Safety Tapes

Safety Tape Selection — Quick Reference (AS 1319 + AS 1345)

Safety tapes — HAZARD + DELINEATION + identification tapes for workplace safety + warning + barriers. AS 1319 + AS 1345 standards govern colour + symbol + format. Workshop + construction + warehouse + public space. Self-adhesive + anti-slip + reflective + hazard.

Critical: AS 1319 colour code mandatory. Replace FADED + damaged tapes. Surface CLEAN + DRY + > 10°C for adhesive bond. Brands: Brady, Dy-Mark. Companion: anti-slip safety tapes, reflective tape, safety signs + labels, safety.

Safety Tapes for Workplace Hazard Marking in Australia

Safety tapes provide visual hazard warnings, floor marking, and area demarcation in workplaces across Australian industry. Whether you're marking forklift lanes, highlighting trip hazards, barricading off restricted zones, or colour-coding pipe work, the right safety tape reduces incident risk and supports compliance with AS 1318 and WHS regulations. AIMS Industrial stocks safety tapes from Brady, Jessup, and Esko for trade and industrial customers.

Types of safety tape stocked

• Hazard tape (warning / barricade tape) — typically black-and-yellow or red-and-white diagonal stripe; for temporary area control and hazard warning around work sites, spills, or restricted zones
• Floor marking tape — durable vinyl adhesive tape in solid colours and stripes for permanently marking walkways, forklift lanes, storage areas, and machine exclusion zones on concrete and painted floors
• Reflective safety tape — for equipment, vehicles, and structures requiring visibility in low-light conditions
• Electrical insulating tape — for cable wrapping and insulation work (stocked separately under electrical products)

AS 1318 colour coding for workplace marking

The Australian standard AS 1318 establishes colour conventions for industrial safety colour coding. Key colours for floor and area marking: yellow for caution and pedestrian/vehicle lanes, red for prohibition and fire equipment access, green for safety and first aid, orange for warning of physical hazards. Consistent application of these colours across the workplace reinforces meaning and aids fast recognition in an emergency.

Floor tape selection factors

Floor tape durability is determined by the base material (vinyl vs polyester), adhesive type, and the thickness of the construction. Thinner tapes work on smooth surfaces; thicker bevelled-edge tapes handle high-traffic forklift lanes without peeling at the edges. For concrete floors with surface roughness or slight irregularities, a conformable vinyl tape with aggressive adhesive is needed. For painted or polished floors, check adhesive compatibility to avoid surface damage on removal.

Surface preparation

Floor tapes only bond reliably to clean, dry, grease-free surfaces. Sweep, degrease with an appropriate cleaner, and allow to dry fully before applying. In cold environments (below 10°C), warm the floor surface and tape before application — cold adhesives don't wet out properly and fail prematurely.

For WHS compliance, custom colours, printed hazard tapes, or volume requirements, contact our team.

People Also Ask — Safety Tapes

Q: What safety tapes does AIMS stock?

Hazard-marking tapes (yellow-black diagonal stripes for workshop hazard zones), barricade tapes (red/white, yellow/black for temporary site marking), reflective tapes (high-visibility for vehicles and equipment — see [Reflective Tape](/collections/reflective-tape)), anti-slip tapes (stair edges, ramps), aisle marking tapes (warehouse floor marking), safety stripe tapes, and specialty tapes (electrical lockout tags, danger signage). Match tape to application and exposure conditions. For workshop hazard marking: hazard-warning tape is workshop standard.

Q: Yellow-black or red-white hazard tape?

Yellow-black diagonal stripes (Hazard Warning Tape): general workshop hazard marking — pedestrian hazards, machinery danger zones, low headroom warnings. Workshop standard. Red-white stripes (Caution Tape): temporary barricade and access restriction. Used during maintenance, repair, and one-time hazards. Different colours signal different hazard types per AS 1742 (traffic) and workplace standards. Match the tape colour to the message intent.

Q: What anti-slip tape do I need?

Standard anti-slip tape (grit-coated adhesive backing): suits stair edges, ramps, mezzanine edges, slippery floor zones. Aluminium oxide grit gives aggressive grip; silicon carbide is slightly softer. Industrial-grade anti-slip tape with carborundum grit for heavy industrial use. For workshop daily use: standard anti-slip tape at workshop entrance steps, ramp transitions, and known slippery zones. Replace when grit wears off — reduced grip = reduced safety.

Q: How do I install safety tape correctly?

Clean surface (degrease, remove loose contamination), apply tape with firm hand pressure for full contact, use roller for large areas. For floor marking, hand pressure is sufficient on smooth concrete. For anti-slip stair edges, edge sealer (clear adhesive sealant) over the cut edges prevents lifting. Allow 24 hours for full adhesion before heavy traffic. For permanent installations, two-part epoxy primer + tape combination provides longest service.

Q: How long does safety tape last?

Indoor protected workshop: 2-5 years before significant wear. Outdoor exposed: 1-3 years (UV degradation). Heavy traffic zones (vehicle wheel paths): 6 months to 2 years. Anti-slip tape: replace when grit wears off (visible smooth patches). For workshop visible hazard marking, monitor visually and replace at first sign of significant fading or wear. Quality tape (3M, Brady) outlasts cheap alternatives by years.