Shopping in the Home Depot “tool corral” the other day, I began to wonder if I hadn’t accidentally wandered into a bee hive. Why is yellow and black the predominant color scheme in the tool department? I think it goes back to 1944 when, in an effort to reduce industrial accidents among the new and inexperienced wartime workforce, color expert and writer, Faber Birren developed a new safety color code. According to this color code:
“Yellow (or yellow and black bands) is standard to mark strike-against, stumbling, or falling hazards. It is painted on obstructions, low beams, dead ends, the edges of platforms and pits…”
Yellow and black has become the de facto, manly standard for hand tools & power tools packaging. In some cases companies have had to fight for the right to use these colors in their trademarks. In 1999 Stanley and DeWalt were embroiled in trademark infringement litigation over the use of “yellow and black”. (more photos after the jump)
