Colors as Safety Signals

ANSI or American National Standards Institute overseas standards activities in the United States. ANSI and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) have developed a color-coding system to identify physical dangers and industrial situations quickly and easily. Adhesive, Barricade, safety and similar tapes are frequently used in the marking of physical, safety and health hazards. Merco Tapes fall into the following classifications:

Occupational, Plant and Manufacturing Safety

	Function	Description	Examples
YELLOW	Caution and Potential Danger	Areas that present physical risks.	Loading docks, hard edges, high traffic aisle edges
RED	Fire Protection	Materials and equipment fire safety related	Fire exits, extinguishers, blankets, sand
BLACK	Informational	Areas to be kept clear for non-safety operational purposes	Traffic direction
GREEN	Low Temperatures or High Pressure	Potential danger should ruptures happen	Pipes and conduits

Commercial and Industrial Floor Markings, Social Distancing

Color / Alternating Color

	Function	Description	Examples
YELLOW - BLACK	Warning	Areas that present physical or health risks.	Loading docks, hard edges, high traffic aisle edges
RED - WHITE	Fire Prevention and Equipment	Areas to be kept clear for safety reasons, fire suppression.	Flammable materials, first aid areas, egresses from location
BLACK-WHITE	Housekeeping and Aisle Marking	Areas to be kept clear for non-safety operational purposes	Traffic direction
ORANGE - WHITE	Traffic and Caution Warning	Areas to be kept clear because of machinery motion	Fork lift aisle, warning areas around machinery
GREEN - WHITE	Safety and First Aid	Medical areas	First aid kits, nurses’ stations, defibrillators,
YELLOW - PURPLE	Radiation	‘If you can see this you are too close” warning	Medical equipment, lasers, bombs

Plant Equipment

Color	Function	Description	Examples
RED	Emergency, Fire	Warns required action is needed to prevent unsafe or dangerous situations	Fire exits and standard egress points, extinguishers, alarm boxes, STOP warning.
YELLOW	Warning of Anomaly	Warns of a potential hazardous situation or condition	Notice to use Caution, to Keep Out, dangerous edges or surfaces.
BLUE	Required	Warns that required intervention is necessary	Machinery and similar that requires operator use to reset.
GREEN	Safety	Determines a state of normal condition	START, First Aid related supplies and equipment.
ORANGE	Safety - machine	Warns of dangerous machinery or parts	Exposed moving parts that can crush or shock

We stock: Black, Blue, Brown, Gray, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, White, Yellow

Occupational and Safety Barricade Tapes

Color - film / lettering

	Function	Description	Examples
YELLOW - BLACK	CAUTION	Areas that present physical or health hazards.	Work zones, public safety
RED - BLACK	DANGER	Areas to be kept clear for safety reasons, fire suppression.	Work zones, fire-related public safety
YELLOW - PURPLE	Radiation, Biohazards	‘If you can see this you are too close” warning	Extreme health risks

Caution: ANSI updates color coding from time to time. Please be sure your markings are current and meet all OSHA and any state regulatory rules and laws.