Line marking is an essential consideration for warehouse management. It has clear benefits for ensuring the health and safety of those present in a warehouse, but beyond this, it can also have a significant impact on employee wellbeing and productivity.
Line marking, paint and symbols can be used for a number of reasons, for example, to show employees and visitors the areas that could be hazardous, to label dedicated areas on the floor (e.g. stock, equipment) and to keep a space looking well-maintained.
In warehouses, where employees and visitors have to navigate hazards, such as heavy machinery and working at a height, on a daily basis, having a defined line marking system is crucial for avoiding accidents. The two most common methods to achieve a well-structured system are tape and paint.
Tape is easy to place and remove in order to reconfigure a layout, particularly for one-off temporary layouts or areas in which the layout is frequently redesigned. On the other hand, for more permanent area marking, paint is a strong contender. It’s easy-to-clean nature, longevity, and the opportunity to add an anti slip coating makes it an obvious choice for many.
Putting safety first
The main reason to use line marking and symbols within a busy warehouse is to ensure the health and safety of employees and visitors on the site. Despite endless advances in machinery and technology which have helped warehouse managers to transform the working environment, focusing on health and safety remains just as important today. The HSE recently reported that in manufacturing, over the past 5 years, each year an average of 22 workers died in workplace accidents. Warehouses are known for being incredibly busy workspaces, with heavy machinery and a high volume of hazards – and these factors are only amplified during peak periods when traffic soars.
One critical safety element is ensuring that everybody present in the space has a clear view of the emergency exits, passageways with automatic doors, and areas of heavy traffic where only certain vehicles are allowed. Clear signage and line marking in these areas is extremely important to ensure that employees do not obstruct areas in which materials handling equipment (MHE) is in operation – and that they also know where to go if they need to immediately evacuate the premises.
If someone was to unknowingly enter an active loading area or traffic zone, this could pose a severe safety hazard but clear area marking is a straightforward and easy-to-implement method of mitigating these risks. To ensure a uniformed approach, there is a list of commonly used colours for line marking in the industry which helps to make this even easier for those who might be new to the site.
Eliminating the grey areas
Line marking, when used correctly, can also have really positive impacts on workplace motivation and productivity. Floor layouts and walkways present a strong opportunity for warehouse managers to boost employee productivity because simple tweaks and defined areas can significantly improve efficiency and confidence when navigating the floor.
Using area marking as a means to improve productivity is particularly beneficial for visitors or new starters who will be unfamiliar with the layout of a warehouse and, therefore, might take longer to complete a task that requires a number of touchpoints or could disrupt the flow of existing traffic. By mapping out one-way traffic, production areas and storage areas with appropriate line markings, warehouse managers can provide a logical layout to follow.
Furthermore, and often overlooked, floor coatings and line markings can really help to improve the look of the space and boost morale by adding colour and brightness. This is particularly useful for large warehouses with minimal windows which would usually struggle to keep a space feeling light and aesthetically engaging. High-gloss finishes which will reflect light are particularly effective in this type of space.
Immediate effect
Throughout the previous decade, consumer preference for rapid delivery has rocketed. This has put tangible strain on businesses across sectors to transform their supply chains and outperform their competitors in speed, product availability, and customer service. Therefore, it is more important now than ever before to operate a well-organised, highly productive, facility and line/area marking is an easy-to-implement method to help achieve this.
