Implementing Floor Markings in your Facility

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Implementing Floor Markings

Having a visual factory is essential for keeping a workplace runningsmoothly. It can greatly improve safety, increase efficiency, and promote organization in nearly any type of workplace. There are several components that go into an effective visual communication strategy including using signs, labels, and floor marking. Floor marking encompasses several components like floor tape, floor shapes, and floor signs/floor stickers. Floor tapes come in many different colors and materials, so you can truly customize your facility’s floors, floor shapes range from dots to arrows and even footprints, all in a wide variety of colors, and Creative Safety Supply offers any type of safety or Lean sign in a durable floor sign option.

Why floor tapes?

Using an industrial floor paint for markings in a facility is common, but there any a number of benefits to choosing floor tape and shapes instead. Floor tapes do not contain the dangerous fumes has, requires no dry time, and will not have any messy spills. When painting floors you will need to properly prep the floor and the installation may interrupt the workflow, floor tape can be quickly and easily installed with no interruption. Floor paint can fade over time or sustain scratches and demands that can only be fixed with repainting. Industrial floor tapes however, will stay intact and can be cleaned with the same products used on the rest of the floor. Even with the durability of floor tape including being able to withstand industrial traffic, floor tape can also be removed if needed in a timely manner and without the use of an abrasive machine or the harsh chemicals that paint requires.

Floor marking tapes can be bought in different colors, materials, and finishes for different purposes; below are just a few different ideas.

  • Color coding: Color coding is essential to safety and efficiency and is a solid foundation for a visual communication strategy. While there is no official regulations pertaining to floor marking and tapes, you can generally follow color recommendations set forth by OSHA and ANSI standards and modify to fit the needs for your specific facility. For instance, yellow floor tape should be used for pedestrian lanes and aisleways, while red floor tape can be used for a red tag area or for more dangerous areas of the facility.
  • Reflective/Glow-in-the-dark: Both of these tapes are optimal for low-lit areas or for emergency instances where easy to see floor tape can be helpful. Glow tape is optimal for aisle markings and bathrooms, while reflective tape is ideal for parking lot markings and areas that may need to be seen from distances.
  • No-slip tape: These types of tapes add traction to the surface and can directly have an effect on safety. Even if areas are wet, dirty, or otherwise safety, no-slip tape can greatly reduce the chances of a worker slipping and falling.

Uses for floor shapes

Floor shapes are made from the same material as Creative Safety Supplies’ durable industrial floor tape and has a variety of applications. They can be either used in conjunction with floor tapes or even by themselves. All can be purchased in color options that coordinate with your workplaces color code standards. Below are just a few ideas to get your facility started with floor shapes:

  • Corners: Floor marking corners come in both squared and rounded so your facility can choose the preferred style. Floor corners can be used to alert moving vehicles to corners in the warehouse or to create storage and staging areas.
  • Footprints: Create pathways or designate lanes to pedestrians by applying footprint floor shapes either by themselves or within lanes marked off by floor tape.
  • Safety X’s and dots: Both of these shapes are ideal for indicating specific spots for products to items to go. Both options can be color-coded and be seen clearly from distances.
  • Arrows: Whether controlling facility traffic or pedestrian traffic, using floor marking arrows inside lanes can convey the flow of work and keep workers in safe spaces.

Finally, using floor signs is an excellent strategy to improve your existing visual communication strategy. Add stop signs to areas that forklifts move around will keep traffic safe in a facilities, and using 5S signs will help to remind workers of organizational efforts.

Additional Resources

Related posts:

  1. Food Processing Safety
  2. Safety in the Workplace and 5S
  3. Safety Signs in the Workplace
  4. Pipe Marking for Your Facility
  5. Keep an Eye on Safety with ANSI z87.1
  6. Arc Flash Safety Requirements
  7. Improving Electrical Safety in the Workplace
  8. Forklift Operator Safety Tips
  9. How can Lean affect safety?