5-Star Safety and Health

Management System

Color Coding: Plant and Pipelines

Date: 18/12/2013 Revision: Pages: 7

Element: 1.10 Safety Manual:- OHSAS: 4.3.1

Purpose

To establish a common color coding system that allows for speedy recognition and warns
employees of hazards, and will promote greater safety and lessen the chance of error.
1. Objective
The objective and scope of this standard is to establish a common color coding
system that allows for speedy recognition and warns employees of hazards which
will promote greater safety and lessen the chance of error.

2. Responsibility and Accountability

2.1. Managers, Supervisors and Contractors (Responsible Persons) (RP) will be
responsible for the regular monitoring of standards and will ensure that all
employees have received instruction in the color coding systems.
2.2. Managers, Supervisors and Contractors (Responsible Persons) (RP) are
accountable for compliance with this standard.
2.3. It is the responsibility of the Managers, Supervisors and Contractors
(Responsible Persons) (RP) to ensure that warning or instructional signs are
not allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that they become illegible.

3. OSHA Safety Coding Colors

Introduction to color coding

3.1. Safety Blue

Designates caution, pertaining specifically to the use of, starting up, or the movement of
equipment under repair. Signs indicating the nature of the caution should have blue
backgrounds.

Examples of Uses for Safety Blue:

 Boilers
 Elevators
 Kilns
 Ovens & Vats
 Piping for Protective Materials for Preventing or Reducing Hazard of Dangerous
Materials (other than firefighting)

3.2. Black & White

Designates traffic areas /curbs.

Examples of Uses for Black & White:

  Boundaries of Traffic Aisles
 Clear Floor Space Around Emergency Areas of Equipment
 Directional Signs
 Stairways
 Dead Ends of Passageways

3.3. Safety Red

Identifies fire protection equipment. Also signifies "danger" and "stop."

Examples of Uses for Safety Red:

 Fire Prevention Equipment

 Fire Buckets, Pails, and Extinguishers
 Fire Alarm and Blanket Boxes
 Emergency Stop Bars
 Containers with Flammable Liquids
 Piping that is used for Fire Fighting, Fire Protection, and Sprinkler Systems
except as listed Reference ANSI / ASME-A 13.1 / 2007
 Safety cans or other portable containers of flammable liquids having a flash point
at or below 80oF, shall be painted red with some additional clearly visible
identification either in the form of a yellow band around the can or the name of
the contents conspicuously stenciled or painted on the can in yellow (O.S.H.A.
1910.144).
 Stop buttons or electrical switches on which letters or other markings appear,
used for emergency stopping of machinery shall be red (O.S.H.A. 1910.144).

3.4. Safety Orange

Indicates dangerous parts of machinery or electrical apparatus which can crush, cut or
shock.

Examples of Uses for Safety Orange:

 Within Guards
 Exposed Edges on Parts
 Safety Starting Buttons
 Within Transmissions Guards
 3.5. Safety Yellow

Indicates physical hazards created by non-moving objects which can be fallen over or
into, struck against, or caught in-between.

Examples of Uses for Safety Yellow:

 Fixtures Hanging from Ceiling or Walls that Invade Open Space

 Treads of Stairways
 Pillars, Columns and Posts
 Exposed Edges of Walls and Platforms
 Handrails and Guardrails
 Caution Signs
 Piping that is used for Hazardous, Flammable, Toxic, Poisonous, Corrosive, High
Temperature, or High Pressure Materials

3.6. Safety Green

Designates area and equipment associated with First Aid.

Examples of Uses of Safety Green:

 Location of First-Aid Kits, Gas Masks and Stretchers

 Safety Bulletin Boards
 Safety Deluge Showers
 Safety Instruction Signs
 Piping for Non-Hazardous, Non-Poisonous, Non-Flammable, Moderate
Temperature, Low Pressure Materials such as Drinking Water, Syrups, and
Glycols.

3.7. Safety Yellow and Black

Designates caution and bump against hazards.

Examples of Uses of Safety Yellow and Black Diagonals:

 Protruding or low objects

 Moving equipment parts
 To highlight floor level changes or slopes
 To highlight upright supports in parking areas
 Bollard identification
 Black and white diagonals are used in traffic markings mostly

A quick reference chart of the basic safety colors

4. Color Coding of Piping Systems
4.1. Injuries can occur to property and personnel because of mistakes made
working or cutting into the wrong pipelines because of inadequate identification
of the contents of the pipeline.
4.2. This pipeline color code system concerns only the identification of piping
systems not buried in the ground or electrical conduits.
4.3. Piping system. For the purpose of this standard, piping systems shall include
fittings, valves and pipe coverings. Supports, brackets, or other accessories
are specifically excluded from applications of this standard. Pipes are defined
as conduits for transport of gases, liquids, semi-liquids, but not solids carried in
air or gas.
4.4. Fire protection, materials and equipment (color red) (Excluding foam). This
classification includes sprinkler systems and other firefighting or fire protection
equipment. The identification for this group of materials may also be used to
identify or locate such equipment as alarms, extinguishers, fire blankets, fire
doors, hose connections, hydrants, and any other firefighting equipment.

5. Methods of Identification
5.1. Positive identification of piping system contents shall be by lettered legend
giving the name of the content in full or abbreviated form.
5.2. Arrows should be used to indicate the direction of flow.
5.3. The legend should be placed at strategic intervals along the pipeline and
especially where the pipeline disappears into a wall or cavity or exits from a
wall or cavity.
5.4. Comprehensive pipeline color codes are available from the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI)
5.5. The codes are : ANSI/ASME A13.1 – 1966 and ANSI?NEMA Z535.1 – 2006
(R2011)

An Example of pipeline labeling

6. Color Legends Displayed
6.1. Color coding charts shall be predominately displayed at the main entrances to
buildings or other strategic positions such as the 5-Star Notice Boards, etc.
6.2. All employees will be educated to know the meaning of the basic colors and
the importance of this standard.

7. Document Retention
This document is to be retained in the 5-Star Safety System files for reference and
auditing purposes.