I’ve had a few discussions of late about traffic management on-site and have to confess my first response is ‘go talk to a traffic management planner’. It’s a skilled area of work and it’s worth getting it right so you don’t have to repaint everything. This blog is 101 on-site marking, traffic amangement and how to start thinking about getting it right. We’ll take a look at general safety signage, 5S methodologies and move into more specific on-site traffic management.
Traditional Safety Signs and Colouring
Red: For identifying danger and stop (examples: flammable liquid containers, emergency stop buttons, fire protection equipment).
Orange: For identifying intermediate level (warning) hazards and hazardous parts of machinery
Yellow: For identifying caution (examples: physical hazards such as tripping, falling, striking against hazards, storage cabinets for flammable or combustible materials, containers for corrosives or other unstable materials).
Green: Used for identifying emergency egress and first aid or safety equipment such as safety deluge showers, gas masks, and stretchers.
Blue: Safety information used on informational signs and bulletin boards; also has specific applications in a designated area, think hearing protection signs
Black, White and Yellow, or combinations thereof, shall be used to designate traffic or housekeeping markings.
5S Housekeeping
5S is a system for efficiently organising spaces so work can be performed effectively and safely. This system focuses on putting everything where it belongs and keeping the workplace clean, which makes it easier for people to do their jobs without wasting time or risking injury
- Sort
- Set in Order
- Shine
- Standardize
- Sustain
Basics of 5S Floor Marking
Yellow: aisleways, traffic lanes and work cells
Black & yellow: Areas that may expose employees to special physical or health hazards.
Red & White: Areas to be kept clear for safety/compliance reasons (e.g., in front of electrical panels, firefighting equipment, and safety equipment such as eyewash stations, safety showers and first aid stations.) Equipment and fixtures workstations, carts, floor stand displays, racks, etc.)
Blue, Green or Black Materials and components, including raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods
Red Defects, scrap, rework, and red tag areas
Traffic Management Resources
- There is some good stuff in Worksafe’s WORKPLACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT: Fact Sheet, and ‘The Absolutely Essential Health and Safety Toolkit (Manufacturing)‘ p. 13
- Safe Work Australia has ‘Workplace traffic management guidance material’and it’s my personal ‘Go To’.
- Even though it’s really marketing material, ‘Plant Services’has an excellent floor marking ‘colours’ guide based on Lean/Agile manufacturing principles.
- Also, check out ‘Zones_Around_Machinery’, it talks about what they do in the USA for various bits of plant i.e. bench saws (sadly it’s all in feet).
As always, if you have anything to add to the discussion on traffic management please call Sarah on 0272 007 680 or email sarah@employmenow.co.nz.
Have a safe and productive week.
SB