OSHA removes its 50-year-old color codes for marking hazards

The US Labor Department is getting rid of its specific rules about what colors to use for safety warnings in workplaces. This means companies will no longer be legally required to use specific colors like yellow for tripping hazards or red for fire equipment.

For decades, OSHA told companies exactly which colors to use for safety signs and markings. This meant every factory, sawmill, and shipyard had to follow the same color scheme. Now, companies can use other recognized safety standards, like those from the American National Standards Institute, which are often more flexible or updated.