Warehouse floor marking with internal infilled line markings

Enhance Warehouse Health and Safety with inotec UK’s Warehouse Floor Marking Solutions

30th April 2019 by

inotec UK provides reliable safety solutions with durable warehouse floor marking, addressing HSE-highlighted accidents involving falls, moving vehicles, and machinery.

The Health and Safety Executive reported that in 2021/22, the main kinds of fatal accidents in the workplace included falls from a height, being struck by moving vehicles and objects, being trapped by something collapsing/overturning and contact with moving machinery.

Whilst warehouses and their environments may vary, one thing they all have in common is that they are extremely busy with both foot and vehicle traffic. This can cause them to become a hotspot for workplace incidents and injuries.

What is warehouse floor marking?

Warehouse floor marking is the process of creating visual cues for your team to make it easier for them to navigate the warehouse which improves warehouse efficiency.  Warehouse floor marking highlights hazards, outlines workstations and storage locations, divides spaces, directs traffic and conveys important safety information.

The floor is marked using special epoxy paint or tape and floor safety signs. Floor marking is often part of a larger visual communication system that includes racking, shelving and overhead warehouse signs.

Why is warehouse floor marking necessary?

The key reasons warehouses use industrial floor marking to improve both safety and efficiency are to:

Separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic routes as required by HSE Forklift injuries are among some of the most common in warehouses and can prove the most dangerous. These accidents are usually caused by poor training, inadequate supervision, little or no maintenance of machinery or poor delineation of gangways.

According to the British Safety Council, around 1,300 UK employees are hospitalised each year with serious injuries following a forklift accident. These injuries can range from fractures, dislocations and broken bones, to life-changing amputations or worse.

Reduce employee search time and energy with line marking and signage guides.

Maximise and utilise space effectively following lean or 5S methodologies proven to maximise efficiency and profit.

Direct pedestrian and forklift traffic. Floor marking can be used to mark pedestrian pathways and intersections. It lets forklift operators know in which direction and speed they should be travelling.

Alert employees when personal protection equipment (PPE) is required. For instance, in certain parts of the warehouse, it may be essential to wear protective hard hats.

Best practices for floor marking schemes

There are no UK government-mandated or widely accepted standards for floor marking schemes.  As a result, companies often use whichever colours are available and miss the chance to organise their work efficiently and effectively.

Here are some useful tips for the creation of effective floor marking schemes:-

Use as few floor marking colours as possible. This makes it easier for employees to remember the meaning of each line marking colour.

For ease of identification, the deployment of distinct floor marking colours for the demarcation of specific areas, aisleway and work cell boundaries is recommended. The overall lanes and sectors of a workplace are made more visually clearer when different colours are used. Therefore different floor marking colour schemes should be used for clearly marking out:

Pedestrian pathways.

Forklift truck routes.

Work cell and equipment boarders.

Areas to be kept clear for safety and compliance.

Emergency exit routes

Firefighting and safety equipment areas and associated wall signage.

Spaces in front of electrical panels.

Material storage areas.

Non-material storage area with fixtures such as racks that hold raw materials.

Areas that should be kept clear for operational reasons, such as those areas that need sufficient clearance for forklift trucks.

Floor marking services and installation

Inotec’s line-marking and floor painting systems have been developed to offer the best in durability for industrial and logistic applications. We offer solutions designed to match your warehouse floor type and environment, ranging from ambient and chilled to freezer.

Our systems are installed with minimal disruption to your operation. Typical applications are marking of warehouses, 5S workplaces, car parks, safety pathways and warehouse walkways, lorry parks, symbols and alpha/numeric stencils – in any location where a long lasting, durable image is required.

Our solutions include:

Warehouse Floor Marking Guidelines

In order to keep both pedestrians and truck drivers safe, the HSE states that by law, pedestrians or vehicles must be able to use a traffic route without causing danger to the health and safety of people working in the area.

Having designated routes which separate foot and truck traffic and clearly guide personnel around the warehouse is essential for busy sites. Without this health and safety protocol in place, there is a high risk of accidents therefore it is vital to protect personnel.

Finding a Health and Safety Solution

Designated areas or walkways are the ideal solution to the health and safety issues both inside and outside the warehouse. However, without permanent guidance it can be difficult to enforce these and ensure that they are not ignored.

Of course, it is not possible to have a traffic warden within the site and it isn’t always ideal to use signs along the full routes. The most ideal method, therefore, is warehouse line painting and painted walkways.

However, it is important to find a solution which will stay in place and withstand heavy wear and tear from trucks. This will prevent needing to replace the walkways frequently which is not only costly but can also cause disruptive downtime.

Line Marking and Warehouse Floor Marking Services from inotec UK

Inotec UK is a specialised warehouse identification systems provider of line marking, signage and labelling. With vast experience in producing line marking and walkway solutions, inotec has the knowledge and experience to be able to recommend a durable product which will suit both your warehouse environment and budget.

From start to finish, inotec will manage the installation process around your operation. Whether it’s a new warehouse or a refurb for an existing warehouse, inotec’s instant curing solutions significantly minimise downtime. It is even possible to arrange for line marking to be completed outside business hours.

Durable Warehouse Floor Line Marking Solutions

Inotec’s large paint range is both cost-effective and durable for all environments and uses. With a palette of high visibility colours, it is easy to produce warehouse line marking and walkways within your warehouse to enhance health and safety.

With a host of uses, line marking is essential for designating safety areas, walkways, locations or aisle numbers.

Warehouse Aisle Marking

Line marking can be used to mark aisles, which can prevent warehouse workers from placing pallets, boxes and other materials in the way of people or vehicles. It should also be used to mark pedestrian traffic, vehicle traffic, loading areas and other activities related to moving supplies and products.

For ease of identification, the deployment of distinct floor marking colours for the demarcation of specific areas, aisleway and work cell boundaries is recommended. The overall lanes and sectors of a workplace are made more visually clearer when different colours are used. Therefore different floor marking colour schemes should be used for clearly marking out.

  • Total Rapidshield™ Line Marking

The Total Rapidshield™ line marking system uses specialist polyurethane coatings which are cured instantly using ultra-violet light.

Each layer is baked onto the floor, leaving a hardened surface, which offers outstanding durability and visible markings that are easy to maintain.

These warehouse floor lines can last up to five years under normal site conditions.

  • Duraline Rapidshield™ Line Marking

The Duraline RapidshieldTM system dries in four hours.

The paint system gains it’s durability from a Rapidshield™ clear UV coating. This is applied on top of the colour coat and cured instantly using high powered ultra-violet light.

This forms an extremely tough durable surface giving an expected lifespan of up to four years under heavy traffic conditions.

This system also has the added advantage of reduced downtime as areas can be completed within an eight hour shift.

  • Duraline : 2 Pack Epoxy Paint Line Marking

Duraline line marking is a 2 Pack Epoxy Paint formulation applied using an airless spray machine. inotec can pre-prepare the surface with either shot blast or diamond polishing, which makes the bond to the floor extremely strong.

Full curing for heavy traffic will take 24 hours at 10°C.

This system can be used for both internal and external yard markings.

The Duraline system offers a minimum of two years’ use even in heavy traffic conditions.

If you would like to install line marking or walkways to ensure the safety of personnel in your warehouse facility, contact inotec UK on 01482 654466 or email info@inotec.co.uk for a consultation with the sales team.

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