If yellow barrier tape is considered overused, what alternative should an ISO carry?

The most suitable alternative for an Incident Safety Officer (ISO) to carry, if yellow barrier tape is deemed overused, is red and white slashed or chevron tape. This kind of tape serves a critical role in indicating hazard zones or delineating areas that require caution. The combination of red and white provides high visibility and contrasts effectively against various backgrounds, enhancing the likelihood that personnel will notice and recognize the designated area as one that is potentially dangerous or restricted.

Using different colors or patterns, such as the red and white slashed design, helps to avoid confusion and reinforces the significance of the warning. While yellow tape typically signifies caution, using an alternative color scheme can help in situations where yellow tape has become so commonplace that it loses its intended impact or significance. This ensures that the ISO can still effectively communicate hazards and maintain safety on site.

The other alternatives present less effective options. For example, if yellow tape is considered overused, suggesting the continuation of using yellow barrier tape does not solve the issue. Meanwhile, green ISO warning tape, while useful in certain contexts for different indications, does not carry the same immediate recognition of hazard that red and white chevron tape does.