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Safety colors have a rich history. The American Standards Association began work on a Safety Color Code in 1946, and in 1953 the code was approved for publication as an American War Standard. The code was then picked up by the American National Standards Institute as ANSI Z53.1, still bearing the name Safety Color Code.
Some of OSHA’s regulations adopt both the 1967 edition of the ANSI Z53.1 standard, Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards, and its modern version ANSI Z535.1–2006 (R2011), Safety Colors. The regulations include those listed in the Regulatory Citations section below.
However, it is 29 CFR 1910.144, OSHA’s Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards Standard that offers regulations for the application of the colors red and yellow. In addition, ANSI Z535.1-1998, Safety Color Code, offers the meanings of safety red, orange, yellow, green, blue, black, and white. (Later editions of ANSI Z535.1 no longer offer safety color “meanings,” which appeared in the 1998 and earlier editions.)
Between 1910.144 and ANSI Z535.1-1998, the colors have been associated with specific meanings. Unless otherwise required by other OSHA regulations, using those color schemes uniformly makes safety communication all the more consistent and efficient.
It is important to note that consensus standards (such as ANSI Z535.1-1998) that are not incorporated by reference do not become an OSHA standard having the force of law. What’s more, application of a consensus standard that contradicts an OSHA standard may be a violation, unless a variance is sought.
Scope
General industry employers must follow the color schemes specified in 1910.144 when applying red or yellow. These employers may (but are not required) to use the color schemes at ANSI Z535.1-1998, as long as they do not conflict with 1910.144 or other OSHA regulations.
General industry employers must also follow the color schemes specified in applicable OSHA regulations. However, where no color scheme is presented by a sign or tag requirement or where no sign or tag is specifically required by the OSHA regulations, the employer must follow the sign and tag color codes presented at 1910.145 for general industry.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1910.144 — Safety color code for marking physical hazards
- 29 CFR 1910.145 — Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags
Key definitions
- ANSI A13.1-1956: Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
- ANSI Z53.1-1967: A consensus standard from the American National Standards Institute called Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards, ANSI-approved October 9, 1967. Also referred to as USAS Z53.1-1967.
- ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011): A consensus standard from the American National Standards Institute called Safety Colors, reaffirmed July 19, 2011.
- ANSI Z535.1-1998: A consensus standard from the American National Standards Institute called Safety Color Code, approved February 23, 1998.
- Black: Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color black identifies:
- Traffic
- Housekeeping
- Under 1910.145, the color black must be that of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1, “Fundamental Specification of Safety Colors for CIE Standard Source ‘C,’” of ANSI Z53.1-1967 or in Table 1, “Specification of the Safety Colors for CIE Illuminate C and the CIE 1931, 2 Standard Observer,” of ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011).
- Blue: Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color blue identifies:
- Safety information
- Personal protective equipment
- Notice
- Green: Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color green identifies:
- Safety equipment
- First-aid
- Evacuation routes
- Under 1910.145, the color green must be that of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1, “Fundamental Specification of Safety Colors for CIE Standard Source ‘C,’” of ANSI Z53.1-1967 or in Table 1, “Specification of the Safety Colors for CIE Illuminate C and the CIE 1931, 2 Standard Observer,” of ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011).
- Orange: Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color orange identifies:
- Warning
- Machine parts that may cause injury
- Exposed parts
- Red: Under 1910.144, the color red is the basic color for the classification of:
- Fire protection equipment and apparatus
- Danger
- Stop
- Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color red also identifies flammable liquid.
- Under 1910.145, the color red must be that of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1, “Fundamental Specification of Safety Colors for CIE Standard Source ‘C,’” of ANSI Z53.1-1967 or in Table 1, “Specification of the Safety Colors for CIE Illuminate C and the CIE 1931, 2 Standard Observer,” of ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011).
- White: Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color white designates:
- Traffic
- Housekeeping
- Under 1910.145, the color white must be that of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1, “Fundamental Specification of Safety Colors for CIE Standard Source ‘C,’” of ANSI Z53.1-1967 or in Table 1, “Specification of the Safety Colors for CIE Illuminate C and the CIE 1931, 2 Standard Observer,” of ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011).
- Yellow: Under 1910.144, the color yellow is the basic color for the classification of:
- Caution
- Physical hazards such as striking against, stumbling, falling, tripping, and “caught in between.”
- Under ANSI Z535.1-1998, the color yellow also identifies:
- Potential hazards
- Flammable materials storage
- Corrosives
- Instability
- Traffic
- Housekeeping
- Under 1910.145, the color yellow must be that of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1, “Fundamental Specification of Safety Colors for CIE Standard Source ‘C,’” of ANSI Z53.1-1967 or in Table 1, “Specification of the Safety Colors for CIE Illuminate C and the CIE 1931, 2 Standard Observer,” of ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011).
Summary of requirements
Employers must:
- Use the color red to identify fire protection equipment and apparatus.
- Ensure safety cans or other portable containers of flammable liquids having a flash point at or below 80 °F, table containers of flammable liquids (open cup tester), excluding shipping containers, are painted red with some additional clearly visible identification either in the form of a yellow band around the can or the name of the contents conspicuously stenciled or painted on the can in yellow.
- Provide red lights at barricades and at temporary obstructions.
- Ensure emergency stop bars on hazardous machines such as rubber mills, wire blocks, flat work ironers, etc., are red.
- Ensure stop buttons or electrical switches which letters or other markings appear, used for emergency stopping of machinery are red.
- Use yellow to designate caution.
- Use yellow to mark physical hazards, such as striking against, stumbling, falling, tripping, and ‘‘caught in between.’’
- Ensure signs, tags, and labels are colored in accordance with color schemes specified by the OSHA regulations. The following general industry regulations mention color for signs, tags, or labels:
- 29 CFR 1910.37 — Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes
- 29 CFR 1910.97 — Nonionizing radiation
- 29 CFR 1910.107 — Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials
- 29 CFR 1910.109 — Explosives and blasting agents
- 29 CFR 1910.145 — Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags
- 29 CFR 1910.147 — The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
- 29 CFR 1910.261 — Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills
- 29 CFR 1910.269 — Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 — Bloodborne pathogens
- 29 CFR 1910.1096 — Ionizing radiation
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 — Hazard communication
- Post a sign (or symbol) to indicate and, insofar as possible, to define hazards, if failure to designate specific hazards in general industry may lead to accidental injury to employees or the public, or both, or to property damage. See the required sign color schemes at 1910.145.
- Follow the OSHA-required color schemes under 1910.145 when posting signs in general industry, unless specifically stated otherwise in 29 CFR 1910.
- Use tags as a means to prevent accidental injury or illness to general industry employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment, or operations which are out of the ordinary, unexpected, or not readily apparent. However, tags need not be used where signs, guarding, or other positive means of protection are being used. See the tag color schemes recommended at 1910.145.
- Remove tags when the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed. See 1910.145.
- Follow the OSHA-recommended color schemes at 1910.145 when affixing tags in general industry, unless specifically stated elsewhere in 29 CFR 1910,
- Apply color coding to piping per ANSI A13.1-1956, Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, if 1910.253(d)(4)(ii), 1910.261(a)(3)(iii), or 1910.262(c)(7) for oxygen-fuel gas welding and cutting; pulp, paper, and paperboard mills; and textiles apply, respectively.
- Use colors as required elsewhere in the OSHA regulations.
Red bags or red containers may be substituted for biohazard labels under 1910.1030(g).