Warehouse striping and coatings are the roadmaps for workplace safety within your facility. As employees walk, naturally with their eyes down, they can depend on the colors and striping to alert them of danger.
According to OSHA 4,836 workers were killed on the job in 2015, on average that is more than 93 a week or 13 deaths per day.
Painting the floors in your facility can increase safety in many ways. The cost of addressing the problem now is much lower than the cost of losing an employee or paying a worker’s comp settlement.
Increased visibility
Painting the floors of your facility will help to brighten up the building and lead to increased safety.
Anti-Slip Floor Coating
Use a slip resistant coating on your floors be sure to choose coatings that have the ability to stand up to the heavy traffic. Slips and falls are the most common cause of injury in the workplace, so be proactive in preventing them.
Highlight hazardous areas
Painting various stripes and colors around hazardous areas can reduce the number of accidents. Dangerous machines parts, physical hazards, loading zones, flammable areas and safety equipment can be designated with the appropriate colors to lower risks.
Outline Walkways
Striping designates walkways, driveways or the space a machine requires to operate. Separating foot traffic from equipment traffic, like forklifts will prevent accidents. Use colored lines or reflective materials, and be sure to touch up any areas that begin to fade or wear away.
Provide Instruction
Your floor markings can tell employees which way traffic flow should be moving in the facility, where to stand, and most importantly where NOT to stand.
Designate Storage Areas
Keep your facility neatly organized by designating storage areas and reducing clutter.
OSHA Floor Marking Requirements
- “Permanent aisles and passageways should be appropriately marked” –Standard and materials handling and storage (39 CFR 1910/176)
- Floor marking lines should be at least 2’ wide for maximum visibility
- Aisles should be at least 4’ wide. Or at least 3’ wider than the largest piece of equipment used in the aisle.
- According to OSHA, facilities with unusual surfaces (dirt floors) are allowed to use flags traffic cones, barrels and other similar methods, granted that the employees are trained on the system being used.
- Add floor markings around electrical equipment
- Electrical Code (NFPA 70 1110.26) specifies there has to be a clearance of three feet around electrical equipment with 600 volts or less.
OSHA Floor Marking Color Requirements
- Red – fire-related hazards.
- Fire protection equipment as well as emergency switches, cards and buttons on hazardous machines.
- Yellow – signals caution andmarksphysical hazard
- Recommended for pathways
- Can be used in many areas where caution must be used
- White – general purpose color
- Most commonly used to identify storage
- Orange– used for organizing things that are ready for inspection
- Green – used for safety equipment
- First aid kit, eye washing station
- Blue/Green/Black floor markings – indicate raw materials
- Can also be used for work-in-progress items
- Red & White floor markings – emergency areas, must be kept clear
- Hydrants, near emergency vehicle zones
- Bright orange or orange/red floor markings –used to identify biological hazards
Floor Marking Shapes
- Stop sign – stop
- Arrows – identify traffic flow or evacuation route
- Exit signs – usually hung above doors but can also be placed on the floor
- Footsteps – Lead people in the direction you want them to go while they’re in your facility.
- Warning signs- identify hazards
You already know your facility is in need of updating, but choosing the right floor paint, coating and markings will increase safety for your employees while reducing the risk for your company. Don’t neglect the importance of laying out a roadmap in your facility to keep traffic flowing and equipment working in harmony with one another. If you are ready to commit to painting your floor to increase workplace safety, or if you have some questions about our commercial and industrial painting services, call Elias Painting today.
If you would like to improve workplace safety, contact us.
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