Floor Marking Shapes

Practical Uses for Floor Marking Shapes

Floor marking shapes are a simple tool that can have a big impact on organization and safety in your facility. These shapes, sometimes called vinyl floor stickers, can also improve the overall appearance of a facility, making it look professional and clean. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=1758

Consider some of the following uses of floor marking shapes:

• Place corners around pallets, bins, boxes, and in other storage areas in a warehouse to prevent things from getting disorganized.
• Use corners around trash cans and other waste receptacles so they end up back where they belong after they’re emptied.
• Put X’s at locations where four pallets meet or T’s where two pallets meet to keep edges aligned.
• Use dots in areas where you want to mark boundaries, but would prefer not to use solid tape lines. Dots can easily be removed and replaced if one gets damaged.
• Place footprint decals along pedestrian walkways to indicate where it’s safe to walk.
• Use arrows to direct people to exits, restrooms, offices, and other important locations.
• Create boundaries around machinery and other equipment with strips.
• Place striped hazard corners around dangerous equipment to warn people of hazards.
• Use mini corners on desks or workbenches to mark where tools, bins, trays, etc. belong. 

All of these uses for floor marking shapes can make it easier for people in your facility to move through space, perform tasks, and keep materials and equipment organized. These visual cues can increase safety and play a key role in a 5S program. 5S is a systematic approach to workplace organization, and an important part of 5S is making everything more visual. Floor marking shapes serve that purpose by indicating where things belong. This way people can see what needs to be done without needing to ask extra questions. 

Footprint Stickers

For way finding purposes, footprint stickers for floors are becoming increasingly popular. Floor footprints quickly communicate where pedestrians should walk and even the direction they should walk, if applicable. Footprint floor stickers are easy to understand, even for people who do not work in the facility and aren't familiar with the rest of your floor marking system.

Durability in Industrial Facilities

Floor marking shapes come in several styles, each with different levels of durability and longevity. SafetyTac® shapes are made from a durable, industrial material that can withstand heavy foot and vehicle traffic. These floor stickers are resistant to water, chemicals, and UV rays, too. Ultra-thin Smart Stripe shapes can also hold up to spills and UV rays, and they can tolerate moderate traffic levels. You can even use floor stickers for carpet in some situations, depending on the adhesive of the shapes.

Select the type of shapes appropriate for the conditions of your facility, and your shapes should last a long time. 

Floor Marking Shape Sizes & Colors 

Many shapes such as corners come in multiple sizes, while other shapes like footprint stickers and dots come in a standard size. You can choose from 10-14 colors (depending on the shape). Some shapes like standard-sized corners come in hazard-striped patterns, too. Select colors that make sense for your applications or develop a department or facility-wide color scheme. Squared or rounded edges are also available for shapes including corners and T’s.

Create a Floor Marking System

When combined with other visual marking tools such as floor marking tape and floor signs, floor marking shapes help you make a comprehensive floor marking system. You can coordinate the colors of floor shapes with tapes, emphasize what a shape means with a sign, or even use floor tape and corners together to outline pallets or equipment. http://www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/A_to_Z_Topics/SlipsTrips.pdf

When you implement a new floor marking system (or when you add to your old system), provide training about what the new markings mean. Floor marking shapes are simple, but it’s worth highlighting their new role in your space, especially if you plan to use color coding.