What are OSHA aisle marking requirements?

OSHA has many rules and regulations that are put in place to help keep employees and others safe in the workplace. Complying with all these regulations is important not only for the improved safety results, but also to avoid fines and penalties that can occur should OSHA discover that your facility is not meeting the requirements. One area where many facilities fail to comply with the standards is aisle markings. Understanding what these requirements are is the first step in ensuring you are able to comply properly.

The Width of Aisles

OSHA has a variety of standards in place regarding the width of aisles in different situations. Regarding the floor markings used for aisles, the markings must clearly define how much space there is between the two edges. This means the markings should be placed in a straight line that will ensure adequate room between the floor marking and where the shelving or other items are kept. The aisle markings can either be one continuous marking, or dotted, as long as they are easily visible. These markings should also be between two and six inches in width.

Colors

OSHA states that red floor marking tape should be used to identify fire protection equipment, or to indicate that people or vehicles should stop at the line to watch out for hazards. Yellow markings are used to indicate caution to those in the area. If the aisles contain fire protection equipment, require extra caution, or need people to stop before entering the aisle it is good to use these two colors. Other than those situations, OSHA doesn’t require aisle markings to be any specific color, though they do advice that the same color is used throughout the facility.

Aisle Identification

In some facilities OSHA will require that the aisles are clearly marked with either what is found on that aisle. This can help to ensure emergency responders will know what potential hazards are found in that aisle, and so facilities can quickly access the things that are needed.

Focusing on Safety

Rules and regulations from OSHA are constantly being updated, improved, and changed in order to keep employees and others as safe as possible. While OSHA does have some regulations related to aisle floor markings, it is possible that new ones will be developed over time. To help ensure you are able to stay in compliance at all times make sure to always focus on safety when planning out all your floor markings.