Promoting Safety In The Workplace Through OSHA Floor Markings


5S floor marking ideas (Photo: InSite Solutions, LLC)

Being a responsible employer requires facility managers (fms) to do things that will benefit employees. Promoting their safety in the workplace is one of those things. Having workers getting involved in work related accidents can be the last thing that fms would ever want to consider. Employees should not feel scared all the time while at work—which can affect their productivity—which means fms need to make smart decisions.

With this in mind, it is logical for fms to employ safety line marking in the various areas of the workplace as a part of an organization’s 5s program. Fms can advise workers about the importance of safety by using these marks to tell them to watch out for peril. This simple move can be a great help, since it can improve operations and ensure safety, which can lead to more effective and efficient business.

The Role of OSHA in Floor Safety

It is beyond a doubt that safety markings can be of great help in most facilities, but fms need to be aware of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards when it comes to floor markings. As the agency tasked with regulating and developing safety guidelines, OSHA is in charge of general worker welfare in the United States. The organization deals with many areas of safety in the workplace, including the OSHA floor markings standard. These are actually sets of rules that deal with the proper placement or implementation of the safety markings in passages, aisles, and other portions in the workplace.

When talking about rules, fms may feel that these standards are a bit cumbersome to follow. However, the OSHA standards for safety floor markings are quire liberal in nature. Hence, a facility can have enough freedom in designing work floors despite the fact that there are a few important guidelines to observe.

What Are The OSHA Floor Marking Rules?

Essentially, the OSHA floor markings standards must be strictly followed. These standards deal with the proper placement and dimension of floor markings as well as the correct measurements of aisles or pathways that these markings identify.

These are the common rules that are imposed by OSHA when it comes to floor markings and workplace structures:

  • Line floor markings should not be broken;
  • The markings may contain dots, symbols, or other signs that will be helpful for identification;
  • The markings should cover the aisle and other areas properly;
  • The line marking dimensions should be at least 2″ in width and 2 to 6″ in length;
  • The hallways or aisles should not measure at less than 4′;
  • The aisles and other passages should be at least 3′ wider than the largest equipment in the facility; and
  • The markings should comply with the appropriate color scheme.

These are just the basic facts fms should know about safety floor markings. For more accurate details, refer to OSHA.

This article was submitted by Mike Wilson of Creative Safety Supply.