Colors in Safety

Ifiokabasi Udo
What is a color?
Color plays a vital role in our lives, affecting our moods,
choices, attitudes, and behaviors.
The property possessed by an object of producing different
sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits
light is Color.
It is identified by the eye and interpreted by the brain to mean
something.
Traffic signs, turn signals, highway markers, and construction
markers are designed according to specific color codes.
What is a color?
Color plays a vital role in our lives, affecting our moods,
choices, attitudes, and behaviors.
The property possessed by an object of producing different
sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits
light is Color.
It is identified by the eye and interpreted by the brain to mean
something.
Traffic signs, turn signals, highway markers, and construction
markers are designed according to specific color codes.
Safety Statistics
• According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) there were 144 UK workers
killed at work between 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. That shocking statistics
highlighted the importance of safety signs. Having the correct signage in place can
lead to greater prevention of accidents in the workplace.
• Ever seen a driver speeding past a sign reading danger ahead?
• Ever seen a driver drive speedily over a zebra crossing while the children stand in
wait?
• Ever seen or heard of someone that tripped over a danger tape wrapped around a
tubing?
• While colors can effectively define a situation, some colors can cause conflict in the
mind or confuse the observer. The right colors matter and understanding the colors
matter most.
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The latest revision to NFPA 1901: Standard for

Motorized Fire Apparatus, 2016 edition requires
retro-reflective striping in multiple locations on
new fire trucks. The reflective striping
specifications are designed to make the
apparatus more visible and conspicuous,
especially for the drivers of vehicles approaching
the apparatus from the rear.
Safety Colors;
The term safety colors is used to describe the standard use of colors
for safety purposes in the workplace. There are many standards in
place concerning safety colors from a variety of organizations
including OSHA, ANSI, and others. Depending on the situation, each
color is assigned a different meaning, which allows people to
immediately determine what type of safety hazard is in the area,
even if they are too far away to read any actual writing.
While there are many organizations and agencies that assign safety
colors different meanings, a lot of them have significant overlap. This
is done intentionally to help ensure standards apply across as wide a
range of situations as possible.
Examples of Safety Colors;
Red - The color red is used on any safety signs, labels, or other objects to signify danger or
to alert people that they need to stop.
Orange – The color orange is used to alert people to the fact that there are dangerous parts
of a machine or equipment. The danger could be from crushing, cutting, shocking or otherwise
harming people or the facility. This is most commonly used on labels that are applied to
machinery, but could also be used on signs and other objects.
Yellow – Anywhere that caution needs to be used, the color yellow should be primary on
the signs or labels alerting people to this fact. Similar to OSHA, this includes risks of tripping,
falling, getting burned, being caught in a pinch point, experiencing hearing damage, and almost
any other common hazard that may be present.
Green – Green is used to alert people to the presence of an emergency egress. This is
important for helping people escape from an area if they need to. Another place where green is
used according to ANSI is to identify where first aid and other types of safety equipment are kept.
Blue - Blue is used on signs and labels that provide information about a particular item or
area. This information doesn’t necessarily have to be safety related, however mandatory signs
wear blue.
Equipment Color Codes;
Most other equipment use standard color codes. These equipment include;
• Pipeline
• Electrical
• Lifting and Rigging Equipment.
• Scaffold
ANSI Pipeline Markings
Another area where ANSI has used colors to improve safety is pipe markings. Pipes
contain a wide range of liquids and gases, which are used throughout a facility. One
big safety hazard related to pipes is that it is difficult or impossible to know exactly
what is in them, unless they are labeled.
Since pipes are quite small in some cases, it can be difficult to read labels on pipes
from a distance. This is why safety colors are so important.
• Yellow - This is for flammable liquids or gases.
• Brown – Brown is used for any combustible liquids or gases.
• Orange – The orange labels are for toxic and/or corrosive solutions.
• Red – Red is for fire-quenching liquids or solutions.
• Green - Water is in green. Note that this can be water used for coolant, waste, or
other things, so it is not necessarily potable.
• Blue – Blue is used for compressed air.
Electrical Equipment Color Coding;

• Note: do not assume, involve the right people in decisions that affect
procedures and equipment.
 Lifting and Rigging Equipment Color Coding -
CNL
• It is a standard requirement that Lifting and Rigging Equipment are certified, and a color
code applied. The following are the colors used in CNL; yellow, green and blue.
Considering the logistics involved in certifying and color coding the equipment, color
coding grace period can be 1 month from the expiration date, however, depending on
the date of the last inspection the date of the next inspection may vary meaning that a
waiver maybe sort to remain in compliance. Each color code typically lasts for 6 months.
• All rigging & lifting equipment must be colour coded before use, these include but are
not limited to - single leg wire rope slings, multi leg wire rope slings (brothers), canvas
webbing slings, shackles, manual chain hoists, pull lifts / lever hoists, sheave blocks,
snatch blocks, plate clamps, eyebolts, lifting rings, links, mobile cranes, overhead cranes,
padeyes, runway beams, beam trolley, swing jib, electric chain hoist, air chain hoist, air
winches – tuggers, 'A' frame, beam clamps, hooks, spreader beams, boom trucks, man
lifts, work platforms, work baskets, monkey boards, forklifts, etc.
Use of Color Code - Note;
• Do not use an equipment without inspecting it simply because it has a color code. Inspect
every equipment before use.
• Do not walk into an environment you are not sure of your Safety simply because the color
says its safe to do so.
• Ask questions where and when necessary.
• Remove all defective equipment from service regardless of the color code.
• Never paint your own color codes on the equipment to keep it in date of inspection.
• Knowing the color code does not necessarily make you an expert in handling the equipment,
always involve the right people in decisions that affect procedures and equipment.
• Road signs may not tell the whole story about the state of the road, other users or
pedestrians be observant and maintain safe speeds.
COLOR CODES AND SAFETY SIGNS CAN BE USED AT HOME, EMBRACE IT.
 Thank

You

For

Listening