Industrial Safety Color Codes
The American National Standards Institute has identified specific "safety" colors for industry. These colors mark equipment, have specific meanings and uses, and mark safety signs in specific configurations.
Other People Are Reading
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Industry Color Standard
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This sign is required by OSHA, but the colors are defined by ANSI. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and ANSI have a generalized color code for industry. The National Fire Protection Association, U.S. Department of Transportation and others all recognize color coding for specific signage or placards, but it is all based on the ANSI Z535 Safety Alerting Standards.
Red and Orange
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Colors bring attention to danger of injury or death. Red and orange indicate danger. Red indicates fire protection equipment, alarm boxes and extinguishers, and emergency shutoff switches on machinery. Orange marks dangerous parts of machinery, so anything that cuts, crushes, pinches or will cause injury should be orange.
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Yellow and Black
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Caution colors warn of hazards. Yellow indicates caution and is used to mark hazards. Storage cabinets for paints, gasoline cans, other flammable liquids and explosives are yellow. Yellow and black together bring attention to a particular hazard by being visually striking.
Green
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Safety signs have a green background with white lettering and symbols. Green is the color of safety. Personal protective equipment, first-aid kits, eyewash and emergency shower locations are marked in green.
Blue
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Needed information is provided in blue. Blue is widely used in railroad operations to indicate a warning. In general industry, blue is used to provide information. Information signs have a blue background with white lettering and symbols.
Misconceptions
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Even though ANSI has provided a color code for industry, it is not a mandatory standard. Specific trades and safety organizations may have their own color codes.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit danger warning image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com danger image by max blain from Fotolia.com road edge marker image by leemarusa from Fotolia.com sign. first aid sign image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com safety helments sign image by green308 from Fotolia.com
