Safety always needs to be the highest priority in the workplace, especially in an industrial setting like a warehouse or factory. One key safety feature in warehouses and factories is line markings.

Line markings are a basic but essential safety feature in industrial settings.

On aspect of line marking and safety is to keep areas separate and/or alert people of shared areas. Warehouses, for example, inevitably have materials handling equipment like forklifts in operation. This poses a significant safety risk for pedestrians in the warehouse. Line markings can be used to designate pedestrian only zones, forklift only zones, and shared zones. Although line markings such as this don’t guarantee safety, it’s one of the many features that can be put into a warehouse that help with safety.

Line marking can also be use to designate specific areas in a warehouse such as parking, loading, unloading, and temporary storage. Not only is this good for organisation, order, a warehouse optimisation, it also promotes safety by making sure everything is where it’s supposed to be.

It’s Easy To Forget About Line Marking

All that being said, it’s easy to forget about line marking and let it deteriorate.

Like everything in a warehouse or factory, line marking is subject to wear and tear, and needs to be maintained and replaced over time. With people and equipment moving over it everyday, line marking will wear out and will need to be repainted. But, as mentioned, it’s easy to forget about this.

Since the wear happens slowly, people who are in the warehouse every day simply won’t notice the fading and, over time, line marking loses its brightness, contrast, and therefore effectiveness. It’s a gradual process that’s easy to ignore until the markings are gone and no longer doing their job.

Every workplace should have regular safety audits and evaluations. Warehouses are already used to yearly pallet racking inspections, and should be doing their own safety assessments regularly. These assessments should include looking for damage to pallet racking, safety barriers, signage, and of course, line marking.

An assessment of line marking could include keeping records of when line markings were last painted, looking for worn areas, and comparing pictures of the new line marking compared to how it is now. Have a threshold for when line marking needs to be redone and stick to it.

Let’s Talk Line Marking

So, when was the last time your business had its line markings repainted? If you can’t remember, go out onto the floor and look at it. How worn is it? Do you think it’s still doing its job? Or does it need to be re-painted?

Come and talk to us about your line marking and other warehouse safety needs. We’re happy to help.