Why is construction equipment yellow in colour? Excavators, bulldozers, forklifts, cranes, and other construction machinery all have specialised uses. They do, however, have one thing in common: they are all yellow. Ever wondered why? Construction workers often have to work alongside or close to one another, thus it is essential that the equipment is visible enough to prevent accidents. Because of this, all construction-related equipment is painted a bright yellow colour. The two most important reasons are: Visibility: Yellow is a striking, eye-catching colour. As it is the hue of caution and visibility, the colour yellow symbolises the danger of the large equipment present. Safety: The use of yellow paint makes it possible for workers and passersby to see construction equipment clearly and avoid it on or near construction sites.
What makes the colour yellow so noticeable? Different waves of light move at various frequencies, and it is these variations that affect the colours we perceive. Light with wavelengths measured in nanometers is what the human eye perceives as colour. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet make up the visible colour spectrum. Yellow is a highly visible colour with wavelengths of light between 570 and 590 nanometers. It is second only to green in terms of how easily our eyes can perceive it during the day.
Background of Yellow Machines The most popular colour for construction equipment wasn't always yellow. Construction machinery made by Cat® was battleship grey in the early 1900s. In 1931, Caterpillar began painting its machinery a Hi-Way Yellow, and soon after, other businesses began to copy them. Better visibility on road construction sites was a necessity that led to the invention of this revolutionary idea. The ideal hue for distance visibility both during the day and at night was what Caterpillar was looking for in terms of aesthetics. After finding yellow during their quest, Caterpillar paint specialists created the distinctive Hi-Way Yellow shade. Hi-Way Yellow was a strong, eye-catching shade of yellow that was extremely noticeable.