At its most fundamental level, 5S is about eliminating waste and getting a facility cleaned up and organized. This includes establishing a storage location for everything, and identifying those locations in a simple way. Knowing what goes where should be simple and easy.

Establishing a standard for floor marking is the foundation of your 5S system. It also ensures your facility's aisles and passageways are in line with Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) requirements. Your 5S floor marking standard establishes the means by which most location and storage information will be communicated.

There are four levels of communication methods for floor markers. The quickest and easiest to understand is color, but it only conveys a limited amount of information. Text can provide more detailed information, but it takes longer to read and may be less reliable. Shapes and symbols offer a middle ground, communicating more than color but less than text.

Effective Color Use in Floor Marking

Color is a reliable means of visual communication, and it provides the starting point for your 5S floor marking system. Use color to designate pathways and storage locations. However, keep in mind that the colors used should not conflict with those used for compliance in OSHA floor marking requirements. For example, red floor tape may be used to identify red tag areas. However, if red is already being used to identify fire safety equipment, then it should not be used for red tag areas.

When implementing your 5S floor marking system, it's best to establish a consistent color scheme that helps with safety and organization. Consider creating a color-coding guide that clearly defines the purpose of each color within your facility. This guide should be easily accessible to all employees to ensure consistent understanding and adherence. Regularly reassess and adjust the color scheme to align with any modifications in regulations or changes to the facility layout.

Clear Floor Marking with Shapes

It is a common 5S practice to create shadow boards for storing tools. The shadow board uses vinyl "cutouts" that have the shape of each tool. Tools are placed in the locations that have shapes that exactly match the shape of the tool. Color vinyl can be used to make the color of the "shadows" match the color coding on the tool. This ensures that each tool is returned to its proper location.

People quickly recognize shapes, thus shapes communicate information quickly and reliably.

The same principle can be applied to floor marking, using 5S tape to mark off the locations of equipment. Unlike shadow boards, the exact shape may not be necessary when using 5S floor marking. For example, if a warehouse uses three sizes of forklift trucks, the parking locations can be designated using three different sizes of rectangular boxes.

Using marking tape can help to efficiently and safely guide people to their destinations. Printable industrial floor marking tape can achieve this with directional arrows, or you can cordon off an area with preprinted tape, cautioning against a specific hazard. Wayfinding tapes such as REFLECT™ High-Intensity Reflective Floor Tape or Glow™ in the Dark Floor Safety Tape will help guide people in low-light conditions or emergency "lights out" scenarios. RIGID™ Aisle Marking Floor Tape is designed to withstand the abuse or forklifts and pallets.

Symbols and Pictograms for Floor Marking

The next level in warehouse floor marking communication is to use symbols and pictograms. More information can be communicated using a simple picture than using just color and shapes, and the speed of communication remains relatively high.

One of the most common uses of symbols is to communicate warnings and safety information. So be sure that any 5S floor marking symbols cannot be confused with warning and safety symbols.

For 5S floor marking, symbols may be printed on the floor markers to identify the type of equipment or materials to be stored. They may also be used to communicate information about positioning and storing items within an area. For example, a pictogram of a drum with a line through it would indicate that drums are not to be stored within the designated area.

Floor Marking with Text and Numbers

Text communicates the most information for floor markers, but takes the longest to understand. Text also requires the ability to read the language used for the text. This can be critically important when workers speak different languages. Sometimes a combination of text and a symbol is the best way to communicate a message. For example, a red line across a forklift lane may be used to indicate a full stop is required before proceeding. Including the word "STOP," and a symbol in the shape of a stop sign, more clearly communicates the need to stop.

The advantage of text on 5S tape is that it communicates very detailed information. For example, 5S floor marking can be used to designate product storage areas. SKUs printed on the marking tape identify which product goes within each area. Text and numbers can be used to identify work areas, machines, workstations, entire production areas, and temporary work areas.

DuraLabel Solutions for 5S Floor Marking

DuraLabel offers a wide range of durable floor tapes designed to support your 5S floor marking needs. From long-lasting floor marking tapes to high-visibility signs, our solutions help you create a safer, more organized workspace. With DuraLabel, you can easily implement a 5S system that improves efficiency and meets safety standards.

For a comprehensive approach, the DuraLabel Kodiak Max 5S Kit provides everything you need to get started. This all-in-one kit includes the Kodiak Max Industrial Sign and Label Print System, as well as premium vinyl and ribbon, specifically designed for 5S floor marking applications. Whether you're setting up a new system or upgrading an existing one, DuraLabel's solutions deliver reliable, long-lasting results to keep your workplace running smoothly.

Looking to learn more about implementing floor marking in your facility? Download the free, in-depth Floor Marking Instant Action Guide. Use this guide to initiate floor marking at your facility, as a safety training resource, or as a tool in your organization's existing visual communications program. Feel free to also contact our support specialists at 1-888-411-3520 for any help with floor marking implementation.

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