When it comes to safety, does colour really matter that much? Well, hold onto your hard hats and safety goggles, because Colour Insights will be hosting a webinar to uncover the surprisingly colourful world of safety!
Join us June 29th as we explain how beyond personal expression, colour also plays a crucial role in communicating hazards in our every day lives. As always, Colour Insights' webinar will be offered in both English and Spanish, with two time slots available to accommodate your schedule. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to deepen your understanding of colour and its role in safety!
Until then, we at Colour Insights would like to take this time to discuss the power colour has in communication. With just a value or tone shift one colour can convey entirely new moods or feelings, and the same could be said for communicating caution and attention. As clever creatures, humans have evolved to interpret and respond to colour in all sorts of ways. From avoiding poisonous plants to fleeing from not-so-friendly predators, our ancestors relied on their colour-savvy instincts to survive.Â
But what about the modern setting? Could colours really make a difference when it comes to safety? You might be surprised to learn that those seemingly mundane colour codes and signage actually have a big impact on our well-being. Whether it's a fiery red warning or an alerting yellow caution, colours play a crucial role in communicating hazards and keeping us out of harm's way.
In the world of signals, it's a well-established fact that red means stop. From red traffic lights to "prohibited" signs and, of course, a stop sign, red demands our attention and delivers a clear message to halt. But did you know the iconic red stop sign we are familiar with today has only been the standard for about 60 years.Â
During the early 20th century, stop signs were not tied to any specific colour or even shape, causing quite the confusion for drivers. Picture the scene: motorists scratching their heads, wondering if they should stop or keep cruising along. Sensing the need for standardization, the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) gathered together and began the determining the first steps of the design we know today. The octagon shape, can you guess what colour was initially suggested?
Bright yellow! With the text in bold black letters, believing that these colours would capture drivers' attention and prompt them to stop in their tracks. This decision was made due to the limitations of pigment and paint at the time. As traffic lights had already been invented and used red bulbs to communicate STOP. For this reason, the AASHO would have preferred red, but recognized the known issue of lightfastness and that over time, the red colour would fade and with it the important message they were striving to communicate. It would not be until the mid 1950s that the stop sign would finally take on its fiery red hue, complemented by crisp white letters with the advancement of coatings to prevent fading. Maybe the the next time you come to a red stop sign, take a moment to appreciate its evolution. It's fascinating how something as seemingly simple as colour can make all the difference when it comes to keeping us safe on the road.
So, buckle up (or should we say buckle in your brightest safety belt?), because June 29th Colour Insights will dive deep into the world of Colour & Safety. Join us as we unravel the mysteries behind designated danger colours, explore the importance of colour accessibility, and even peek into the trends and developments in the industrial coatings industry.