Company road markings to make your business safer and more productive

road markings
Company road markings to make your business safer and more productive 11

Road markings

In any business context, workplace safety is a top priority, especially in environments with high vehicle and pedestrian traffic, such as warehouses, production facilities, or logistics centres. Road markings, often overlooked, play a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient company traffic. In this article, we will explore the importance of road markings in companies, highlighting their benefits, types, and how they can help improve the efficiency of internal processes.

What is internal company road marking?

The road markings includes all visual markings applied to the floor, which enable people and vehicles to move around correctly, quickly and according to standardised rules, all of which are key principles of Lean Production.
These signs may include lines, symbols, pictograms, signs, floor screens indicating pedestrian routes, storage areas, danger zones and vehicle lanes. In Italy, regulations governing safety signage requirements in the workplace are governed by Title V of Legislative Decree No. 81/2008 (T.U.), which establishes the requirements for safety signage.

The psychology of colours

Thanks to colour coding, floor markings allow anomalies to be identified at a glance, recognising who, what, how and where a product is located or a process takes place, thus ensuring staff safety and facilitating the control of production and logistics processes.
The use of colours is based on the principle of cognitive balance: different colours evoke different psychological responses, due to the fact that colours influence our perception of objects and situations.
In all production environments, it is possible, through the appropriate and diversified use of colours, to ensure that spaces speak for themselves. Visually marking and differentiating areas dedicated to the movement of handling equipment from those reserved for pedestrians is an effective practice for warning operators of risks, such as collisions, and consequently for preventing accidents at work. Using horizontal signage to identify the location of products by colour is extremely useful, as it significantly reduces material procurement times – it is immediately clear where everything goes/is – and at the same time, work areas will always be tidy. But that's not all. No one will feel entitled to put things where they see fit.

influence of colours

The meaning of colours

meaning of colours
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To define which colours to use to visually separate processes, work areas and routes, identify storage locations for materials, products, tools and equipment, ISO 3864-4 establishes the graphic (shape and colour) and design requirements that safety signs must meet in workplaces and public areas for the purposes of accident prevention, fire protection, health and safety information, and emergency evacuation.

The colours identified are intentionally limited in order to facilitate learning and immediate recognition of specific areas in the workplace among operators. This does not mean that different colours cannot be used to meet specific operational priorities or processes. However, it is a good idea to try to limit the number of colours used: this will make it easier to remember the meaning of each colour and reduce the amount of tape rolls to be kept in stock. Finally, it is advisable to associate each chosen colour with a specific purpose. Different work areas marked with different colours create a visually clear environment that helps to immediately understand the context.

company road markings
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Key benefits of an excellent corporate road marking system

Road markings not only help to ensure worker safety, but also improve operational efficiency. Let's take a closer look at some of the main advantages:

  1. Improved safetyOne of the most obvious advantages of floor markings is the reduction in the risk of accidents. By clearly indicating the routes to be followed, the possibility of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians within warehouses or production areas is reduced.
  2. Workflow optimisationIn a company organised according to the principles of Lean Production, process efficiency is fundamental. Clear signage allows for the optimisation of material and people flows, minimising downtime and ensuring that processes run smoothly.
  3. Separation of areas: Road markings allow specific areas to be demarcated, such as storage areas, loading/unloading areas and pedestrian walkways. This helps to maintain order and reduces the risk of materials and people ending up where they should not be.
  4. Regulatory compliance: Maintaining a workplace that complies with current regulations is essential to avoid penalties and ensure the well-being of workers. The correct implementation of horizontal signage is often required by workplace safety laws.
  5. Reduction in training timeA clear visual division of company areas helps new employees quickly find their way around. Effective floor signage allows them to immediately understand where to go and which areas to avoid, thus reducing training time and the possibility of errors.

Types of signage

There are various types of road markings, each of which plays a specific role in the organisation of company spaces. Below are the main ones.

Boundary lines: these are used to divide areas within the company. They can separate vehicle lanes, pedestrian areas or areas reserved for material storage. These lines, which are often coloured, help to maintain order and prevent people from entering dangerous areas or areas outside their operational remit.

adhesive marking tapes
signage

Danger signs: this type of signage is used to indicate areas at risk or where potentially dangerous conditions exist, such as moving machinery, high-intensity work areas or slippery surfaces. The predominant colour is yellow or red, depending on the level of danger.

Safety signage: indicates escape routes, emergency exits and safe routes to follow in the event of evacuation. It is often green and white and phosphorescent luminescent so that it is clearly visible even in low light conditions.

safety signs
signage

Signage for vehicles and forklift trucks: In logistics environments, forklifts and other industrial vehicles are indispensable tools for transporting materials. Road markings for these vehicles include dedicated lanes, directional arrows, and symbols indicating manoeuvring and parking areas. This type of signage helps reduce collisions and improve operational flow within departments.

Materials used in road markings

Another fundamental aspect to consider when discussing road markings is the type of material used for the markings.
The choice of material affects the durability and visibility of lines and symbols over time.

  1. Paints: It is recommended to use special resin-based paints, as they are more resistant to wear and abrasion. However, their application requires a line marking machine or stencils. It should also be noted that the painted strips must not be slippery. Once applied, the areas are not immediately accessible and it is necessary to wait for the strips to dry, lengthening waiting times (Muda) and consequently slowing down production. From a Lean perspective, we know that one of the main objectives of the company is to optimise the processes that create value. This means making activities a continuous flow and therefore being able to review the organisation of work or redesign the production layout whenever necessary. The use of paints for horizontal signage is limiting in this sense, as layouts cannot be changed easily and quickly.
  2. Adhesive tapesThey are easy to apply and remove, and can be walked on and driven over immediately. Available in different colours and materials (PVC, PU, metal), they can be supplied with acrylic adhesives, extra-permanent rubber-based adhesives or adhesives that leave no residue. Our wide range of adhesive tapes allows us to meet all customer requirements: for every type of floor and use (cold rooms, forklift traffic and manoeuvring, clean rooms, food handling and processing), we can offer the right tape and even produce it in customised colours.
sign visibility
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Implementation and maintenance of road markings

Proper implementation of road markings does not stop at the initial application.
Regular maintenance is essential to ensure that markings remain visible and functional over time.
Compliance verification and updates
Road markings must be checked periodically to ensure that they still comply with current regulations and meet the company's operational requirements. Changes to the layout of facilities or new safety provisions may require the markings to be updated.
Cleaning and care
To ensure maximum visibility and durability of signage, it is essential that floors are cleaned regularly. The accumulation of dirt, oil or dust can make signage less visible, increasing the risk of accidents.

adhesive tapes

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