Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
(OP)
Hello all,
I've been given the task of carrying out the above job, I have a clean workshop floor as my canvas. Trouble is, my Line Manager wants in on the task and has come up with what I think is a silly idea, that's to mark out 'safe areas' around the machine tools, where you don't need to wear PPE.
I don't like it, and I'd rather stick to the idea that if you enter the workshop, you wear your PPE (safety glasses are what I want to see people in most).
In order for me to make him agree, he'll want to see something 'official', so that's why I'm asking you guys if there are any 'best practice' guides out there. Also, it would be good for a bit of guidance for me generally.
If there are no guides you know of, examples of how your workshop does the floor markings would be good, together with reasons for why you do things the way you do (so that I can pass them on to him and he'll leave the silly idea alone) ;)
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick.
I've been given the task of carrying out the above job, I have a clean workshop floor as my canvas. Trouble is, my Line Manager wants in on the task and has come up with what I think is a silly idea, that's to mark out 'safe areas' around the machine tools, where you don't need to wear PPE.
I don't like it, and I'd rather stick to the idea that if you enter the workshop, you wear your PPE (safety glasses are what I want to see people in most).
In order for me to make him agree, he'll want to see something 'official', so that's why I'm asking you guys if there are any 'best practice' guides out there. Also, it would be good for a bit of guidance for me generally.
If there are no guides you know of, examples of how your workshop does the floor markings would be good, together with reasons for why you do things the way you do (so that I can pass them on to him and he'll leave the silly idea alone) ;)
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick.





RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
The purpose of the yellow stripes is to delineate areas where the HR weenies and any visiting firemen may walk or stand and gawk without getting in the way of any actual work, and with a somewhat reduced probability of being hit by a forklift.
That is completely distinct from the perimeter within which PPE should be required, which should comprise solid walls and closed doors with unmistakable warning signs. The random projectiles generated and launched in any manufacturing operation do not respect stripes on the floor.
Explain to your line manager that there just flat is no 'safe area' around a machine tool.
The forces and velocities are great enough that stuff doesn't just dribble out, and the failure rate is high enough that some day, there will be stuff coming out, fast. ... guaranteed.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
STF
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
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To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
OSHA also requires that potentially hazardous areas be clearly marked; the location of safety equipment should likewise be marked. Specific colors are designated for different types of areas so that people can quickly and easily recognize the type of danger or warning.
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
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RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
I'm pretty new to the job, and I certainly don't want to upset him - but I do want to make things safe and I find as soon as you declare safe areas in a workshop, the standards start slipping - usually with people saying "... I was only going over there quickly to get a..."
Anyways, I have a good relationship with the guy, I'm easy to get along with and I always respect those with more knowledge than me (and those with less, come to that). I will ask some of the other guys that I work with and try to get him to see things my way.
It's really good to get some examples and opinions so than you all!
Nick.
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
If you have not already done so, find somebody in your area offering an OHSA course , i.e. OHSA 10, OHSA 40.
They will cover most of the stuff you are asking about, and a lot of stuff you did not even know, you did not know.
B.E.
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
So, if you want to let your Line Manager "win the battle" without full capitulation, see if you can work out some rules for a "reduced PPE zone". The idea is to keep the visitors to pre-determined areas and still have suitable areas where work can be performed. In my experience, insurance companies like this approach.
rp
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
Having siad that, the line manager's idea of "safe" may include avoiding disctraction of machine operators. You can hide a lot of shop supervisor preferences under the safety category, if he wants to keep people away from the machines then help him with his objective. It might not be unsafe for a visitor to lean against the E-stop in the middle of a CNC program, but do you really want to risk it happening? He might want to normalize fork truck traffic by marking isle ways, who knows, but there are plenty of good reasons other than safety.
Walkways will also give the appearance of an organized shop,and impressing visiting clients should be everyone's priority.
RE: Workshop floor safety markings - any best practices?
Impressing visitors is strategically counterproductive, because they will learn what you are doing, and worse, what you are not doing.
Better to just keep them out.
IMHO
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Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA