ANNEX 19.
3 CODE OF HAND SIGNALS
Preliminary remark: The following sets of coded signals are examples of those implemented
by the EU Directive 92/58/EEC, but where there are accepted national signals in common use
(as indicated *) these too are acceptable.
Visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website on the link below to see these signs
demonstrated in a video clip:
www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/safetysigns/banksman/index.htm
Meaning Description Illustration
A. General hand signals
START Both arms are extended
Attention horizontally with the palms
Start of Command facing forward.
TAKING THE STRAIN or The right arm points upwards
INCHING THE LOAD with the palm facing
forwards. The fingers are
clenched and then
unclenched.
*
STOP The right arm points upwards
Interruption with the palm facing
End of movement forwards.
END Both hands are clasped at
of the operation (operations chest height.
cease)
OR
Both arms extended at 45º
downwards and lower arms
crossed back and forth
sharply across torso.
*
B. Vertical movements
RAISE The right arm points
upwards, with the palm
facing forward, and slowly
makes a circle.
LOWER The right arm points
downwards, with the palm
facing inwards, and slowly
makes a circle.
DERRICKING THE JIB Signal with one hand. Other Jib up *
hand on head.
Jib down *
TELESCOPING THE JIB Signal with one hand. Other Extend jib *
hand on head.
Retract jib *
VERTICAL DISTANCE The hands indicate the
relevant distance.
C. Horizontal movements
MOVE FORWARDS Both arms are bent with the
(Travel to me) palms facing upwards and
the forearms make slow
movements towards the
body.
MOVE BACKWARDS Both arms are bent with the
(Travel from me) palms facing downwards and
the forearms make slow
movements away from the
body.
RIGHT The right arm is extended
to the signalman’s (in the more or less horizontally
direction indicated) with the palm facing
downwards and slowly
makes small movements to
the right.
LEFT The left arm is extended
to the signalman’s (in the more or less horizontally
direction indicated) with the palm facing
downwards and slowly
makes small movements to
the left.
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE The hands indicate the
relevant distance.
SLEWING Both arms close to side
(in the direction indicated) extending one arm 90º from
elbow.
*
D. Danger
DANGER Both arms point upwards
EMERGENCY STOP with the palms facing
forwards.
E. Other
SECURE Secure the load: both arms
are crossed closely to the
chest with hands clenched.
TWISTLOCKS The left arm points upwards.
Twistlocks on/off Rotate wrist of left hand
clockwise signalling twist on,
and anticlockwise for
signalling twist off.
F. Operating instructions
QUICK All movements faster.
SLOW All movements slower.
