NZ Workplace Safety Marking — General Guidelines

Yellow is the standard colour for pedestrian walkways in NZ warehouses and factories. White is also used, particularly in car parks and outdoor areas.

A minimum of 1.2 metres is recommended for single-pedestrian aisles. For higher foot-traffic corridors, 2 metres is preferable. Wider where people may be carrying items.

Walkways should be continuous and unobstructed. Don't allow racking, pallets, or equipment to encroach on the marked corridor.

Where pedestrian paths cross forklift or vehicle lanes, use a distinct crossing marking (similar to a road crossing) and consider physical barriers or bollards.

Lines should be clearly visible at all times. A minimum width of 75–100mm per line is typical; broader lines improve visibility in dim or dusty environments.

Yellow is the standard colour for forklift and vehicle travel lanes. Using a consistent colour across your site makes the hierarchy immediately clear.

Forklift lanes should accommodate the widest vehicle operating on site plus a safety margin on each side. A minimum of 4.5 metres is recommended for two-way forklift traffic; 3 metres for one-way.

Where possible, forklift lanes and pedestrian walkways should be physically separated, not just marked. Where they must cross, the crossing point should be clearly marked and pedestrians should have right of way.

Post speed limits at entry points to forklift areas. Line markings can include speed limit text painted on the floor for additional reinforcement.

Use diagonal hatching or chevron markings at lane intersections and blind corners to signal caution zones.

Areas where pedestrians must not enter (active forklift loading zones, truck reversing areas) should be marked in red or with diagonal hatching and supplemented with signage.

Mark a clear exclusion zone around the rear and sides of loading bays where trucks reverse. Red diagonal hatching indicates pedestrians must not enter when a vehicle is operating.

Post 'No Pedestrians' signage at all access points to truck marshalling and loading areas, backed up by floor markings at entry points.

Mark truck staging and waiting areas clearly so drivers know where to position before dock approach. This prevents vehicles from blocking pedestrian or forklift routes.

Mark the dock entry alignment lines to guide truck drivers to a straight approach — reduces risk of dock edge strikes and improves loading efficiency.

Where foot traffic must cross a truck access route, provide a clearly marked pedestrian crossing point away from active reversing zones, with good sightlines.

Red markings indicate exclusion zones — areas where pedestrians must not enter, especially when machinery is operating. Common around press brakes, robots, CNC machines, and crane travel areas.

Yellow and black diagonal hatching (tiger stripes) signals a caution zone — access restricted to authorised personnel only. Commonly used around electrical panels, loading platforms, and dock levellers.

Red semicircles or squares on the floor indicate the area that must remain clear in front of fire extinguishers, hose reels, and fire hydrants. Typically a 1-metre clearance zone.

Mark the floor area around emergency stop buttons and safety equipment with a contrasting colour so they are instantly locatable.

Where overhead cranes or conveyors create a ground-level hazard zone, mark the swept area on the floor so pedestrians know where to stand clear.

Green floor markings indicate emergency exits and evacuation routes. Green or white arrows direct people to the nearest exit.

A 1-metre clear zone in front of every emergency exit door must be kept free of pallets, racking, and equipment at all times. Mark this zone with green hatching.

In larger facilities, mark floor-level direction arrows along the primary evacuation route to each muster point.

Main egress aisles should be clearly distinguishable from storage and working aisles. Ensure line markings don't create ambiguity about the route to an exit.

Standard parking bay lines are white. Bays are typically 2.5 metres wide and 5 metres long for standard vehicles, with wider bays for mobility parking.

Accessibility (mobility) bays must be marked in blue with the international symbol of access. Minimum width is 3.5 metres to allow for wheelchair ramp access. These are a legal requirement where parking is provided.

Yellow lines indicate no stopping or no parking areas, including fire hydrant clearances and entrance/exit clearance zones.

Loading zones are typically marked yellow with 'LOADING ZONE' text on the road surface and supplemented with signage indicating time restrictions.

One-way traffic flow in car parks should be enforced with painted directional arrows and entry/exit signage to reduce vehicle conflicts.

Pedestrian crossing points between car park areas and building entrances should be clearly marked, with give-way lines if vehicles must yield.

Standard line width for car park bay markings is 100mm. Entry/exit and directional markings may be wider for improved visibility.

Typically 18–24 months between full refreshes in moderate-traffic environments. High-traffic zones (forklift travel lanes, dock approach areas) may need touch-ups every 6–12 months.

UV degradation accelerates fading. Most outdoor car park markings need refreshing every 12–18 months. Polyurethane paint lasts longer than acrylic in outdoor environments.

Loading dock approach lines, turn areas, and main forklift intersections wear fastest. Inspect these zones every 3 months and touch up before they become unclear.

A practical rule: if the line can't be clearly seen from 5 metres in normal working light, it needs refreshing. Don't wait for a WorkSafe inspection to identify this.

Any time racking or plant layout changes, old markings must be removed (ground out or blacked out) and new markings applied before the new layout goes live. Residual old markings create confusion.