• Safety colors are associated with specific meanings and used consistently so that employees can quickly understand them.
• Both OSHA and ANSI regulate safety color codes.

Safety color may be applied to surfaces and equipment to convey a safety-related message. In some cases, the color is required. Between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), there are 10 safety colors.

Note: Safety colors are standardized on signs, tags, labels, and other markings; however, color schemes for each marking system type are covered not here but elsewhere, under each marking system discussion in the Signs and Markings topic, where applicable.

Purpose of safety color codes

Because certain colors are associated with specific meanings or messages, using those colors consistently makes them more effective. Applying these uniform colors for safety purposes allows employees to quickly understand and recall the meaning of those colors as they work for one employer after another. This enables employees to take the right action in an emergency or in day-to-day operations.

Related regulations and standards

Both OSHA and ANSI have standards that relate to safety color codes:

• 29 CFR 1910.144 — Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards.
• ANSI Z53.1-1967 — Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards.
• ANSI Z535.1-1998 — American National Standard Safety Color Code.
• ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011) — American National Standard for Safety Colors.
• ANSI Z535.1-2017 — American National Standard for Safety Colors.
• ANSI Z535.1-2022 — American National Standard for Safety Colors.