Safety Tape

Types of Safety Tape and Their Uses

Hazard Marking Tape

An important function of many safety tapes is to call out hazards. These hazards could be related to machinery, traffic, chemicals, high noise levels, heights/edges, and anything else that could pose a danger to employees in your facility. Hazard marking tape often comes in bright colors such as yellow or red. It can also have eye-catching patterns such as yellow/black, red/white, green/white, or orange/black. Typically, facilities outline dangerous areas with hazard tape or they use the tape to create a barrier alongside an area where people must use caution. More than one color tape may be used to indicate different types of hazards. Hazard marking tapes are available is many widths and thicknesses.

Aisle & Pathway Marking Tape

In busy workplaces, clearly marked pathways can help people get where they need to go safely. These pathways can also serve the important purpose of separating pedestrians from forklifts and other vehicle traffic to prevent collisions. Facilities can also add floor signs at intersections where pedestrians and forklifts meet to increase traffic safety even further.

In warehouses that store many different kinds of materials and products, marked aisles also help fulfill OSHA requirements by guaranteeing the aisles are the appropriate width and aren’t blocked by pallets, boxes, and other clutter.

Traditionally, businesses often use yellow safety tape to mark aisles and pathways. Each facility can select a color scheme that works for their operations, though. For example, different types of pathways might use different colors of safety tape to communicate their purposes to employees.

Traction Tape

Traction tape, also known as anti-slip tape, can increase the safety of the walking surface itself. Traction tape, which comes in a variety of colors and widths, is usually used on surfaces that are frequently wet such as entryways, showers, locker rooms, or areas near drains. Businesses also use anti-slip tape on stairs when slipping could be a problem. Depending on the level of traction needed, organizations can select from a variety of grit levels.

Glow-in-the-Dark Tape

Glow-in-the-dark tape serves a unique purpose. It helps people find their way to exits during a power outage. In low-light areas, glow-in-the-dark tape can also improve visibility during regular operations. This tape, also called photoluminescent tape, functions by absorbing energy while the lights are on and emitting that energy back out as light when it’s dark. That means this tape will work well in most environments, but it’s important to remember that in places where there’s never much light, it won’t be able to charge properly.

Make Safety Tape Effective

To get the most out of safety tape, it’s important to properly install and maintain the tape. Tape should be applied to a clean, dry surface so it fully adheres to the floor. It should be cleaned regularly so it stays bright and noticeable.

If safety tape is used to mark hazards, it’s important that people understand why those markings exist and how they should react (e.g. wear PPE, stay out of an area, take extra precautions, etc.). Training should also take place if you have a specific color code for safety tape in your facility so everyone knows how to interpret the different colors of floor tape.