Safety Policies & Programs

Policy Key Points

This policy establishes guidelines to ensure a safe working environment at Yaskawa America, Inc. by addressing requirements for walking and working surfaces, means of egress, aisle widths, air quality, safety color coding, and accident prevention signage.

Walking and Working Surfaces

• Keep surfaces clean, orderly, and hazard-free. Address spills immediately with signage.
• Maintain structural integrity, adhere to load ratings, and use drainage or slip-resistant features in wet areas.
• Guard all openings, and ensure stairways meet specifications for riser height, tread depth, and railings.
• Install landings every 12 feet of vertical rise, and ensure stairs have a minimum vertical clearance of 6’8”.

Means of Egress

• Each facility requires at least two exits, with maximum distances to egress of 200–400 ft depending on occupancy and sprinklers.
• Exit paths must remain unobstructed, at least 32 inches wide, with visible and illuminated signs within 100 ft.
• Emergency lighting must provide 90 minutes of illumination during power failure.

Aisles and Passageways

• Office aisles: 36–44 inches; assembly/warehouse aisles: at least 28 inches.
• Dead-end aisles must not exceed 20 feet without safeguards.
• Exit doors must swing outward, remain unlocked, and meet width and height standards.

Exit Signs

• Exit signs must be installed above every emergency egress door.
• Exit signs must be readily visible from anywhere in the facility except where exit from a room (e.g., conference room) is immediately apparent.
• Doors that could be mistaken for an exit but do not lead to safety must be clearly marked.

Compressed Air

• Compressed air used for cleaning must use a pressure-reducing nozzle to limit pressure to 30 psi.
• Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning a person's clothes or body.
• Hoses and couplings must be securely fastened to prevent whipping in case of failure.

Air Quality

• Ensure adequate ventilation to prevent hazardous substance buildup.
• Maintain ventilation systems regularly and use local exhaust systems for contaminant capture.
• Replace air filters as per manufacturer recommendations.

Safety Color Coding

• Red: Fire protection and emergency stops.
• Yellow: Physical hazards and pedestrian aisles.
• Orange: Machinery dangers.
• Green: Safety equipment.
• Blue: General informational signage.

Accident Prevention Signs and Tags

• Use “DANGER,” “WARNING,” and “CAUTION” signs to communicate hazards with standardized colors and text.
• Ensure signs are durable, legible, and placed near hazards.

Purpose and Scope of this Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish and maintain a safe working environment by outlining requirements for:

• Walking and Working Surfaces,
• Means of Egress,
• Aisle Widths,
• Exit Signs,
• Compressed Air
• Air Quality and Ventilation,
• Safety Color Coding,
• Accident Prevention Signs and Tags.

Walking and Working Surfaces

Housekeeping

• Cleanliness: All walking and working surfaces must be kept clean, orderly, and free from hazards such as spills, debris, and obstructions.
• Spill Management:Spills must be cleaned up immediately and wet floor shall be marked with appropriate signage.

Floor Maintenance

• Surface Integrity: Floors must be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained, and mats or raised platforms provided.

Load Capacity

• Load Ratings: Floors and other surfaces must not be overloaded beyond their designed load capacities.

Openings and Holes

• Guarding: All floor openings, holes, and skylights must be guarded by a cover, guardrail, or equivalent barrier to prevent accidental falls.

Stairway Requirements

• Riser Height:

  • Uniformity:The height of stair risers must be uniform throughout any flight of stairs, including any foundation structure used as one or more treads of the stairs.
  • Maximum Height:Each stair riser must be a maximum of 9.5 inches (24 cm) high.

• Tread Depth:

  • Uniformity:Tread depth must be uniform throughout any flight of stairs.
  • Minimum Depth:Each tread must be a minimum of 9.5 inches (24 cm) deep, measured from front to back.

• Angle of Stairway Rise:

  • Stairs must be installed at angles between 30 degrees and 50 degrees from horizontal.
  • Minimum Depth:Each tread must be a minimum of 9.5 inches (24 cm) deep, measured from front to back.

• Handrails

  • Stairways with four or more risers must have standard stair railings or handrails.
  • Handrails must have the shape and dimension necessary to grasp firmly.
  • The handrail must provide an adequate handhold for pedestrians to grasp to prevent falls.
  • Clearance:There must be a clearance of at least 2.25" (5.7 cm) between the handrail and any other object.
  • Intermediate Rails:
    • Stair rail systems must be equipped with intermediate vertical members (balusters), screens, mesh, intermediate horizontal rails, or equivalent intermediate structural members installed between the top rail and stairway steps.
    • Openings in the stair rail system must be small enough that a sphere 19 inches (48 cm) in diameter cannot pass through. (This is a little smaller than a youth soccer ball.)
  • Load Capacity:
    • Handrail and stair rail systems must be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top edge, in any downward or outward direction, at any point along the top edge.

• Structural Integrity

  • Stairs must be capable of supporting at least five times the normal anticipated live load, but never less than a concentrated load of 1,000 pounds (4.45 kN) applied at any point.

• Landings and Platforms

  • Stairways must have a landing or platform at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise.
  • The landing must be at least as wide as the stairway and at least 30 inches in depth measured in the direction of travel.

• Headroom

  • Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction must be at least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm) measured from the leading edge of the tread.

• Slip Resistance:

  • Stairway parts must be free of hazardous projections, such as protruding nails.
  • Treads must be slip-resistant, and the nosings must be of non-slip finish.

• Guardrails

  (when required):
  • If the top edge of a stair rail system also serves as a handrail, the system must meet the requirements for both handrails and stair rail systems.
  • Open sides of stairways must have stair rail systems or handrails as follows:
    • Stairways with four or more risers, or that rise more than 30 inches, whichever is less, must be equipped with at least one handrail.
    • One open side: At least one stair rail system.
    • Two open sides: Stair rail systems on both sides.



• Summary of Key Measurements

  • Stair Riser Height: Maximum 9.5 inches (24 cm)
  • Tread Depth: Maximum 9.5 inches (24 cm)
  • Stair Width: Minimum 22 inches (56 cm)
  • Handrail Height: 30 to 38 inches (76 to 97 cm)
  • Stair Rail Height: 42 inches (107 cm) ± 3 inches (8 cm)
  • Load for Handrails/Stair Rails: Withstand 200 pounds (890 N)
  • Load for Stairs: Support five times the anticipated load or minimum of 1,000 pounds
  • Vertical Clearance: Minimum 6 feet, 8 inches

Ramps and Sloped Surfaces

Ramps that are used for non-motorized vehicles or carts must have a slope that does not exceed 8.33%, or 1:12 maximum slope.

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Means of Egress

Number of Exits

• At least two means of egress are required from each Yaskawa facility.
• Maximum distance to Egress

  Occupancy Type	Without Sprinklers	With Sprinklers
  Office Environment	200 ft (61 m)	300 ft (91 m)
  Manufacturing Facility	200 ft (61 m)	400 ft (122 m)
  Warehouse	200 ft (61 m)	400 ft (122 m)

Egress Capacity and Width

• The minimum width of components of means of egress (doors, aisles, etc.) must provide a clear width of at least 32 inches.
• Egress paths must be free of obstructions and impediments to full instant use in case of fire or other emergency.

Exit Signs

• Visibility: Exit signs must be visible from any direction of egress travel and located so that no point in an exit access corridor is more than 100 feet (30 meters) from the nearest visible sign.
• Illumination: Exit signs must be continuously illuminated, with letters in a distinctive color on a contrasting backgound and at least 5 inches high.

Emergency Lighting

• Requirements:Emergency lighting must provide illumination along the path of egress in case of failure or normal lighting.
• Duration:Emergency lighting must be capable of providing illumination for at least 90 minutes.

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Internal Aisles and Passageways

Aisle Width

• Office Areas: Aisles must have a minimum clear width of 36 inches where serving an occupant load of less than 50, and 44 inches where serving 50 or more people.
• Assembly, Warehouse, and Lab Areas: Widths may vary based ont he specific use and equipment but must accomodate safe egress. Internal aisles must be a minimum of 28 inches.
• Direct Access Internal aisles must lead directly to egress aisles or exits.
• Dead Ends: Dead-end internal aisles are not to exceed 20 feet without additional safeguards.

Exit Door Specifications

• Exit doors must be unlocked from the inside and swing out in the direction of travel.
• Exit doors must be of adequate width to accomodate the occupant load but must not be less than 28 inches.
• The minimum height of exit doors is 7 feet.
• Exit door operating mechanism (e.g. handle) must not require the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge in order to operate.

Housekeeping and Obstructions

• Aisles and passageways must be maintained free of storage and obstructions.

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Emergency Exit Signs

To ensure clear and effective egress from the facility during emergencies, all designated emergency exits must comply with the following requirements:

Placement and Visibility

• Emergency exit signs must be installed above every emergency egress door and along egress routes where the exit path is not immediately visible.
  • Explanation: You should be able to see an exit sign wherever you stand in a facility unless the egress route is immediately apparent - such as the path to exit a conference room. In the conference room example, you should be able to see an exit sign after you exit the conference room.
• Signs must be readily visible and not obstructed by equipment, shelving, or decorations.
• Directional exit signs must be used when the exit route is not immediately obvious (e.g., in hallways with turns or intersections).

Design and Illumination

• Exit signs must have the word "EXIT" in letters at least 6 inches high with a stoke width of at least 3/4 inch.
• Signs must be illuminated at all times, either by an external light source or internally.
• Exit signs must include a battery backup or be connected to an emergency power source to remain lit during power failures.

Maintenance & Testing

• Exit signs must be inspected monthly to ensure visibility and illumination.
• Battery-powered or backup-lit exit signs must be tested at least every 30-days and undergo a 90-minute full-duration test annually, per NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
• Damaged or non-functioning signs must be repaired or replaced immediately.

"Not and Exit" Signage

To prevent confustion and ensure a clear evacuation path, doors that could be mistaken for an exit but do not lead to safety must be clearly marked.

When "Not an Exit" Signs are Required

• Any door that does not lead directly to an exit or an exit route must be labeled with its actual purpose (e.g., "Storage Room," "Electrical Closet," "Mechanical Room").
• Doors that might appear to be an exit but lead to dead-end corridors, hazardous areas, or mechanical spaces must be marked with "NOT AN EXIT" or appropriate wording indicating its purpose.

Sign Specifications

• "Not an Exit" signs must have lettering at least 2 inches and be in a contrasting color to the background.
• The sign must be permanently affixed to the door or adjacent wall at eye level.
• The wording should be clear and specific (e.g., "STORAGE ROOM - NOT AN EXIT" rather than just "Not an Exit").

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Compressed Air

Maximum Allowable Pressure for Cleaning

• Compressed air must not be used for cleaning purposes at pressures greater than 30 psi unless:
  • A pressure-reducing nozzle or a safety device is used to limit pressure to 30 psi if the nozzle is dead-ended (blocked), and
  • Effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment are used to prevent debris from causing injury.
• Compressed air must not be used to clean a person's clothing or body due to the risk of injecting air under the skin or causing eye injuries.

Hose and Fittings Safety

• Hoses and couplings must be securely fastened to prevent whipping in case of failure.
• Hoses should be inspected regularly for damage, leaks, or wear.

Air Receiver Tanks and Piping

Air receiver tanks must have relief valves to prevent excessive pressure buildup.

Air piping systems must be rated for the pressure they handle and properly installed.

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Air Quality and Ventilation

Air Quality

• Workspaces must be adequately ventilated to prevent the accumulation of hazardous substances or contaminants.
• Ventilation systems must be maintained regularly to ensure they are functioning correctly.
• In areas where hazardous substances are used or emitted, local exhaust vehtilation must be used to capture contaminants at their source.
• Air filters must be replaced or cleaned according to manufacturer's recommendations.

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Safety Color Coding

Color	Where Used
Red or Red and White Stripe	Used to identify fire protection equipment and emergency stop buttons.
Yellow	Indicates caution and is used to mark physical hazards such as tripping or falling hazards. Used to mark pedestrian aisles in assembly, laboratory, and warehouse areas.
Orange	Designates dangerous parts of machinery or energized equipment.
Green	Signifies safety equipment locations, such as first aid stations.
Blue	Used for informational signs not related to safety hazards (e.g., "Out of Order" signs).

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Accident Prevention Signs and Tags

Signal Word	Where Used
DANGER	Used where an immediate hazard presents a threat of death or serious injury. The signal word "DANGER" must be in white letters on a red or black background.
WARNING	Indicate a potentially hazardous situation that could result in serious injury. The signal word "WARNING" must be in black letters on an orange background.
CAUTION	Alert against potential hazards or unsafe practices. The signal word "CAUTION" must be in black letters on a yellow backgound.

Durability: Signs and tags must be made of materials capable of withstanding the environmental conditions.

Legibility: Wording must be easy to read, and symbols or pictrographs should be used where appropriate.

Placement: Signs and tags must be placed as close as safely possible to the hazard they identify, without creating additional hazards.

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Results of Breaches of Policy

Breaching this policy may result in an injury. Breaches of this policy may result in disciplinary action being initiated in accordance with Yaskawa America's discipline policy.

Training

All associates shall be provided with training related to this policy.

Revision History

Rev #	Description	Release Date	Approved by
0	Initial Release	3/21/2024	Thurwanger

Program Review

Review Date	Reviewed by	Changes Required (Yes/No)	Revision # if updated
1/21/2025	Thurwanger	No