Development of Guidance to Support Behavior Change Signage and Hazard Communication

The Visitor Safety Group (VSG) invites proposals from suppliers for delivery of behaviour change guidance to assist landowners and land managers in the development, deployment, and management of safety messaging, primarily in the form of signage and other hazard information communication systems.

The guidance developed must be legally compliant in the United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland, The Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

Understanding and influencing visitor behaviours is a key element in ensuring safety. The VSG recognises that traditional approaches often start on the site and are based around signage, with the drivers weighted toward liability reduction. Whilst this approach may be productive in liability reduction, what is questionable is the true effect on visitor behaviours; for example, anecdotal and case study evidence shows little to no effect of signage on behaviours (such as rip currents as a hidden water safety hazard), whilst in some settings the intervention becomes a focus for vandalism and undesirable behaviours. The VSG wishes to better understand the conceptual framework, evidence, and good practice whilst seeking to develop a 'how to' approach in order to more effectively influence visitor behaviours.

Full details of this opportunity, including how to apply are available from http://www.visitorsafety.group/invitation-to-tender-vsg-2021/