How to use equipment status tags
Status tags turn the condition of a machine into something anyone can read in a second. Here's exactly what each color means, how to fill a tag out, and how tags move with equipment over its life.
What each color means
Five colors cover the full lifecycle of any machine or part. Use them the same way every time.
Good EquipmentGreen
Cleared for service. Attach after an inspection or test confirms a machine or part is safe and fully operational.
Questionable EquipmentYellow
Use with caution — verify first. Attach when equipment is suspect, awaiting further testing, or should only be used under specific conditions.
Bad EquipmentRed
Do not use — remove from service. Attach the moment equipment fails inspection or is unsafe, to take it out of service immediately.
New EquipmentLight Blue
New out of the box. Use once a unit is out of the box. If the seal has never been broken, it doesn't need a tag — but once it's opened (even if only tested), it gets this tag.
Repaired EquipmentOrange
Repaired and tested. Attach after a repair is completed and the results are recorded, before returning equipment to service.
Tagging, step by step
Inspect or act on the equipment
A technician checks the machine or part — a routine inspection, a test after a repair, or a response to a breakdown.
Choose the color that matches the status
Green, yellow, red, blue, or orange — one glance tells the whole floor where things stand.
Fill out the tag completely
Name, date, area/location, machine, and a description of the part or test performed. This is your paper trail.
Attach it where it can't be missed
Loop wire or a zip-tie through the reinforced grommet and secure the tag to the equipment or its control point.
Update as status changes
When the situation changes, swap the tag for the color that reflects the new status and record it.
Filling out a tag
Every field exists for a reason. Complete all of them so the tag stands up in an audit and the next person has the full picture.
- Your Name
- Who inspected, tested, or tagged the equipment — accountability starts here.
- Date
- When the status was set. Critical for audits and for knowing how stale a tag is.
- Area / Location
- Where the equipment lives, so anyone can find and verify it.
- Machine
- The specific machine or asset ID the tag applies to.
- Description / Test Performed
- MFG part #, model #, serial #, and what was checked or done. On repaired (orange) tags, record the Test Results here.
How tags follow a machine
A single piece of equipment often wears several colors over its life. A typical path looks like this:
New
Out of box
Good
In service
Questionable
Acting up
Bad
Failed, out of service
Repaired
Fixed & tested
Best practices
- ✓Standardize the meaning of each color across every line and shift — one system, no exceptions.
- ✓Fill out every field. A tag with no name or date can't be trusted or audited.
- ✓Tag immediately. The moment a machine fails, red-tag it before anything else.
- ✓Never remove or downgrade someone else's tag without verifying and re-testing.
- ✓Keep boxes stocked at each maintenance station so the right color is always on hand.
- ✓Review tagged equipment regularly so nothing sits in 'questionable' limbo.
Ready to standardize your floor?
Start with the all-color bundle, or stock up on the colors your program uses most.