The main purpose of flooring in food manufacturing facilities is for compliance.
With the ANZ Food Standards Code Standard 3.2.3 outlining the need of a floor that is able to be effectively cleaned, unable to absorb grease, food particles or water, and unable to provide habourage for pests, maintenance, engineering and QA managers understandably feel that the most important aspect of a flooring upgrade is that it complies with all of this.
Hence little thought is given to the colour of the floor, with the majority choosing grey. Working in the food manufacturing industry, compliance is also front of our minds, however we recognise that a floor is something everyone walks on, and in implementing the use of multiple colours, it can silently tell workers and visitors where they can and can’t go.
There are certain areas we recommend considering for implementing the use of colour for safety purposes.
- Exclusion Zones:
To indicate areas that people can’t enter, and ensure separation of people and powered mobile plant, exclusion zones should be coated in black, with yellow and black painted chevrons around the area. - Chemical Storage:
Many food manufacturing facilities have areas for chemical storage. To indicate to employees and visitors that this area should not be entered without permission, the area should be coated in red, with a yellow and red striped border. See image to the right as an example. - Fire Hydrants/First Aid/Emergency Exits:
Planning for emergencies is very critical, particularly in a food manufacturing facility where there are many people working. To maximise the safety in a plant, drawing attention to fire hydrants, first aid areas, and emergency exits can be made very clear through colouring and floor graphics. - ‘High Care’ or ‘Ready to Eat’ areas:
Many facilities in the food manufacturing industry will have a RTE room, or a High Care area, where maximum hygiene levels must be upheld. This can be indicated by installing a blue floor, and using blue tools throughout the area to ensure everyone understands the importance of hygiene in the area. - Designated Pallet or Stock areas:
Pallet or stock areas should be clearly indicated by installing an orange floor, with floor graphics demonstrating the use of the area. This ensures the area doesn’t get confused for other uses.
Line marking around machinery and various areas of the manufacturing facility are also essential for increasing safety. Typical footpath colours are green with a yellow outline, however this will depend on your company’s traffic management guide.
To learn more about what we can do for you at your site in regards to use of colour, take a look at our website www.alliedfinishes.com or call us on 1800 033 444 to discuss your challenges.