In the high-risk nature of the industrial environment, safety colors for devices play a massive role in keeping people safe. Understanding why certain colors are used in certain ways is the first step toward ensuring a safe working environment.

Definition of Industrial Safety Products

Safety is paramount when conducting any task. Ensuring that you and your team are kept safe at all times should be the first priority when it comes to industrial processes.

Safety products are developed with the idea of mitigating and preventing the risk of injury while on duty. Safety products take on many different shapes, sizes, and forms.

Today we will be discussing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) guidelines on recommended color coding and how it assists the industrial industry in safety.

Overview of OSHA Colors and Types of Safety Devices

OSHA has created a guideline of specific colors to keep in mind that ensures workers and pedestrians are always aware of the potential risks in certain areas.

These colors are used for different equipment, machines, clothing, substances, signs, and various other tools that you can find scattered around an industrial site.

Safety Colors & Color Coding System

The safety colors and color coding system has been specifically designed to ensure the overall safety of anyone that comes into an industrial environment. This helps workers also identify key no-go zones within a site and the optimal paths to take that lowers the potential risk of injury.

These colors include:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Fluorescent orange

Understanding the key differences between these colors is a crucial step toward minimizing any accidents or injuries that may occur on-site.

Let’s have a closer look at the colors, what they mean, and when they are used.

Definition of Safety Colors & Color Coding System

As mentioned before, each safety color code corresponds to a different scenario and risk level. Each color is often used to symbolize a warning for those passing by and for workers to navigate through the site.

Red

Red is a standard color that symbolizes an immediate risk. This means that the machinery, tools, and nearby substances have an extremely high danger level. It is best to completely avoid these zones and navigate around them accordingly.

Having workplace safety best practices is the optimal way in which danger can be avoided. This color is often also used for signs and harmful or explosive or flammable materials. In these instances, there is often the presence of fire protection equipment that is also utilized.

Orange

Orange represents a moderate risk zone. This is used to inform workers that the equipment, machinery, or tools are powered on, currently running, and energized. This poses a potential risk to workers as interacting with this equipment could result in injury.

In these cases, you would often require adequate protection such as hard hats, gloves, goggles, ear protection, and anything that the zone might demand.

Yellow

Yellow is a warning sign that showcases potential risk. A potential risk zone means that there is currently work being conducted and that the yellow zones could pose a potential risk to workers within them. This could include:

• Tripping
• Falling and physical hazards
• Low overhead hazards
• Striking
• Pinch points

Much like the orange code, the personal equipment required for these zones should be adequately utilized. This includes safety boots, goggles, ear and eye protection, gloves, and whatever the environment may demand.

Fluorescent Orange

Fluorescent orange is an important color to take note of. This color is used to indicate the danger of toxic biological hazards. The color used is generally fluorescent orange or orange-red color. Hazardous chemicals can pose an extreme health risk for any workers that are not properly equipped with safety equipment.

The safety equipment used in these hazardous conditions is generally full-body coveralls, respiratory devices, and other safety equipment that ensures the worker does not directly interact with the biological hazard.

The Best PPE for Your Industrial Work

When it comes to safety, quality trumps all aspects. Ensuring that your industrial safety products supplier is of the highest possible is the best way to lower the risk of injury for you and your workers.

We are an authorized supplier that has assisted countless businesses with our protective equipment, tools, and materials needs.

Since 1966, we have placed quality and safety into the hands of many teams and have been a trusted supplier of PPE equipment.

To get the quality equipment that your team needs, email us at info@plasticmaterials.lfdm.co or contact us at 909-923-6563 at Plastic Materials today!