• The primary elements of a barricade tape are its signal word and message panels.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not specify the elements of barricade tape for general industry or shipyards. That means these industries have some flexibility.

However, for construction, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.200 adopts American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z535.5-2011. That ANSI standard explains that barricade tape must contain the signal word and message panels. The safety symbol panel is optional.

Signal word panel

The signal word panel includes the signal word, along with the safety alert symbol (when used). The signal word refers to the part of a barricade tape that contains the word or words, like DANGER or CAUTION, intended to capture the employee’s immediate attention. ANSI provides specifications for signal words:

• DANGER — Used only in major hazard situations where an immediate hazard presents a threat of death or serious injury to employees.
• WARNING — May be used to represent a hazard level between CAUTION and DANGER, where serious injury or even death “could” occur.
• CAUTION — Used only in minor hazard situations where a non-immediate hazard, potential hazard, or unsafe practice presents a lesser threat of employee injury.
• NOTICE — Indicates non-hazard information that is important, like property damage.
• SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS — Indicates procedures related to safety. Instead of the phrase SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS, more descriptive signal words may be used, such as LOCKOUT PROCEDURE.

When used in the signal word panel, the safety alert symbol — an exclamation point inside an equilateral triangle — is provided with DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION signal words to indicate a hazard. It is not applied on NOTICE or SAFETY INSTRUCTION tape.

Message panel

The message panel contains the major message. This message indicates, in word text, the relevant hazardous condition or the instruction that needs to be communicated to the employee. Messages communicate hazards, the consequences of ignoring hazards, prohibitions, mandatory actions, and other information.

The message should be concise and easy for employees to understand. Examples include:

• “Construction Area”
• “Open Trench”
• “Do Not Cross"
• “Keep Out!”

It should be noted that both OSHA and ANSI allow the employer to use a symbol panel instead of a message panel on a barricade tape.

Safety symbol panel

The safety symbol panel contains a safety symbol(s). This panel offers a pictorial representation used to identify the hazardous condition, convey the safety instruction, or otherwise clarify or supplement the message. Symbols often capture the employees’ attention and help sidestep language barriers.

A symbol panel may also substitute for the message panel or for a portion of the word message.

General format

The format of barricade tape is laid out from left to right, with the signal word panel followed by the safety symbol panel (if used), and then the message panel (if used). Angled striping is popular but optional. The back side can be identical or left blank. Multi-language options are also offered by ANSI.

Signal word panel format and color scheme

When the safety alert symbol is used, ANSI says it should be at least the same height of the signal word (or greater) and located just to the left of the signal word. Its color scheme varies depending on the signal word.

ANSI color scheme requirements for signal word panels are detailed. Here is a summary:

• DANGER – Red with lettering in white.
• WARNING — Orange with lettering in black.
• CAUTION — Yellow with lettering in black.
• NOTICE — Blue with lettering in white.
• SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS— Green with lettering in white

ANSI uses a formula to calculate the minimum recommended height of the signal word letters (the variables are in inches): Height = Distance/150

Message panel format and color scheme

Neither OSHA nor ANSI specifies a color scheme for the message panel on barricade tape, but the color scheme may naturally follow the same color scheme used for the signal word panel.

ANSI also suggests using the headline-style, sans serif font, and initial capitalization (e.g., Do Not Cross). All caps may be used for important words and shorter phrases. Also, left justification is generally recommended.

Font size must be legible from the reading distance, and ANSI offers suggested sizes. ANSI uses a formula to calculate the minimum recommended height of the message panel letters (the variables are in inches): Height = Distance/300.

However, ANSI also offers a table of recommended letter heights, which uses slightly different heights than the formula. A larger size is suggested where lighting or other conditions are poor for reading.

Materials

Despite its name, barricade tape is not adhesive. Rather, it is made of a non-adhesive strip of vinyl, polyethylene, or other material. Neither OSHA nor ANSI specify tape dimensions or thickness.

Location and attachment

Barricade tape is positioned to block employees or others and alert them to a temporary or unexpected hazard or condition. The employee should see it in time to take precautions. Barricade tape itself cannot pose a hazard or distraction, however.

Neither OSHA nor ANSI specify the means of attaching barricade tape to a scene, but typically the tape is tied to objects to form a line or perimeter. Some barricade tape even comes with a stand, wall-mounting, or dispenser that allows the tape to be drawn out and then retracted when no longer needed.