Chilean Safety Color Standards: A Comprehensive Guide to Meaning and Implementation

Posted on Aug 20, 2024 in Chemistry

STANDARD COLORS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY SIGNALS

This document is based on official standards issued by the Chilean National Institute of Standardization.

3. PURPOSE This rule is intended to fulfill the purpose of signaling:

• Identify and warn of physical risk conditions.
• Identify and warn of danger.
• Identify equipment and materials.
• Demarcate work surfaces and traffic areas.
• Identify and locate emergency equipment.

6. DEFINITIONS

• Color: Corresponds to some feature of light, unlike those of space and time, they are: the luminous flux or capacity to cause a sensation of brightness, dominant wavelength which produces the hue and purity, which corresponds to saturation (Committee on Colorimetry of the Optical Society of America).
• Color Security: Specific property to which you attach a meaning or message security (UMR 1410).
• Color Contrast: Color neutral, white or black, used as a contrast in combination with safety colors (NCH1410).
• Colorimetry: Measure the color intensity of diffuse surfaces, liquids and colored glasses (UMR 1410).
• Pipe: Conduit consisting of tubes for fluid transport. (Nch. 19.Of1979.)
• Piping: Piping systems consist of all kinds and their fittings, valves and liners. Specifically excluded from the application of this standard are clamps, brackets and other attachment hardware. (UMR 1979).
• Inherent high risk materials: Fluid potentially dangerous to human life or property. (Nch. 19.Of1979).
• Materials with low inherent danger: Fluent in nature that are not dangerous to life or property. Are close to environmental temperatures and pressures so that people who work on piping systems that drive these materials at low risk even when the system has been emptied. (Nch. 19.Of1979).
• Materials and fire protection equipment: Fluids for fire protection and firefighting. Include water, carbon dioxide, chemical foam, etc. (Nch. 19.Of1979.)
• Primary Risk: The risk associated with a compressed gas cylinder, and refers to the outbreak of the container, increasing the internal pressure. (NCH 1377 Of 90).

7. COLOR SECURITY (NCH 1410) The colors assigned to security are: ORANGE, RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, PURPLE, BLACK, WHITE. Safety colors must be established and incorporated in the design stage in the project plant and facilities and also each time there is an absence or lack of solutions in this regard.

8. CONTRASTING COLOR (NCH 1410) When you wish to use color contrast, the following colors will be used:

• RED
• BLUE
• GREEN
• YELLOW
• ORANGE
• PURPLE
• WHITE
• BLACK

9. MEANING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY COLORS

9.1. RED is a color that indicates danger, and must stop immediately.

Note: As legislation to specific cases, combine red and yellow.

9.2. ORANGE COLOR is used as a basic color for designating dangerous parts of machinery or mechanical equipment capable of cutting, crushing, electric shock or injury caused in any way, and to highlight such risks when the doors open or guards are defenses have been withdrawn gears, belts or other moving equipment. Also, this color is used in construction equipment and transport used in snowy areas and deserts.

• Interior of receipt of gears, pulleys, chains, etc.
• Factors to hang static or moving (beams, bars, etc.)
• Edges exposed parts of pulleys, gears, rollers, cutting devices, parts or sharp, etc.
• Construction equipment in snow and desert areas.
• Interior fuse box covers, switches, safety valves, liquid, flammable, corrosive, etc.

9.3. YELLOW is the color of highest visibility. It is used as a basic color to indicate CARE and physical hazards such as falls, blows to stumble, caught between. The following alternatives may be used according to the particular situation, only yellow, yellow with black stripes, yellow with black boxes.

• Equipment and machinery (bulldozers, tractors, bulldozers, backhoes, etc.)
• Material handling equipment (cranes, forklifts, trucks).
• Workshops, plant and equipment (guardrails, handrails, protruding objects, mobile carriers, etc.)
• Storage of explosives.

Alternatives to use the color yellow.

Yellow with black stripes 10 cm at an angle of 45° Yellow with black boxes are used to indicate the risk of falls, trampling, cutting, hitting or colliding with objects and obstacles.

9.4. GREEN is used as a basic color to indicate the location of SAFETY and first aid equipment.

• Boards and safety cabinets
• Safety shelters
• First aid kits
• Places are stored masks and emergency rescue teams in general.
• Emergency showers and eyewash

This color is also used as demarcation of floors and floor storage areas.

9.5. BLUE is used as a basic color for designating WARNING and to draw attention from the start, use or movement equipment under repair or where you’re working.

• Card locks, door rooms of power.
• Electric components such as switches, thermostats, transformers, etc.
• Boilers
• Valves
• Scaffolding, lifts

This color is used to warn the mandatory use of personal protective equipment.

9.6. PURPLE COLOR is used as a basic color to indicate risks from ionizing radiation. Yellow color should be used in combination with purple for labels, letterheads, signs and indicators on the floor.

• Enclosures for storage of radioactive materials.
• Contaminated waste receptacle.
• Signal lights indicate that radiation-producing machines are operating.

9.7. WHITE WITH BLACK AND WHITE The color white stands preferably clean condition.