Manufacturing and warehouse facilities are full of hazards. No matter how safe they strive to be, you have heavy equipment, machinery, lots of activity happening, and more that are all moving in unison. With all this movement, you run the risk of accidents happening. This is why floor markings are so important. After our team at Concrete Coatings of the Carolinas finishes a floor, it is up to the warehouse or manufacturing facility owner to maintain those floor markings to meet OSHA requirements. Let us dig deeper into this practice and how best to be successful with the execution.
The Value of Safety Markings
There is a lot of value in the installation of safety markings on the flooring of modern workspaces. When you look at floor markings, the series of stripes, lines, and dots can help to create organization in a space where there is what many would consider controlled chaos.
The whole goal when it comes to safety markings is to keep employees away from areas that would be dangerous. You want to try and cut risk exposure, reduce the opportunities for hazards to cause damage.
OSHA Floor Marking Requirements
OSHA has floor marking requirements in its standards. The standards are in the materials handling and storage space, where it lays out that you need to have markings on aisles and passageways. The markings need to be at least two feet wide to be visible. Aisles themselves also have an expectation of being at least four feet wide, or three feet wider than any other large piece of equipment which may be in that aisle. Color requirements are also in place that you need to follow to be in compliance.
Maintenance of the Safety Markings
So now that you have your warehouse or manufacturing facility all set up with a new floor, along with the markings and all, how can you maintain it? You have to remember the OSHA requirement first. When placing safety markings on the floor, their placement came with the expectation that there would not be any significant changes to the facility. The reality is, things will change over time.
If you have an aisle, for example, where you have a very large piece of equipment, you need safety markings to ensure there is proper space between individuals and that machinery. In the event that the piece of equipment moves to a different part of the warehouse or manufacturing facility, you need to be cognizant of this.
Safety markings need to be clear and open at all times. You never want to put anything on top of the markings or change the layout without also addressing the markings as well.
Touch-Ups of the Markings
In the event that the safety markings start to wear down, you want to be sure that touch-ups help markings remain vibrant. High visibility of the safety markings is critical to their success. In the event that you want to get the attention of an employee, to keep them away from a hazard, a safety marking that pops out to their eyes will work. Safety markings with a lot of wear and tear will be hard to see and lack effectiveness.
Making Changes to the Markings
The other piece of the equation to keep in mind is necessary changes to the markings. If you make alterations to the set-up of your warehouse or manufacturing facility, you want to take action to change the safety markings as well. If you do not, you could have old safety markings which could cause confusion and increase risk exposure, rather than mitigate. When you need to alter your safety markings, it is best to rely on professional help to ensure you meet OSHA requirements and also put your employees in as safe of an environment as possible.
Safety markings are a critical component of any warehouse or manufacturing facility. They can help employees avoid hazards, minimize risk, and be as safe as possible while doing their day-to-day duties. The initial installation of safety markings is only the first step. You then need to be sure you are maintaining their appearance, updating where they need placement, and continuing to ensure they are serving their purpose to increase safety.