From education to employment

Signage technician

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The signage industry: types of markets/customers and different types of signs produced and their use: vehicle signs, wraps and graphics, window graphics, building frontage signs (sign trays, projecting signs, flat panels), post mounted signs (totem’s and road signage), street furniture and pavement signs, point of sale, floor graphics, exhibitions and displays, built up 3D letters, flat cut letters, health and safety warning signs, plaques and nameplates, information signs, road traffic signs (standards, chevrons, directional, advanced directional and gantry signs). Option for signage illumination by a variety of means. Back to Duty

K2: Regulations and guidelines: British Standards for Signage BS559 2020, Consumer Rights. Back to Duty

K3: Materials used in sign-making; their uses and characteristics, including self-adhesive vinyls (monomeric, polymeric, cast, reflective/fluorescent, grades of vinyl), self-adhesive laminates, adhesives for different applications (removable, permanent, high tack), banner material (scrim and mesh, total block out), wallpapers (self-adhesive and pastable), card, rigid substrates, plastic and metals (PVC, foamed PVC, acrylic, resin, fluted PVC, polycarbonate), aluminium composite material, aluminium (panels and extrusions), steel, fibreglass, soft signage (polyester fabric) and paint, powders and ink. Illumination (LED, Neon). Back to Duty

K4: Health and safety regulations and requirements: Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, manual handling, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH), Working at Height, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Risk assessments, method statements. Back to Duty

K5: Environmental policy and requirements: Environmental Protection Act 1990. Sustainability. Disposal of waste, segregation of recyclable materials. Back to Duty

K6: Machinery, tools and equipment used in sign-making – their purpose and use: Inkjet printers (roll fed or flat bed), vinyl cutters/plotters, laminators (roll fed and table), Flat bed cutters, routers, laser cutters, engraving and etching machines, 3D printers, spray equipment, screen print equipment & guillotine. Portable Appliance Testing requirements. Back to Duty

K7: Information technology: Management Information Software, Computer Aided Design and Manufacture. Back to Duty

K8: Colour management and coding references: Pantone, RAL (European colour matching system), Cyan Magenta Yellow Black (CMYK), Red Green Blue (RGB). Back to Duty

K9: Design principles: layout, colour selection, positioning, scale and proportion. Back to Duty

K10: Installation techniques: self-adhesive vinyl application (vehicle wrap, windows, substrates), screw or resin fixing, concrete post fixing, channel and clip post fixing, wallpaper (self-adhesive and pastable), electrical. Site survey requirements. Back to Duty

K11: Commercial operations: costing and quotation considerations and requirements. Back to Duty

K12: Planning techniques; work scheduling. Back to Duty

K13: Communication techniques – verbal and written. Signage terminology. Back to Duty

K14: Documentation requirements: client records, works order/job bag, invoices. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Back to Duty

K15: Quality assurance requirements. Back to Duty

K16: Equality and diversity in the workplace. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Interpret information, for example customer briefs, specifications and work instructions. Back to Duty

S2: Conduct site survey. Back to Duty

S3: Calculate costs and prepare quotations. Back to Duty

S4: Plan and schedule work. Back to Duty

S5: Prepare for signage work. Back to Duty

S6: Use graphic design software to design signage. Back to Duty

S7: Create pre-fabrication files/instructions. Back to Duty

S8: Select and use materials and components. Back to Duty

S9: Assemble signs. Back to Duty

S10: Trim, clean and add fixing features to signage such as eyelets, hinges and brackets, as required. Back to Duty

S11: Protect materials and signs to prevent damage during manufacture, transportation and storage. Back to Duty

S12: Apply, install or erect signs. Back to Duty

S13: Check signage materials and products against quality requirements. Back to Duty

S14: Identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace; advise on and apply control measures. Back to Duty

S15: Comply with health and safety regulations and requirements. Back to Duty

S16: Comply with organisational and statutory environmental and sustainability considerations: safe disposal of waste, recycling of materials and efficient use of resources. Back to Duty

S17: Select, set up, complete pre-checks and operate sign-making machinery, tools and equipment. Back to Duty

S18: Maintain work area, tools and equipment for example, charge batteries and sharpen blades. Back to Duty

S19: Use access equipment in the installation process, for example ladders, fixed and mobile platforms. Back to Duty

S20: Communicate with colleagues and/or stakeholders – verbal, written or electronic; use industry terminology. Back to Duty

S21: Complete documentation for example job sheets, maintenance records. Back to Duty

S22: Rectify or report issues. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Prioritises health, safety and the environment. Back to Duty

B2: Acts professionally, for example represents employer well, uses appropriate language, neat and tidy in appearance and takes account of equality and diversity considerations. Back to Duty

B3: Takes responsibility, for example completes work with minimal supervision, knows own limitations and asks for help where required. Back to Duty

B4: Team player, for example keeps colleagues informed and supports colleagues to complete work and develop. Back to Duty

B5: Adaptable, for example to changing priorities and deadlines. Back to Duty

B6: Committed to continued professional development, for example keeps up to date with developments in the industry. Back to Duty


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