When you use safety tape properly in a workplace, you quickly convey vital safety information. However, not all tapes are made equal, and you may need different types depending on the situation and the safety codes you need to adhere to at the time.
Fortunately, Tape Jungle has all the safety tapes you need to create a safe workplace in any condition and industry. We offer non-skid tape, reflective tape, and caution tape in many colors and styles, allowing you to pick the best option according to your needs and budget. Moreover, Tape Jungle ships tapes quickly and with a price match guarantee.
But let's first see what safety tape you may need and how Tape Jungle can help you.
How to Use Safety Tape in the Workplace
Safety tape helps you alert people to potentially dangerous areas, situations, and hazards. It's also convenient for designating safety equipment, safe walkways, and exit paths in emergencies.
When using safety tape, one should follow regulations posed by two entities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are the two primary authorities in safety standards in the workplace. The former is a federal agency, and the latter is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting voluntary safety standards.
OSHA ensures safe working conditions and will enforce its standards through legal action. When using safety tape, OSHA standard 1910.145 App defines standard color-coding as:
- “DANGER” – Red
- “CAUTION” – Yellow
- “WARNING” – Orange
- “BIOLOGICAL HAZARD” – Fluorescent orange or orange-red
ANSI expands on color coding and recommends orange to be used to warn against moving pieces of machinery or vehicles in a factory setting.2 Red signals danger but is also used to mark exit pathways and firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers. When red gives information other than immediate danger, it can have white stripes.
Additional color-coding recommendations from ANSI are:
- Blue — draws attention to important safety information in the workplace, such as warnings and safe operating procedures.
- Green — marks out safety equipment such as first aid or eyewash stations.
- Black/Yellow — marks potential hazard areas that workers should traverse with caution, such as uneven stairs, low-hanging hazards, and areas where a trip or slip is more likely.
- Black/White — used for lane marking and traffic coordination in the workplace.
Keep these guidelines in mind when using safety tape in your workplace. Although each workplace will vary slightly in the exact use of safety tape, you should stay as close to OSHA and ANSI standards as possible. Regardless of the color coding that best suits your workplace, remain consistent in marking important information.
Some of the recommended areas to use safety tape on for creating a safe working environment include:3
- Borders around machines or machinery showing the danger area when the equipment is operational
- Vehicle pathways through the workplace to keep drivers where they should be and alert pedestrians when they are entering a vehicle pathway
- Ladders, stairs, and ramps to help prevent falls and slips
- Machinery, trash cans, and hand carts to mark the proper placement of objects
- Door swing radiuses
- Unsafe areas that pose an immediate health hazard4
Best Safety Tapes From Tape Jungle
Tape Jungle has everything you need to incorporate the above-listed recommendations in your workplace. Below are some of the tapes we offer that are great for meeting government-posed regulations.
Colored Vinyl Tape (65015 and 65013)
Available in various OSHA-approved colors, these polyvinyl chloride (PVC) safety tapes are versatile and easy to use. They have excellent durability against natural elements and provide rupture and puncture resistance. Both have “write-on” capabilities.
These tapes are great for different applications, from lane marking to duct and joint sealing, due to the 14 pounds-per-inch tensile strength. Industrial grade tape (65015) is six mils thick, and general-purpose tape (65013) is five mils thick. Both are available in an assortment of widths and colors to fit your needs.
Stripped Safety Warning Tape (66X40)
Our stripped safety warning tape is available in six- and seven-mil thicknesses and an array of widths. It uses a synthetic rubber-based adhesive, complies with OSHA requirements, and works well for industrial identification applications.
This tape resists oil, grease, and solvents, ensuring it stays where you need it. For extra protection when applying on copper, brass, steel, and aluminum, Tape Jungle also offers a Laminated Safety Warning Tape (660XO).
Per OSHA standards, you should apply striped safety warning tape colors as follows:
- Black/Yellow for physical hazards
- Red/White for fire and first aid equipment
- Black/White for traffic and housekeeping
- Magenta/Yellow for radiation hazards
Hazard Identification Barricade Tape
Non-adhesive identification tapes are three inches wide with two-inch block letters on a red or yellow background. They have excellent elongation (400%) and tensile strength (1400 pounds-per-inch) ratings, available in 100- and 333-yard rolls. Many hazard warnings are available to be printed on barricade tape along with non-imprinted, striped variations.
Anti-Slip Tape
Anti-slip tape is a durable, easy-to-apply solution for slick surfaces in commercial and industrial environments. It's a perfect solution for combating slippery surfaces and providing secure footing.
Tape Jungle offers different types of anti-slip tape, from general-purpose vinyl tape to non-skid safety strip cleats, including:
Anti-Slip Sure-Step Tape (69020)
This anti-slip tape is the first in the Sure-Step series. It's a non-skid tape with an abrasive, waterproof, anti-slip surface that provides exceptional traction and prevents slips and falls. The PVC backing with silicon carbide or aluminum oxide (depending on the color) is the primary material influencing excellent traction. The aggressive acrylic adhesive on the tape's underside also helps, ensuring a solid grip on non-uniform surfaces and great bonding to different materials.
Sure-Step anti-slip tape is 32 mils thick and placed on a white siliconized paper liner. It's perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, available in all colors from transparent for seamless traction to vibrant for alerting to hazards. This anti-slip tape is also ideal for adding traction on ramps, stairways, and walkways.
Sure-Step Black-Yellow (69022)
Similar to the anti-slip (69020) tape, Sure-Step black-yellow provides a 60-grit silicon carbide waterproof, anti-slip surface. This tape has horizontal black and yellow stripes to mark caution areas in your working environment.
Sure-Step Fluorescent (69023)
Sure-Step fluorescent tape is meant for indoor or outdoor use to mark hazards. It's particularly helpful in low-visibility environments. Compliant with OSHA standards, Sure-Step fluorescent tape is available in:
- Fluorescent Orange
- Fluorescent Red
- Fluorescent Yellow
Non-Skid Safety Strip Cleats (69019 and 69019B)
Non-skid safety cleats are ideal for swimming pools, ladders, staircases, skateboards, ramps, and any other place and object a fall may occur. They are available in multiple sizes and widths.
Keep Your Workplace Safe With Tape Jungle
When you follow the government workplace regulations for safety tapes and opt for the right products, you keep your workers and other people safe and sound at all times. That's why Tape Jungle offers the finest products on the market, expanding the already broad offer to different tape types to suit all your business needs. We have a wide selection of double-sided, gaffer, and floor-marking tape, and you can also custom-design your chosen product.
With fast shipping, easy returns, and a price-match guarantee, Tape Jungle is the best place to find the perfect tape for your business. Contact us today for more information and choose the best safety tape quickly and cost-efficiently.