Solutions for Safety & Visual Communication

Favorites

Monday-Friday 5:30am-4:00pm PT

1-888-326-9244

Graphic Products
  • Resources
  • Support
  • Samples
  • Contact
  • Shop All Products
    CLOSE

    CATEGORIES
    • Printers
    • Printer Supply
    • Floor Marking
    • Pipe Marking
    • Signs & Labels
    • COVID-19 Solutions

    DuraLabel Kodiak

    DuraLabel Kodiak
    Multi-color, large format

    KODIAK SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Toro

    DuraLabel Toro
    Portable, stand-alone

    TORO SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Bronco

    DuraLabel Bronco
    Industrial, efficient

    BRONCO SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Lobo

    DuraLabel Lobo
    Grab n' go labeler

    LOBO SUPPLIES
    DuraLabel Pro Series

    DuraLabel PRO 300
    Simple and reliable

    PRO 300 SUPPLIES

    LABELING SOFTWARE PRINTER ACCESSORIES PRINTER SUPPORT SHOP ALL PRINTERS
    SHOP BY APPLICATION
    Arc Flash GHS & HazCom Laboratory Pipe Labeling Wire Marking See All
    SUPPLY TYPE
    General Purpose High Visibility Low/High Temperatures Repositionable Tamper Resistant See All
    SHOP BY PRINTER
    Kodiak Supplies Toro Supplies Bronco Supplies Lobo Supplies DLP 300 Supplies See All

    RIBBONS PRINTER & SUPPLY BUNDLES SHOP ALL SUPPLIES
    FLOOR TAPES
    5S Aisle Glow in the Dark Reflective Anti-Slip See All
    FLOOR SIGNS
    BUNDLES
    SHAPES
    ACCESSORIES
    Applicators Stair Safety Floor Laminate
    Social Distancing Floor Signs

    SHOP ALL FLOOR TAPES
    STANDARD PIPE MARKERS
    Fire Quenching Flammable / Oxidizing Toxic or Corrosive Compressed Air Various Water See All
    AMMONIA
    Pipe Markers Component Markers See All
    SHOP BY STANDARD
    ANSI IIAR Pre-2007 ANSI
    flammable-pipe-markers

    ARROW BANDING TAPE ACCESSORIES VALVE TAGS SHOP ALL PIPE MARKERS
    SHOP BY SUBJECT
    Admittance Chemical Electrical Emergency PPE See All
    SHOP BY HEADER
    Caution Danger Notice Safety Warning See All
    COVID-19 Premade Signs

    SHOP ALL SAFETY SIGNS
    COVID-19 SOLUTIONS
    Safety Signs Printer Kits Awareness Posters A-Frame Signs Sneeze Guards
    SOCIAL DISTANCING
    Wall Signs & Labels Floor Signs Floor Tape Shop All
    COVID-19 BY INDUSTRY
    Grocery & Retail Medical & Healthcare Office Settings Restaurants & Food Service Food Manufacturing Construction
     
    Manufacturing Finance Transportation Education

    SHOP ALL COVID-19 SOLUTIONS
  • My Account
  • Quick Order
    Enter item SKU# and quantity
  • Cart()
Monday-Friday 5:30am-4:00pm PT 1-888-326-9244
Graphic Products
Menu Sign In
Products
Printers
Shop All Printers
Industrial Printers
Shop All Industrial Printers DuraLabel Toro DuraLabel Kodiak DuraLabel Bronco DuraLabel Lobo DuraLabel Pro 300
Bundles & Starter Kits
Shop All Bundles & Starter Kits
Labeling Software
Software DuraSuite Labeling Software LabelForge Labeling Software
Printer Supply
Shop All Printer Supply
Shop by Application
Shop All by Application Arc Flash GHS & Hazcom Laboratory Pipe Labeling Wire Marking
Shop by Supply Type
Shop All by Supply Type General Purpose High Visibility Low/High Temperatures Repositionable Tamper Resistant
Shop by Printer
Shop All by Printer DuraLabel Kodiak DuraLabel Toro DuraLabel Bronco DuraLabel Lobo DuraLabel Pro 300
Other
Shop All Other Ribbons Printer & Supply Bundle
Floor Marking
Shop All Floor Marking
Floor Tape
Shop All Floor Tape 5S Aisle Glow in the Dark Reflective Anti-Slip
Floor Signs
Shop All Floor Signs
Accessories
Shop All Accessories Stair Safety Floor Laminate
Other
Shop All Other Bundles Shapes
Safety Signs & Labels
Shop All Safety Signs
Shop by Subject
Shop All by Subject Admittance Chemical Electrical Emergency PPE
Shop by Header
Shop All by Header Caution Danger Notice Safety Warning
COVID-19 Solutions
Shop All COVID-19 Solutions
COVID-19 Solutions
Safety Signs Printer Kits Awareness Posters A-Frame Signs Sneeze Guards
Social Distancing
Wall Signs & Labels Floor Signs Floor Tape Shop All
COVID-19 by Industry
Grocery & Retail Medical & Healthcare Office Settings Restaurants & Food Service Food Manufacturing Construction Manufacturing Finance Transportation Education
Pipe Markers & Tags
Shop All Pipe Markers & Tags
Standard Pipe Markers
Shop All Standard Pipe Markers Fire Quenching Flammable/Oxidizing Toxic or Corrosive Compressed Air Various Water
Ammonia
Shop All Ammonia Pipe Markers Component Markers
Shop by Standard
Shop All by Standard ANSI IIAR Pre-2007 ANSI
Other
Shop All Other Arrow Banding Tape Accessories Valve Tags
Resources
Support
Free Samples
Contact Us
Cart
Sign In
  • Home
  • Safety Blog
  • Floor Marking Helps Eliminate Confusion

Floor Marking Helps Eliminate Confusion

BY GRAPHIC PRODUCTS STAFF

Published November 03, 2014

Floor marking is a great way to indicate where pedestrian traffic should go. It also is a great way to establish work boundaries and more.

A few months ago I walked into a coffee shop and witnessed the chaos. There was a long counter with two people taking orders but customers didn't know where the line or lines should form; everyone entering had to ask everyone else, "Are you in line?" There was no designated place for people to wait for orders either. I realized it would take me five minutes just to determine my place in line, so I left. For want of a few yards of floor marking tape, this shop lost a customer. At best customers succeed in acquiring their coffee but leave frustrated and unlikely to return.

Why create discomfort and confusion? When easily remedied, why take that business risk? Designate some zones and introduce some structure. I started watching for situations in which floor marking would save the day. Split a grocery store aisle down the center with some floor marking tape and people would be far more likely to keep their cart to one side, making room for others. Add some directional arrows wherever there's confusion, indoors or out. Stores could direct you to aisles where similar products could be found. Color coding can extend the helpfulness: blue could indicate frozen goods, green for produce, etc. Floor space is frequently wasted when it could be used to convey helpful messages.

Forklift collisions with workers are one of the top causes of workplace fatalities. Why is floor marking so poorly regulated by OSHA when issues can be reduced with a small amount of floor marking tape? It lasts for years so it's a very little hassle for a lot of gains.

In my endeavor to save the world from unnecessary chaos and injuries/fatalities, I'll toss out some ideas as to what floor marking tapes can accomplish. I'll approach it by type.

Heavy Duty

Aisle tape is what you use when you have industrial conditions, like a warehouse with a lot of forklift traffic. Buy a few rolls and set up some lanes to separate forklift traffic from pedestrian traffic, it's inexpensive and easy to do.

Anti-Slip Floor Tape

Use tread to prevent slips and falls, the most common workplace injury. Their course surface will help create traction on slippery surfaces, and they're indoor/outdoor so you can put them pretty much anywhere that people could slip. Lay down a safe area on potentially wet surfaces and help keep employees upright.

Another good use of tread is to put strips at the outer edge of steps to prevent slips. For extra durability or tricky surfaces that labels won't adhere to, you can opt for bolt-down plates. These are tread-covered metal strips which get bolted to the edges of stairs. Genius!

Glow in the Dark Tape

Power outages are a reality. It's not a question of whether it will happen, but when. Glow tape guides your employees to safety during emergency evacuations. Running glow tapes along the edge of stairwells and on handrails is also a good slip-and-fall preventative. It is also a good idea to run a strip of glow floor marking tapes alongside main pathways leading directly to exit routes. This will keep workers from tripping over pallets or falling into machines, should the power go out. It will also help them find the emergency exit and get there quickly.

Particularly if your facility has few windows, or if you run a night shift, you need to be prepared for very low visibility should the lights go out. To test whether you've set up an effective exit system, turn out the lights and try to make your way through the facility. If you bump into things on the way, there's still work to be done.

Reflective Tape

I love these rolls. Even in daylight they're dynamic. If you have poles, walls, fences, or inventory in low-light conditions, place some reflective tape at headlight level. The reflected light will grab the driver's attention and help prevent damage from forklifts or vehicles.

So my big love would be for retail establishments to get onboard with floor marking supplies and iron out some of the problems for their customers or potential customers. We came here to shop, help us to do that, it's in your best interest. And help create a positive experience for us from the moment we first enter your parking lot, and throughout the shopping experience.

But even those with no public areas can appreciate the efficiency and safety aspects of a floor marking system. Do a facility walk around, note potential hazards, watch traffic flow and see where there are hang-ups, and then shop for floor marking supplies and be impressed at how a little effort can improve your work world for everyone.

Related Resources

Floor Marking Best Practices

Floor Marking Guide

Implement floor marking in any workplace with useful tips, real-world examples, and recommendations for your needs.

Download
Floor Marking Placement

Floor Marking Placement

Get a visual example of common floor marking applications and color-coding suggestions for a typical facility

View
How To Install Floor Marking Tape

Install Floor Marking Tape

Upgrade your old floor tape or painted lines with durable PathFinder floor marking tape. Get quick step-by-step instructions for installation to instantly improve wayfinding, safety, and organization in any facility.

Watch
Get the latest deals straight to your inbox
Trusted by These Companies
Starbucks
GM
Du Pont
Amazon
Disney
3M
Pepsi
NASA
Chevron
AT&T
Toyota
Coca-Cola
UPS
Target
  • Graphic Products, Inc.
    9825 SW Sunshine Ct
    Beaverton, OR
    97005 USA

  • 1-888-326-9244 (U.S./Canada)
  • +1-503-644-5572 (International)
  • Products
  • Printers
  • Printer Supplies
  • Safety Signs
  • Safety Labels
  • Floor Marking
  • Pipe Markers & Tags
  • Catalog
  • Support
  • Shipping & Returns
  • Manage Account
  • Printer Support
  • Warranties
  • Resources
  • Resource Center
  • Guides
  • Articles
  • Video Library
  • Safety Blog
  • Infographics
  • Webinars
  • Company
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Become a Dealer
  • Find a Dealer
  • Press Room

Need Help?

Give us a call at 1-888-326-9244 and speak with an expert.

Customer Reviews
  • Copyright © 2021
  • All Rights Reserved
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Shipping and Returns
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Data