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Custom Labels
If you’re looking for a label that lets you have absolute freedom of control, why not use custom labels? These are blank labels that can be printed with your own design in a range of different colours. If you’re a small business, personalised labels can really make your company stand out, so read on to find out how you could be using these products. Keep All the Information in One Place As well as putting a stamp on your products with your own custom label featuring your brand’s logo, it also allows you to keep all the important information in one place. You can display the contact information, website, and other possible warning notices such as ‘fragile’ or ‘important contents.’ This means that customers and postal services are more likely to look after your parcels for this reason. Targeting Your Customers If you have specific notes to add to stickers, these can also be a good way to engage with your customers. For example, if you are a contractor at an event, stickers can make the people you talk to feel like they are getting something from you for free, whilst simultaneously helping to promote your company by wearing the sticker. This personal connection will increase the likelihood of people wanting to do business with you. Stickers can even form a part of a marketing campaign when used creatively. Contact To discover more about our custom printed labels and personalised stickers, or any other products, from us at PAT Labels Online, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be pleased to assist you with any queries you may have for us. Read Full Story -
GHS Labels
GHS stands for ‘Globally Harmonized System’ and refers to the use of hazard warning labels. At PAT Labels Online, we offer every GHS regulation warning diamond you could need, available for delivery directly to your door. Today we are going to focus on the requirements for these products, so your company can be confident that they comply with the OSHA HazCom 2012 Standard (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Read on to find out what its communication standard is, the six elements of the label that is required and the use of such labels for primary and secondary containers. What is the GHS and OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard? The idea behind GHS labelling is a system that is understood all over the world, irrespective of language barriers. It is used to classify and label chemicals. The regulation that these labels must comply with is known as the OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1200(e) regulation for Hazard Communication. The labels should be used to organise inventory in an up-to-date manner, continually tracking, maintaining and managing it to ensure you meet your HazCom plan and GHS compliance. The Six Elements of GHS Labels The first element required for GHS labels is the use of a signal word, which informs us of the hazard level, with ‘warning’ being less severe than ‘danger’. The main element that makes these labels so universal is the use of pictograms. These are usually grouped by chemical or physical risk, health risk and environmental risk. The third element to comply with GHS regulations is the manufacturer information, including details of the company name, address and contact number. Next, a precautionary statement is given for each hazard statement, outlining how to take preventative measures, as well as response, storage or disposal precautions. These can be identified by a P-Code, whilst hazard statements are identified by an H-Code, both of which can be found on the chemical’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Finally, the sixth element is the product name or chemical name, with further identifiers notes to the right of the manufacturer’s information. Primary and Secondary Containers Primary containers refer to large chemical containers such as bags, barrels, bottles, boxes, cans, cylinders and drums. It is important that these labels not only contain all six elements described but it should not be removed, altered or defaced. Any replacement should contain the exact information of the original. On the other hand, secondary containers are smaller than primary containers, usually holding chemicals transferred from a primary container. These may be spray bottles, jugs, or jars. They should consist of the same label requirements, except if the material is used within the shift of the person making the transfer, the individual who made the transfer is in the work area the whole time of use, and the container stays in the area and in the possession of the person who filled the container. Contact For more information about GHS hazard warning labels, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be glad to help you with any questions you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Warning & Danger Signs
When considering whether warning labels really work, we need to first consider how they are used and who uses them, in order to determine their effectiveness and outline how they can help. Today, we are going to explore this topic to see how well warning labels really work. How They Are Used Warning labels can inform everyone in the workplace of potential hazards, including visitors and product consumers. Each label from PAT Labels Online consists of a visual warning, made of a clear image that crosses language barriers, and to-the-point text to complement it. Displayed on a yellow background, it is sure to catch the attention of those passing by, or those handling the hazard source. Therefore, simply put, the purpose of this item is to attract attention to convey a message. Who Uses Them For some industries, safety warning signs are used in order to comply with government regulations, made in the interest of public safety. When used on products and packaging, warning labels help to inform consumers about potential hazards. Whilst this method of practice serves to protect the company from lawsuits, it’s important to consider the real-life impact on that which it is intended to serve, in terms of health and safety practices. Once someone views a warning label, it is then up to that individual whether they comply with the warning. The label must grab attention, so from their point, it has served its purpose. How They Can Help Warning labels can help those using the product or tool in numerous ways, with their effectiveness influenced by several factors. Firstly, it is important to catch the attention of the viewer, otherwise, it renders the whole practice pointless. This can be achieved through the use of bright colours such as the yellow we supply in this range. Research has shown that the inclusion of symbols increases the likelihood that the viewer will pay attention to the message it bestows. It has also been demonstrated that these labels do directly influence people’s behaviour; compliance with the warning is highest when it is easy to do. This increases when the person already has familiarity with the product. This information also indicates the importance of health and safety training in the workplace, in accordance with these labels. Contact For more information about labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to help you with any queries you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Barcode Labels
Barcodes have been used since around the 1950s, and are used all over the world for a number of purposes. However, since the 2010s, QR codes have been growing in use as well, since their inception in the 1990s. Here at PAT Labels Online , we offer both barcode labels and QR code labels . Each operating a different system, today, we are going to compare each of these systems so that you can decide which you would like to employ in your workplace. What’s the Difference? A barcode is a small, one-dimensional code that consists of a series of lines and spaces, which vary in thickness. This sequence represents numbers and other symbols and is readable by a machine. Although initially used in retail and industrial work environments, they can be used in any context that deems an identification system for different items for purposes such as inventory management. There are many different kinds of barcodes, including those that contain numeric digits only, as well as alpha-numeric variations. On the other hand, a QR code is a kind of two-dimensional barcode, which may also be known as a matrix code. Whilst ‘QR’ is a trademark name, it has been widely adopted as the way of referring to such codes. QR codes differ from traditional barcodes by storing information both horizontally and vertically, increasing the amount of information it can store. The Advantages of Barcode Labels Typically, barcodes are relatively cheap to run and offer an accurate inventory management system compared with manual alternatives. Their use means a faster and more efficient operating system, which can impact positively on the profitability of a company due to a reduction of manual labour costs, as well as an improvement of inventory control and speeding up the supply chain. The Advantages of QR Code Labels Even small custom QR code stickers can contain a range of information, including email addresses, names, product details, website URLs, dates, SMS messages, geolocation data, and plain text. The information is also more secure as information stored can be easily encrypted, allowing less room for error. They are thought to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds, as these days nearly 100% of mobile users have smartphones, which can scan QR codes. Contact Us It is up to you to weigh up these advantages and decide which code is best for you. For more information about barcode or QR code labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form , or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk . You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be glad to answer any question you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Barcode Labels
Here at PAT Labels Online, we offer a wide variety of labels for a variety of purposes to clients throughout the whole of the UK. Our products are fantastic value, superior quality, and are usually ready for dispatch within 24hours of receiving your order. As part of our range of products, we can supply barcode labels. Suitable for a plethora of purposes, today we will be focussing on the use of barcode labels for blood spot cards as part of the NHS numbers for new-born screenings. What are Blood Spot Card Labels Used For? Blood spot cards are used for the initial blood tests for new-born babies, which must be sent to NBS screening laboratories. The baby is given an NHS number, which is represented as a GS1-128 linear barcode, as well as a human-readable format on a sticky label. This enables midwives and laboratories to ensure that the correct labels are being attached to the NBS sample. They can also support management of the screening in the event of IT failures. The use of such labels save time and reduces errors on both the writing and reading stages. When scanned, the NHS number can be automatically captured from a global service relation number (GSRN), enabling its use within the screening process and to track babies throughout the screening care pathway. The process of identifying and tracking the progress of babies is vital in order to reduce the risk of babies going untested or not being tested in a timely manner. What Information is Displayed? As well as the NHS number information, the labels also contain basic birth and demographic information. The fields required for the NBS label is outlined in the ISB 1555 birth notifications specification. Necessary details not already mentioned include the name, birth date, sex, address, birth weight, ethnic category, mother’s name, birth date and NHS number, birth order and number of births in the confinement, gestation age, GP practice details, the delivery place name, and the date it was printed. Barcode Labels at PAT Labels Online Our custom barcode labels are stocked in a range of different sizes, and our budget range includes a mini size of 23mm x 25mm, a small size of 38mm x 20mm, a standard size of 49mm x 25mm, and a large size of 49mm x 79mm. Our printed barcode labels are supplied with a Code 39 barcode, complete with a matching serial number, starting with any number of your choice. Each is available in black, blue, green and red, with the larger sizes also having a yellow option. They are also available in silver and heavy-duty materials. As with our other products, they are made from a self-adhesive non-rip matt polypropylene. Contact Us For more information about barcode labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be glad to assist you with any queries you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Asset Labels and Tags
Here at PAT Labels Online, we offer a wide variety of labels for a range of purposes to clients throughout the whole of the UK. Our products are both excellent value and premium quality, and are usually ready for dispatch within 24 hours of receiving your order. As part of our range of products, we supply custom asset labels, stickers and tags. Read on to find out more about how this product can not only help your business operate more efficiently, but also help to strengthen your security systems. Their use can help your company to keep track of equipment maintenance and location, as well as acting as a deterrent against thefts or unauthorised movement of equipment. Our asset labels can be fully customised to provide barcodes and identifying numbers, as well as personalised details including your company logo, name and colours. We can provide labels with just identifying numbers if you don’t need to use scanner technology, but still want a clear visual identifier. We can offer a bespoke service, including numerous other custom options such as contact numbers, website addresses and emails. This is particularly useful for mobile items, so if lost, you can be easily contacted to arrange its return. We offer asset ID labels that are priced from as little as £14.95 (ex. VAT). The cost will depend on the products you purchase, the quantity and the budgetary constraints you work within. When ordering in bulk, you could see yourself making some great savings. These are versatile products that can be used on a variety of different pieces of materials, so whatever kind of equipment or usage, they are sure to be suitable for you. For more information about our asset labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be pleased to help you. Read Full Story -
GHS Labels
Here at PAT Labels Online, we offer customers a wide range of labels for different purposes. We pride ourselves on providing companies across the UK with a balance between affordability and high-quality labels, as well as a fast dispatch service, with orders sent out within 24 hours of receipt. Today, we are focussing our attention on GHS regulation labels, looking What are GHS Regulation Labels? GHS stands for the Globally Harmonised System, referring to the set of standards for providing chemical safety and hazard information. Since 2016, these regulations have been in place, so in order for your company to comply with the latest safety regulations for use in the workplace, for distribution, transportation and transference of between facilities, you should make sure to employ the use of these labels. In order to check compliance, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are used. Safety Data Sheets Safety Data Sheets are made up of sixteen different sections. Sections one to eight consists of general information such as identifying the chemical and its composition, and details of proper handling and storage, as well as any exposure limits, and advice for what to do in an emergency. The next three sections contain technical and scientific information such as the physical and chemical properties, stability, reactivity and toxicology. The following three sections provide details from Non-OSHA Agencies, including environmental information for disposal and transportation. The last section contains additional not listed elsewhere. What Information is Needed on a GHS Label? The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200(f)(1) was updated in 2012 to include six particular elements, which make up the GHS standards for labelling potentially hazardous chemical containers. This includes the product name or an identification number, referring to the specific hazardous chemical. Along with this first detail, a signal word such as “warning” is along with a hazard statement about the severity of the hazard and the particular type of the hazard. To transcend any language barriers, and for a faster reaction to the label, a pictogram is displayed on it. The GHS regulation warning diamond labels feature the globally standardised black and white symbols, which are surrounded by red diamonds. A precautionary statement is also shown, so it is possible to minimise or prevent any associated risks. displayed in order to demonstrate any action that can be taken to minimise or prevent any impact of the hazard. Lastly, the GHS label will also identify the supplier with the name, address and telephone number. Contact Us To find out more about GHS labelling, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675 to speak to someone directly, and a we will be pleased to assist you with any queries you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Barcode Labels
At PAT Labels Online, we offer customers a wide range of labels for various applications. We pride ourselves on offering companies across the UK a balance between value and high-quality tags, as well as our speedy dispatch service, with orders sent out within 24 hours of receipt. Today, we are focussing our attention on barcode labels, looking at how they can help you to have a successful supply chain, making your company more efficient as the print barcode labels play a part in the whole system. The First Step in Your Supply Chain It all starts with a serial number and a barcode on a label as the first step to success with your supply chain. These labels can streamline warehouse processing, so your company can rise above competitors by providing the best level of service with a combination of speed and quality. Such tags can improve the efficiency in your warehouse and distribution centre operations, competing with e-commerce companies such as Amazon. UK businesses can benefit from barcode labels and tags in order to streamline the supply chain, taking the first step to success. Improve Overall Efficiency When dealing with the various operations of running a business, barcode labels can easily be looked over. Once you update your barcode system, you will be able to see how such a simple organisational task can hugely increase your company’s efficiency. Barcode printing labels are a worthy investment if you are still using 10-year-old labelling technology. By updating your old system, you are sure to see the results you desire in production. Access All Areas There are five main areas when it comes to creating barcode labels as part of the whole system. Barcode tags can be applied as soon as items arrive, enabling you to have a high level of accuracy when unloading and checking-in goods, including handling by automated processes. It’s also possible to generate stickers for picking, so that they can be scanned and sorted for shipment. Finished goods that are fully kitted, assembled, or packaged, can be labelled within the barcoding system for identification purposes. Shipping and returns barcode stickers can be used for custom-specific information, which are scanned when fulfilling orders, as well as for return shipping. Finally, barcode tags can be used for cross-docking so that time-sensitive or fast-moving items don’t take up unnecessary warehouse space, with labels completed inside the truck at the dock. Contact Us To find out more about our barcode labels and tags, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675 to speak to someone directly, and a we will be pleased to assist you with any queries you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Custom Labels
At PAT Labels Online, we provide our customers with a wide choice of labels for a range of applications to all those across the UK. Our products offer a great balance between value and high quality, and available to dispatch within 24hours of your order being received. Here we will focus on our range of personalised labels. What are Personalised PAT Labels? PAT Labels PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing, and these labels are a great tool for electricians to indicate that an electrical appliance has been evaluated as safe to use. When an appliance has been tested and is safe to use, it can be labelled as ‘passed’. A majority of these items are used for this purpose, but it is also important to use alternate wording as warnings to other workers when this is not the case. You may need to use a ‘failed’ label that clearly displays ‘do not use’ along with other relevant information. PAT testing stickers can be directly affixed to the appliance, as well as attached as a cable wrap. Personalised PAT Labels At PAT Labels, as is our speciality, we provide personalised PAT testing stickers. These custom printed labels can be pre-printed with any details you like in order to suit your organisation or business. Although details can be filled in with marker pens, this way you can save time on the job. Our range of personalised labels enables you to have complete control over every aspect of your label design. Whether you want to incorporate elements of our standard stickers and add your name or company name, or you want to create a unique design to distinguish your property and work with this personal touch when working on different sites, with a personalised label, you can make sure your signage does exactly what you need it to do. Reasons for Purchasing Personalised PAT Labels There are a variety of reasons why you may want to purchase PAT personalised labels for your company’s electrical safety management. Custom labels are useful if you need additional data fields from those supplied on the standard designs. PAT testing stickers can also form part of a custom colour coding system, to help at-a-glance recognition, speeding up your processes. Personalised stickers can also help your company stand out from the crowd, with your company name and logo creating a strong association with professionalism, building your brand recognition for all who see your personalised stickers. Personalised PAT Labels at PAT Labels Online Our custom appliance labels come in a range of designs, and are also available in cable wrap and asset tuff tag formats. Standard colours for ‘passed’ PAT labels include green, blue, purple and black, as well as the option for a silver sheen. Failed label designs are available in red for high alert. Personalised PAT labels can be produced in full colour using your logo and custom design, made using a durable, eco-friendly non-rip matt polypropylene material, which undergoes an extensive process of quality control. We dispatch all orders we receive within 24 hours and offer same-day dispatch on all orders made before 2pm. With our free and fast delivery across the UK, you can be sure that you will receive your order as soon as you need it. Contact Us To find out more about our personalised PAT labels, stickers and tags, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675 to speak to someone directly, and a member of our team will be pleased to help you with any questions you may have for us. Read Full Story -
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Whether you own a residential property, an industrial site or a commercial property, you need to remember to have a regular gas servicing visit. This is where a qualified gas engineer visits the property to inspect the gas appliances on site. In normal circumstances, this is something that should happen once a year. However, many property owners could find it tempting to skip a year, perhaps viewing it as an unnecessary cost or inconvenience. It could be especially tempting to not bother if you know that the equipment was only installed in the last few years, or if it all looks in good condition when you cast your eye over it. The reality, however, is that regular gas servicing is very important. In fact, skipping gas servicing could be a costly decision. Why is this? What makes it such an important and useful part of your annual maintenance routine? There are three main reasons why you should never skip getting your property inspected. Firstly, there is the safety issue. This is really the most important reason to get a regular inspection. Even relatively new equipment could become damaged or develop a fault. After all, if a manufacturer is making thousands of a particular product, whether it is a boiler, a cooker or a fire, eventually one will be made with a faulty or badly fitted part. Equally, the damage could occur in your property, or the unit could have been poorly installed. The risk is that gas could be escaping. Carbon monoxide is a particular risk – not only can this kill, but it is also colourless, odourless and tasteless, so you would not even know if it is being released into the property. An inspection will make sure that there are no faults. Secondly, there could be legal implications. This depends on your property – if you own your own home, there is no law requiring you to have a regular inspection. But if you rent a property or you use it for commercial purposes, you need to comply with regulations that require an annual gas service. Failing to do this could leave you in a tricky position if something goes wrong. Thirdly, servicing could save you money. One of the things that can be tested is that it is running well. If there is a fault in the appliance, even one which is not letting carbon monoxide out, you could be paying much more to operate an inefficient piece of equipment than necessary. Now you know the importance of gas servicing, you won’t want to skip it. But how can you make sure you don’t simply forget? The best option is to use gas appliance installation labels. These are safety stickers which are used to identify the condition of appliances. For example, gas servicing labels are used to mark which appliances have been tested and when they are due again. Gas safe labels are used to indicate either that an appliance is safe to use, or that it should be avoided – for example, because it is unsafe to use. You could also put gas control valve stickers on, as well as a label for emergency control. For the best range of gas service labels and other safety stickers, visit PAT Labels Online, where you will find all the options that you need. Read Full Story -
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How many electrical items are around you in your workplace? Go on, take a moment to have a look. You might be surprised at just how many different objects which you use in an average day are reliant on electricity. For example, if you work in an office, you probably have your computer and monitor. But then there is the printer, the laminator, perhaps one or more desk lamps. You might have a telephone or tablet charging whilst you work. Then there is the fridge, the kettle and the microwave – the list could go on and on. If you work in a workshop or other industrial setting, the number of electrical items could be even more. In fact, most of us would struggle to do our work without electricity. But then ask yourself when the last time was that you had workplace electrical maintenance. You might be shocked to realise that you cannot remember when it last happened. Many workplaces are long overdue for having basic testing and inspections, like PAT (portable appliance testing) checks. Even though not all companies are diligent at keeping on top of this requirement, electrical safety at work should be a priority for managers and business owners. So how do you know that your workplace needs electrical maintenance? The most obvious way is to look at the electrical inspection labels. Although you should have some sort of central record of past maintenance and checks, when electrical maintenance is carried out on items like kettles, drills and computers, each unit should be labelled to confirm that it is safe to use. The labels take a range of forms. The simplest is a sticker which identifies the test date and the name of the qualified tester. More complex designs are also available. For example, stickers can be larger size, or they could have a company logo. They could also be a wrap design, which is for wrapping around a cable. There are a wide range available, depending on the item being tested. But regardless of the design, they all state the date of testing. That makes it easy to decide whether your maintenance is due. Of course, if there are no labels and no records then it is definitely due! There is no set frequency for testing, but once you know the date of the last check, you can decide when it should be done. The law for the workplace simply requires that managers ensure that the testing and maintenance is sufficiently regular to prevent accidents. Equipment that is used or moved more frequently, like hand tools, or that is used by the public, needs to be tested more often than equipment that is rarely moved, like a printer. Of course, the labels are not the only way to know that you need maintenance. Keep an eye on the condition of electrical appliances in your workplace. For example, damaged or exposed cables should always be replaced. Similarly, if you think that you can smell burning near a piece of equipment, or there is a sign of blackening or excess heat around the cable or casing, it is time to get it checked and repaired or replaced. The important thing is to be alert and remember than electrical maintenance in the workplace is important. For electrical safety labels, visit PAT Labels Online where you can find a wide range of options. Read Full Story -
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Portable Appliance Testing, otherwise known as PAT Testing, is often something our customers want to know more about. After reading this post, we want all readers to have a full understanding of PAT, so you know how to correctly use PAT Testing Labels. Labels and tags are an important part of maintaining the safety of electrical goods, with their use anyone using a portable electrical item will have clear, visual reassurance of the integrity and safety of use. This is important in workplaces like staffrooms or professional kitchens, to protect businesses and employees from any onsite electrical injuries. So, what happens during a PAT, and what needs to be examined? Although there are no specific guidelines of appliances that require checks and maintenance, it is commonly considered that any portable electrical appliance that plugs into a wall for power needs to be checked. Businesses can hire a knowledgeable electrician or get a competent person who knows the requirements of PAT. There are no legal requirements for who can perform the assessment. PAT’s series of inspections on electrical equipment to check the safety of use are divided into three categories: Documentation, Visual Inspection & Testing. Each category needs to be completed correctly to ensure safety. Documentation – A series of documents are required to know that you have met all the criteria to complete this category. First, a list of all registered electrical appliances in use within a company is needed to get started. This register will provide all up-to-date information and help understand what needs assessment. Also required is an inspection and test form and the Faulty Equipment and Repair Register. Visual Inspection – Every appliance will need to be visually checked to make sure there is no damage or issues that could physically hurt someone with use. Usually, a checklist is followed to ensure a thorough inspection. Testing – Assessments can be performed with a series of equipment and broken down into two ways which are: a dedicated PAT tester or separate testing equipment. Other things included that need to be assessed are the earth continuity, insulation resistance and whether the electric appliance functioning as it should. Once completed, it is standard practice to attach a label specifically detailing the final PAT status. This will offer a visual guarantee of safety for anyone using the appliance, but also useful information for future inspections. There is not necessarily a one size fits all approach to labels, they will need to be suitable for the use of each appliance. We offer a great range to choose from, including Barcode PAT Labels, Cable Wrap PAT Labels, PAT Stickers and PAT Tuff Tags. To discover more about our PAT testing visual inspection labels, or any other products from us. Get in contact through our online contact form or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to assist you. Read Full Story -
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These days, producing counterfeit goods is getting easier and easier. In order to spot a fake, there are a number of ways you can distinguish them from authentic good, including the use of PAT labels. Research has shown than 1 in 3 of UK residents have accidently bought a counterfeit product online and 1 in 7 have suffered damage or loss through purchasing such electrical goods. When shopping online, websites selling fake products can easily seem like the real thing. Unfortunately, e-commerce platforms are not regulated and monitored to protect them against faulty goods. Why You Should Avoid Counterfeit Goods Whilst you may believe that fakes can offer you a cheap deal, when it comes to electrical items, it’s important to remember that they are not likely to have been put through the same rigorous safety checks. This means that such products will carry genuine safety risks, with the danger of causing severe burns, electrical shock, or even death. Always purchase products from reliable sellers, and check that the product complies with UK Safety Standards. How to Tell the Difference You can search for the quality marks to help you tell the difference between real and fake products. The BSI Kitemark is exclusive identification of the British Standard Institution (BSI) and is an internationally recognised quality mark. For electrical items, CE marking is required if they are sold within the EU or member states of the EEA. Spot the difference between the genuine symbol and counterfeit Chinese copies. If you spot a fake, you can report it to Trading Standards. This will ensure that action is taken against the seller as it is illegal and puts people’s lives in danger. Use of PAT Testing Labels When using electrical items in the workplace, you should periodically carry out tests known as PAT. Test your equipment to avoid any injuries in your office or in your facilities. Investing in your own PAT testing equipment to enables you to continually check products. You can then use our wide range of PAT labels for your testing process. Contact Us For more information about our range of custom PAT test labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have for us about personalised testing labels or any other products. Read Full Story -
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Here at PAT Labels Online, we specialise in providing a wide range of labels for use in the workplace. Today we are going to focus on five top tips for electrical safety and how our labels can play a key role in this process. When working in and on electrical installations, if not done correctly, there can pose a risk dangerous to life. It’s important to follow these tips to ensure that the environment you’re working in is as safe as possible. Tip 1: Disconnect the Device and Any Adjacent Live Parts Prior to working on an electrical item, it is vital that you disconnect the device or equipment you are working on. This means that the electrical installation is disconnected from live parts on all poles. This is the number one step you need to consider. When we refer to adjacent parts, these may be any parts located in the vicinity zone. Ideally, these should also be disconnected, otherwise you will need to take further precautions. All of this should be done prior to work, linking back to the first electrical safety tip. Alternative measures that may be taken could be the use of insulating protective shutters or covering material as this will protect you against accidental contact with these adjacent live parts. Tip 2: Secure Against Re-connection It is important to risk assess the area, and do everything possible to manage the safety standards. This means that before work is in progress, you should also take the necessary actions to prevent an accidental re-connection of an installation. In order to do this, you should replace the unscrewed fuses in the low-voltage system with lockable lock-out devices. Tip 3: Verify the Process Preparation is key to carrying out electrical works. So next, you need to double check that there is no power and that the installation in fact dead now. You should use a suitable measuring device or testing equipment such as a voltage detector. This will enable you to verify that all areas of the installation are dead. You can check the correct function of the voltage detector before using it. Tip 4: Perform Earthing Before Short-circuiting The next step is to connect the cables and the earthing system with short-circuit-proof earthing and short-circuiting devices. The main advice to note here is that the relevant parts must be earthed before they are short-circuited. Tip 5: Use Adequate Electrical Safety Labels Lastly, make sure you make use of the electrical safety labels that we have to offer. We can provide labels for electrical devices for a multitude of purposes, including the display of voltage information, warning labels regarding live devices or reminders to lockout devices, and more. Contact Us For more information about our range of electrical safety labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have for us about electrical safety test labels or any other products. Read Full Story -
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The 6th December marks Microwave Oven day, honouring the appliance that changed the way we use the kitchen and uncovering the possibility of making quick additions to meals, and even whole meals designed to be cooked in no time. Whether you’re heating up tortilla wraps for a Mexican-inspired meal, or you’re too busy to cook from scratch, the microwave oven has innovated the way we make our meals. Today we are going to focus on how microwave ovens were first intentioned, how they are used now and how you can use emission tests to keep the safe and fully functioning. The Invention of the Microwave Oven Microwave ovens were invented in America in 1945 by a self-taught engineer called Percy Spencer. As with many inventions, he discovered this method of cooking by accident, when working with an active radar. On this particular day, he realised a chocolate bar was melting in his pocket, and that the high-powered microwave beams created an ideal heat for cooking. He used the microwaves to cook popcorn and continued to experiment by cooking an egg. The company Raytheon, which Spencer worked for, encouraged his experimentation of heating food safely with microwaves and filed the patent for it on 8th October of that year, building the first microwave oven as we know it in 1947. Microwave Ovens in the Workplace One of the main areas that the microwave oven has been invaluable to is the workplace. This allows workers to easily have access to hot food that they can cook quickly themselves. Whilst it is not a legal requirement for the workplace to have a kitchen, it is a legal requirement for workers to be able to access hot food whilst at work. Therefore, if there is no place to obtain hot food nearby, then a microwave should be provided. Microwave Emission Test Labels It is therefore paramount that employers carry out microwave emission tests to ensure the safe use of the appliance at work. We can use microwave emission test labels to keep microwave usage safe. Here at PAT Labels Online, we provide both plain and personalised emission test labels to help you to communicate important safety information easily. Our labels are available in a range of colours, including orange, green, purple, blue and black. Information can include checks for the interlock, door seal, emission level and power. More detailed versions include an option to fill in a test date, who completed it, and when a retest is due. This also offers space for the appliance I.D. It states not to remove the label and confirms that the oven has passed a radiation leakage test and is safe to use. Contact Us For more information about our range of microwave emission test labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have for us about microwave emission test labels or any other products. Read Full Story -
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Here at PAT Labels Online, we have an extensive range of labels for various different purposes. Today we are going to focus on the use of labels for heavy-duty equipment. This can include items as small as work boots to those as big as earth-moving vehicles. We will cover exactly what we mean by heavy duty labels and the different types that we have available from our website. What are Heavy Duty Labels? Heavy duty labels are designed and manufactured to survive and under the harshest of conditions, remaining not only adhered to the surface it is placed upon, but fully functional in terms of its display. Individuals and businesses rely on tags and labels for all kinds of products on a daily basis, in order to identify items and supply other important information. Whether your company requires labels to be used outside, or you work in a demanding environment, for example dealing with harsh chemicals, heavy duty labels are a necessity. The Properties of Heavy-Duty Labels All our heavy-duty stickers are made of semi-rigid, high-temperature polyester. They have been through rigorous tests in extreme heat, as well as cold and wet environments. Furthermore, when subjected to shocks and impacts, they have not only remained intact and firmly fixed to the surface, but they are also able to stay legible. As well as using a strong, permanent adhesive, heavy-duty labels from PAT Labels Online, this means that the information you have on your label will still be usable. This is most important for asset labels, which contain barcodes that work as part of a wider system. Even after extended periods of use and frequent handling, the labels will still function well with scanning equipment as long as the surface is cleaned. Your Options with Heavy Duty Labels When it comes to heavy-duty labels, we have a wide range of options when you order your new labels, stickers and signs. Heavy-duty labels are available in a variety of colours and sizes, and you can also select a specific finish and text. We stock different shapes, depending on the purpose, so it’s possible to get labels for a particular purpose, such as cable wrap tags. Providing a customisation service, we can make your heavy-duty tags with your company name and logo, as well as any other require information. Contact Us For more information about our range of heavy-duty labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. Alternatively, you can call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have for us about heavy-duty labels or any other products. Read Full Story
