7qvdw – Floor Marking Pro

Floor Marking Ideas for the Warehouse

3 min read When looked at from a high level, warehouses can look like a complicated mess where products are constantly coming and going with little rhyme or reason. Once you look closer, and really understand how things work, however, it is clear that a properly managed warehouse operates like a well-oiled machine. One great example of something in the warehouse that looks confusing at first, but is actually essential for organization, is floor markings. Floor markings are used in many ways to convey information to people within the facility. Understanding how to best use floor markings will help any facility to run more efficiently, more safely, and even more profitably. This does require coming up with a great floor marking strategy that will be effective. For each of the following floor marking ideas, you need to decide if it will provide value to your facility, whether to use floor marking tape or paint, and how to train people on what the various floor markings mean. Organizing Aisles with Floor Markings Warehouses typically have a large number of aisles of shelving or racks to store various products and materials. While each aisle is easy to see based on the physical racks that are …

Floor Marking Ideas for the Warehouse Read More »

The Visual Workplace

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

2 min read Visual learning has been touted for years as one of the most effective ways that humans can learn things and, more importantly, retain the things they learn. And while it is true that visual learning abilities are not something that everyone has been gifted with, it is also true that a big, bold safety sign, pointing out imminent or possible danger, is something that even non-visual learners can associate with and understand quickly and easily. That is why visual management and creating the visual workplace can be so effective in the world of safety – it influences and helps everyone – even those who possibly speak a language other than English (if the facility is U.S.-based). The visual communication that we are speaking of here is usually one of a very ‘localized’ nature. That is, the placement of warning signs, way finding signs etc., right where it is needed (on location), when it is needed. One of the first steps a safety manager should undertake is to localize and identify all critical or possible danger points within the facility, including in and around machinery. Traffic flow (both human and machine), entry and exit points, squeeze or pinch points, and areas …

The Visual Workplace Read More »

All About Floor Marking Tape

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

1 min read Painted or taped lines are often associated with safety (pedestrian paths, forklift and equipment paths, etc.) but they are also very useful for marking work areas, as well as locations for pallets, raw materials, finished goods, shipping areas, hazardous areas, and other static locations. Industrial floor tapes are preferred to painted lines as they are more resistant to foot and forklift traffic and don’t require long dry times which can cause costly downtimes. They are also easier to clean and require less upkeep. Often times companies with 5S organization programs will also use thinner vinyl tapes (0.25” to 2” width) of different colors to mark workbenches and work cells to create visual cues for employees, or to mark the locations of tools or equipment that shouldn’t move. This helps keep work areas clear of clutter and keeps these static items in their optimal positions. This work cell organization system can be used for work cells of any kind- in both office and industrial settings. This will improve work ow and result in better productivity and time management. Additionally, misplaced items and equipment are easy to spot. Tool outlining simply means that you create a visual outline of your tool to …

All About Floor Marking Tape Read More »

Floor Marking: Paint or Tape?

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

3 min read Floor markings are an excellent addition to any visual communication program. When it comes to marking your facility’s floor for aisles or storage areas you will have to choose an application, tape or paint. Paint has been the default for floor markings for years now and can be very effective in a number of situations. While it is a tried and true practice, advancements in adhesive tape technology means floor marking tape is often the ideal choice. Both industrial floor paints and tapes offer advantages and disadvantages, so it will be important to completely understand your options before choosing the right option for your facility. Did you know, the average factory in the United States needs between 5,000 and 12,000 feet of safety or organizational lines? Undertaking a floor marking project that big can be a challenge, but industrial floor tape works to make your job easier beginning with preparation. Preparing to paint the floor can take an extensive amount of time and often requires extra tools or accessories like brushes, rollers, compressors, drop cloths, sprayers, and more. Floor tape requires just the roll of tape, but you do have the option to use a vinyl tape applicator. After choosing …

Floor Marking: Paint or Tape? Read More »

Floor Markings for Safety

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

2 min read From industrial power trucks to electrical panels, industrial facilities often face a number of hazardous areas and situations. Usually filled with workers and dangerous equipment, it is important (and a legal obligation of employers) to keep a workplace a safe and risk-free environment. One method that often gets overlooked when it comes to hazard communication is floor markings. Nearly every workplace has their safety signs posted on the wall or “Danger!” labels on hazardous chemicals, but usually nothing on the floor! Floors offer a large surface area to place signs and floor marking tapes while visually alerting workers and facility visitors of hazardous items and dangerous areas. Developing an effective floor marking strategy will result not only in a safer workplace but can also make an area easier to understand. The following are just few floor marking safety ideas and items that may be helpful when creating your own strategy. Hazard tape: Drawing attention to dangerous areas can be down with classic yellow and black hazard-striped tape. Industrial grade tape was developed with tough workplaces in mind; if you have forklifts driving around or heavy pedestrian traffic, you can be sure the floor tape will not lift, fade, or tear. …

Floor Markings for Safety Read More »

Floor Tape for Workplace Organization

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

2 min read Lean manufacturing or 5S strategies rely heavily on visual communication to succeed. Often times this includes signs, labels, and posters, but the floor shouldn’t be overlooked! Floor tapes and shapes are a simple, cost-effective option for organization in the workplace. Floor markings can also be used to promote and communicate efficiency while streamlining processes. Promoting an Efficient Workplace The foundation of Lean is the elimination of waste and the improvement of efficiency in processes. Workers’ time is often wasted when searching for misplaced items, but having tools, equipment, and materials clearly marked with floor labels or their locations are clearly outlined on the floor can work to reduce that time. You can even post floor signs that are reminders of 5S or Lean initiatives. Set up processes logically and indicate the flow as to streamline these processes and keep them running smoothly. Floor tape can be laid down that follows a production path which can improve efficiency and allow employees to better track the progress of production. Having designated and clearly marked areas for staging and storage will keep the facility more organized. When workers understand the different areas for different stages of the manufacturing process, it can reduce confusion …

Floor Tape for Workplace Organization Read More »

Floor Marking for Warehouse Traffic

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

2 min read Warehouses have a lot of traffic to deal with. Whether it’s pedestrian traffic or forklift traffic, it is important to keep the warehouse floor organized and workers and pedestrians safe with a traffic pattern. There are several ways to accomplish this with floor marking, and our favorite tactics are below. Lanes: A major contributor to workplace injuries and fatalities is forklift collisions. A solution is to have a clearly marked traffic routes and lanes for pedestrians and vehicles to follow. Yellow floor tape is the recommended option for creating these traffic patterns. Emergency routes: Another use for floor markings is marking emergency routes using directional arrows and photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) lines to direct pedestrian traffic to emergency exits. This will easily allow both visitors and workers to navigate out of your facility with no training. Traffic signs: Just like the traffic signs on the road, you can use floor signs to communicate the same messages to vehicles in your workplace. Stop signs for instance, come in a floor sign option to indicate where forklift operators need to stop before proceeding. Another option is a yield sign on the floor and there are a number to choose from including YIELD: Forklift Crossing, …

Floor Marking for Warehouse Traffic Read More »

What is floor marking?

Safety visuals / By 7qvdw

2 min read When someone hears of floor marking it can be easily associated with floor paint but the world of floor marking is much more than just floor paint. Floor marking encompasses a variety of things like floor tapes, floor shapes, and floor signs. Floor marking can be used for safety or organizational purposes in a facility and can be a huge advantage for manufacturing workplaces and industrial warehouses. Tape, shapes, and signs on the floor not only make a workplace safer, but also more efficient and productive. Any workplace trying to emphasize a visual communication approach should have a floor marking strategy in place. Here are some ideas and areas for a floor marking strategy: Hazardous areas: Yellow and black hazard striped tape can be placed around dangerous equipment, around electrical panels, and surrounding other hazardous areas. This communicates to the employee the area is dangerous and precautions should be taken. Product and material storage: Keep the facility organized by creating storage areas and homes for products and materials. Laying down floor tape for storage will help to create structure in an otherwise open floor. Floor marking corners can also be used to designate storage areas. Equipment and tools: Like with …

What is floor marking? Read More »