What Does
Caution Tape Mean?
Caution tape is also known as barricade or barrier tape. It is generally used in areas where safety and health hazards have been identified but are not immediately known or obvious to people who may enter the area.
Caution tape is normally used in tandem with warning signs that display the nature of the hazard, including any protective action required.
Safeopedia Explains Caution Tape
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States of America has defined specifications regarding the color codes for caution tape. The specifications identify the types of colored caution tape to be used for specific hazards present in the area. The caution tape colors, as decreed by OSHA, are as follows:
- Fire prevention and protection equipment—red/white
- Housekeeping and aisle marking—black/white
- Radiation hazards—magenta/yellow
- Safety and first aid—green/white
- Defective machinery—blue/white
- Traffic and caution warnings—orange/white
- Physical hazards—black/yellow
The size, material, and weight of the caution tape to be used are dependent on the various manufacturers and are not regulated by OSHA.