The reflective safety tape colours and workplace colour guidelines:
These guidelines are an effective colour coding system that can assist you design your workplace, alert employees of various types of hazards and indicate what specific procedures apply in various workplace areas.
When using a colour coding system in the workplace, it is important to follow some basic guidelines, for example:
The psychology of colours can be deeply embedded in brain activity and is also inherent in human nature. For example, the colour yellow has been shown to activate certain mental processes that stimulate the nervous system and can encourage communication and critical thinking.
Colours can be used to create visual cues that draw attention to potential hazards, indicate the location of safety equipment and promote safe behaviors. For example, the use of red and yellow can be used to draw attention to warning signs, indicating potential hazards or dangers in the workplace.
The use of blue or green can help to identify safe areas or equipment, such as emergency exits, first aid kits or fire extinguishers. In addition, the use of bright, contrasting colours can help to improve visibility and reduce the risk of impact incidents.
Reflective safety marking tapes are a type of adhesive tape that is designed to reflect light, making it visible in low light or night-time conditions. This tape is often used to mark hazards, such as steps, sharp edges, or other potential hazards and is commonly found on vehicles, construction equipment and in industrial settings.
When using reflective safety tape in the workplace, it is important to follow some basic guidelines, for example:
There are different types of reflective safety tape available however, the most common ones are:
This type of reflective tape contains small glass beads that reflect light back to its source. This type of tape is typically used in low to medium visibility applications and is available in different colours.
This type of reflective tape contains small, three-dimensional prisms that reflect light back at a high level of intensity. It is typically used in high-visibility applications, such as on emergency vehicles or in construction zones.
This type of reflective tape is made of glass bead material and meets the minimum retro-reflectivity requirements for Class 1 sheeting. It is typically used for non-critical applications, such as on signs, barricades or posts.
This type of reflective tape is typically made of micro-prismatic material and meets the minimum retro-reflectivity requirements for Class 2 sheeting. It is typically used for high visibility applications, such as on construction vehicles, trucks and trailers.
This type of reflective tape contains a high concentration of micro-prisms and meets the minimum retro-reflectivity requirements for Class 3 sheeting. It is typically used for the highest-visibility applications in work zones.
Note: It is important to choose the appropriate type of reflective safety tape for each specific application to ensure adequate visibility and safety. For further information on reflective material please refer to the Australian standard 1906.1, Retroreflective Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes Retroreflective Sheeting.
