Barricade Tape: Watch out! We Have Different Meanings

In crime drama series (such as the famous Sherlock, Hannibal, and Killing Eve), the yellow tape is often seen tautly hung around crime scenes to protect and prevent the crime scene from being trespassed. The yellow color naturally connotes foreboding or trepidation. Most people thus learn all they know about using barricade strips through film and television - a temporary solution to keep people off crime scenes or make barricade signs.

But do you know there are several color combinations of barricade tapes?

There are seven color combinations, each with a different purpose in line with standard protocol. Here is a simple chart for reference.

The seven OSHA color combinations for barricade tape:

OSHA (‘Occupational Safety and Health Administration which is a part of the United States Department of Labor) and ANSI (‘American National Standards Institute) provide this precise specification for barricade tape colors:

OSHA-specified barricade tape colors

1.Red/white: for fire prevention and protection equipment;

2.Black/white: for housekeeping and aisle marking;

3.Magenta/yellow: for radiation hazards;

4.Green/white: for safety and first aid;

5.Blue/white: for defective machinery;

6.Orange/white: for traffic and caution warning;

7.Black/yellow for physical hazards;

ANSI-specified barricade tape colors:

1/Yellow/black barricade serves as caution and potential hazard from:

Excavation less than 1.2 meters (4 feet) in depth;

Identification of trip hazards and low-hanging objects;

Material storage on site;

1.Red barricade tape indicates danger and serious hazards from:

Overhead work;

Live electrical components;

Scaffold under construction;

Around swing radius of equipment with a rotating superstructure;

1.Magenta (purple)/yellow barricade tape denotes danger and possible radiation exposure.

1.Underground warning tape (custom): Warn to digging underground gas pipeline, electric cable, and OFC cable installation.

Custom thickness and width are available;

Underground work;

Protection from overground work;

However, the dimension, thickness, and materials of the barricade tape are left to the discretion of the manufacturer. Safety and durability are top priorities for Parrotias barricade tapes. Therefore, we use UV-resistant, non-toxic, non-flammable, and lead-free flexible polyurethane to ensure these objectives are met.

In this blog, we explored various color combinations of the barricade tape and their meanings (their uses in standard practice). Now you know how they can be used properly and more efficiently. We hope that this safety information helps to protect you from risk and injury.