines between the boards. Looks like a great safety feature.

Like I said, this is no third world country. Tourists are safer in Great Britain than in any country I have visited.  I photographed only one hazard and it was so insignificant that I have chosen to not include it here.

(Note: My apologies for the order of these photos. I have not mastered the software, and may never.)