Enforcing Workplace Safety Standards through Industrial Color Codes

Industrial color codes

To minimize workplace injuries and accidents requires the combined input of both the employer and the employees. There are tens of hazards lurking everywhere within the organization and while it is not possible to cover every angle, properly informing the relevant persons of the potential hazards can go a long way towards ensuring safety. Workplace safety is a great concern and immense regulations have been put into place and they are strictly enforced. These regulations have also ensured that the workers clearly understand their responsibilities and their rights. The employer has a huge responsibility of enforcing the set standards and ensuring safety to all. This can be achieved through a number of ways, including using industrial color codes and other appropriate marking and signs.

Involving the staff

Workers have a major stake in the safety of the organization and they will determine the success of any safety regulations put in place. It is hence important that they be involved right from the start and they be adequately trained to understand the purpose and meaning of each industrial color code and marking used.

Sticking to simple and easily understandable colors and signs

Employers should assist the employees and any visitor to the premises by ensuring that the color codes used, the accompanying signs and the language used are clear and easily understandable. They should be unambiguous with any part of the message that can be misinterpreted removed. A mixture of colors, signs and texts should be utilized. A common language should be used but it is important to consider using multi-lingual signs for those employees who may not understand the common language used. The text used should be of large fonts and the words for the warnings being appropriately designed and spelt. Every sign should only include appropriate color codes that only convey a single meaning to avoid overlapping of the messages to be conveyed. If there are two messages to be conveyed, the signs and color codes should be different and placed in separate places.

Industrial color codes to be used

Colors should be used sparingly and it is important to stick to the conventional industrial color codes to ensure consistency. Fewer colors lessen the confusion and prevent visual fatigue. Colors used should be consistently applied throughout the organization. It is important to assist employees who are color blind by placing clear signs alongside the color codes.

Educating the staff

The industrial color codes used should be easily understandable but this does not mean that the employer should not take the extra step of educating the staff to ensure their cooperation and understanding of the measures taken to give them a safe working area. They should be taught the meaning of the color codes, the symbols and the signs used. They should also be informed of the locations of the hazards and the potential dangers that lurk in those areas. In addition they should also be trained on how to take precautions and the course of action to be taken in case of emergencies. To make it effective this education should be continuous and be applied during the induction of any new employee into the organization.

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