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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.

 

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