Welcome to the Pat Labels Blog
RECENT POSTS
-
QR Code Labels
Asset labels are useful to companies to record ownership of items, usage patterns of those items, and other similar processes. For example, if a forklift truck is fitted with a custom asset sticker bearing the company’s name and logo, the details can be used to keep track of how the vehicle is used. Records can be kept regarding who has operated the truck and when, what duties it was used for, and when it was last inspected and serviced. In this way, even the most basic asset labels (often printed with serial numbers) can be used to keep track of company property, and to fulfil requirements such as recording the maintenance of lifting equipment. For larger companies, it is obviously beneficial to keep a database of the large number of assets they inevitably need, and to use asset labels which are designed to tie in with that database. Barcode asset labels from PAT Labels Online allow handheld scanners to access the relevant records for each item, without the time it takes or the possibility of error inherent in systems where operators must write down or punch in the serial numbers. Digital activity logs can therefore be seen as the next logical step for asset registers. Looking even further forward, Quick Response (QR) codes are an advanced form of barcode offering even more possibilities in terms of asset monitoring. Why are more and more firms opting for QR code stickers when the time comes to renew their asset labels? Firstly, QR code labels can store far more information than labels printed with standard barcodes. Therefore, rather than just storing a serial number which relates to a record of the item on the computer, a large amount of information can be stored in the QR code itself. Another advantage is that, whereas the use of traditional barcodes was almost exclusively limited to commercial spheres, the availability of QR code readers for smartphones has meant this form of communication is open for anyone to use. Many items of product packaging and advertisements now bear QR codes, which direct members of the public to commercial websites. By making good use of QR code stickers UK businesses are creating a kind of ‘digital word-of-mouth’ effect, where customers are drawn to websites wherever they may encounter the QR code. Even coffee cups and napkins can come with small QR code stickers when the vendor has a message to get across to their customers. Besides simply directing users to websites, QR code labels can trigger multimedia content such as videos or contact forms. In some applications, QR codes even form part of augmented reality systems. At this moment in time, most of the uses for the capabilities of QR code stickers are consumer oriented, but they highlight the possibilities for the next generation of interfaces in an occupational setting, with the possibility of smartphones and internet connections replacing dedicated hardware and software. To learn more, or to order custom QR code stickers for your asset monitoring scheme, contact PAT Labels Online. Read Full Story -
GHS Labels
We can supply GHS stickers and labels for transport and shipping. GHS signs are clear in their message and widely recognized, promoting health and safety for workers. Many of the signs and labels we see every day are there to prepare us for hazards we may face. Some are there to tell us that a substance may be ‘Hot‘, and we should approach with caution. Others warn is that an object may be ‘Fragile‘, so we would not want to move this item without taking adequate care. Some of these types of signs have very specific messages and must therefore be spelled out in English. Whenever possible, use is made of graphics, colours and shapes to get the message across. It has been shown that, once we are familiar with the meaning of certain signs, we will react to them more quickly if they have a distinctive shape or colour. This is because our brains will recognise these features quickly, even before reading the printed message. In situations where our personal safety depends on observing the warnings given by such signs, these features could be a lifesaver. Think of the ‘Stop’ sign on our roads. Even if someone covered up the letters, you would still know what the sign meant, due to its red surface and octagonal shape. The concept of making signs readily understandable is an important one, and is one of the main driving forces behind the development of GHS hazard warning labels. It’s all very well to have custom labels printed with your own text and message to warn the handlers of your products of any inherent dangers. But what if those products are then shipped overseas? In a foreign land, it isn’t only the words which may not translate clearly. Certainly, simply spelling out the message in English is not enough. Globalisation has meant that products now travel further afield than ever, and our consignment may be destined for an area where European languages generally are not recognized. But even closer to home, the easier it is to understand hazard warning labels, the safer people will be. GHS Labels are designed to make the most of the ‘Stop sign’ approach. The aim has been to draw up universally recognizable warning signs which will get the message across to anyone, of any language or culture, anywhere in the world. Of course, to be fully effective, GHS labelling must also be recognized in our own warehouse, in our own town, and in our own country. Many of the symbols you see here will therefore already look familiar, since they are similar to domestic workplace labels. By affixing the correct GHS regulation warning diamond to your product or consignment, you can help to protect your own workforce, the recipient, and anyone who handles to goods along the way. By allowing everyone to take responsibility for their own safety around chemicals and substances, this system means all parts of the world can trade safely and effectively. Contact us to learn more. Read Full Story -
Uncategorized
As mains gas is one of the most common types of power used across the nation for domestic and industrial heating and cooking purposes, maintaining the equipment associated with this fuel in a safe condition is a priority. The gas mains infrastructure which distributes the fuel throughout our towns and cities is the responsibility of a national company contracted by the government to undertake the associated maintenance. But once the gas supply pipes enter your property, they become your responsibility. No one wants to find out the hard way that gas can be both poisonous and explosive, so keeping up with gas system repairs is critical. Indeed, the government recognizes that the consequences of inadequate maintenance could be so serious, that they impose strict limits on who can perform it. Registered engineers (see below) can install, fit and maintain gas appliances and the associated connections, and must provide appropriate documentation of their work, including gas appliance labels. When gas appliances are supplied from the manufacturer, they are often affixed with important gas safety labels which are there to provide vital information about the operation of the product. Topics covered may include using the device for its stated purpose, and not blocking vents. These manufacturer’s gas safety labels are available by the hundred from PAT Labels Online. What the manufacturer can’t do, however, is monitor the condition of the appliance as it is used over the months and years, and provide support over and above that which is requested by the customer under the terms of the warranty. It is up to each business owner, landlord or homeowner to keep their gas devices in good repair and call in an engineer to perform inspections and maintenance. When the engineer fits your appliance, they can use one of our gas appliance installation labels to record the event. Most gas installers will also offer an ongoing service agreement to visit your property periodically. When they come, they will check the appliance and update your gas appliance service record labels to show that all inspections are up to date. In the unlikely event of a problem, they can make use of a gas warning label to secure the appliance until repairs can be made. A Note On ‘Gas Safe’ Labels Sometimes our customers ask us about what they refer to as Gas Safe Stickers. ‘Gas Safe’ is actually a government scheme to register engineers who are qualified to work on domestic and commercial gas supplies and appliances, and monitor their compliance with safety protocols and standards of workmanship. This being the case, there are actually no such things as ‘Gas Safe Labels’, or if there were they would be produced by the Gas Safe Register, the body charged by the government with administering the scheme, rather than a commercial company like us. The labels described above are all produced for the purpose of promoting safety around gas appliances, and Gas Safe Registered engineers will likely be fully familiar with the and the information they contain. On this basis, they might be considered to be ‘Gas Safe Warning Labels’. Read Full Story -
Uncategorized
Of all the hazards which may be present in a work environment, the possibility of fire is the one which always seems to be at the back of everyone’s mind. Fires can break out in any type of building – a factory, office, shop, or even in our own homes – and may spread quickly. While there are other types of accidents which may be more common – falls being a notable example – these tend to be isolated incidents which are momentary in nature. What makes fire so frightening is that, once a conflagration becomes established, it will usually continue to cause destruction and endanger life until it is stopped. For this reason, a large proportion of the mandatory health and safety equipment and signage in public buildings and workplaces is focused on the prevention and control of fire. The fire safety signs we produce at PAT Labels Online fall into two broad categories. The first is general signage for fire measures. The second specifically relate to fire extinguishers, which are a tried and tested way of stopping fires from spreading, and are required by law in most types of buildings. To comply with the regulations, all the correct fire extinguisher stickers must be in place. General Fire Safety Labels Anti-fire measures take various forms, and clear fire safety labels are needed is personnel are to be able to find the resource they need in an emergency. Here are some of the measures which are commonly found and the fire safety stickers we supply for them: Fire meeting points should be clearly marked by signs like this or this. Fire extinguisher points should display this sign. Fire hose reels must also be clearly marked, so they can be found quickly in an emergency. Fire alarms must be inspected regularly, and the results of the test should be recorded. Under no circumstances should mains powered systems be disconnected. Fire doors are only effective if they are kept closed. This label warns personnel against leaving them open. Besides the above, we stock a wide range of labels for flammable substances and GHS Regulation warning labels for transport. Fire Extinguisher Labels Fire extinguishers are a powerful tool in fighting most types of blaze, and their installation and maintenance is tightly regulated to ensure that they can be used to best advantage in all circumstances. Besides requiring the presence of extinguishers and training for operators, the law also says the appliances must be frequently inspected and serviced, and that this work must be recorded. To that end, we produce fire extinguisher maintenance labels which have spaces for the details of all maintenance work to be recorded. Most of our fire extinguisher inspection labels are personalised so that a fire safety company can display their contact details for when the next inspection is due. Some, like these fire extinguisher service labels, can be printed up in full colour. To find out more about fire safety labels from PAT Labels Online, or to ask about other types of warning labels, contact us online or call 01325 525 675. Read Full Story -
Custom Labels
At PAT Labels Online, we offer our customers with a large choice of labels for a range of purposes to those throughout the UK. Our products offer a perfect balance between value and quality, and available for dispatching within 24 hours of receiving your order. Here we will focus on our range of custom labels. Why Choose Custom Labels? We are proud to offer such an extensive range, we find that most customers are able to get exactly what they’re looking for from our standard range of labels. However, we believe in going the extra mile and feel our collection would not be complete without offering fully customisable labels. Custom labels are ideal if you have very specific requirements, or need labels which include a key item of information that other standard designs don’t typically include. Custom labels are particularly useful if you are a contractor working on someone else’s premises, as they help to distinguish your property and work with the personal touch. This also adds a note of professionalism to your business. We believe we offer competitive prices when it comes to creating fully bespoke label designs for our clients. The Personal Touch To begin with, you may want to use our original designs for inspiration, and with this in mind, we can produce labels that are similar to our standard range, but personalised with details such as your name or your company name. However, the sky is the limit with our custom labels and stickers, whether you need a custom identification tag or otherwise. We can offer custom printed labels with your design in single colour or full colour depending on your needs and budget. What Can Custom Labels Include? As with our other labels, our custom stickers are available in all standard sizes and colours. We can include both text and graphics to make sure they are in-line with your company branding. Information you may need to include on a custom label that isn’t usually included can be added within an additional data field. We can also create labels with custom colour coding to aid at-a-glance recognition. A unique design will also ensure that your company stands out from the crowd, and your company name and logo will enable it to be instantly recognisable. Furthermore, custom printed stickers can be supplied with barcodes in order to help with asset management. Additionally, our custom stickers can be used for staff name badges. As stated, by producing full colour custom labels, you can have contrasting and attractive colours on each individual label. Contact Us For more information about our custom labels, stickers and tags, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. Alternatively, you can call us on 01325 525 675 to speak to someone directly, and a member of our team will be happy to help you with any questions you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Appliance ID Labels
Here at PAT Labels Online, we provide our customers with a wide variety of labels for a multitude of purposes nationwide. Our products offer a great balance between value and quality, and are available for shipping within 24 hours from your order being received. Here we will focus on our range of appliance ID labels. What are Appliance ID Labels? Appliance ID labels are designed to fit on any appliance in order to identity it within a larger network of appliances. These kinds of asset ID tags are available with or without a barcode, as the key to the use of these items as a custom identification tag is that they have a unique number on each one. The number acts as its ID, representing the particular appliance to which it is attached. Why Use Appliance ID Labels? If your company has lots of different appliances that are used every day, this can cause chaos if not properly managed, making it seem unprofessional to employees and visitors. Appliance ID labels allow for businesses to keep track of each appliance as they are used for all the essential day-to-day activities. As mentioned, the unique number attached to each individual appliance can be identified in this way as part of a wider system of organisation, allowing the appliance to be easily accessed when needed. Appliance ID Labels at PAT Labels Appliance ID labels can be kept safe with our special LabelGuard® tags, which come in blue, red, yellow or green. The ID labels simply stick inside the tags to protect them when working with appliances in the most extreme and severe environments. Budget ID labels, our choice of appliance ID labels is available from as little as £13.95 (excluding VAT). Custom Appliance ID Labels As well as having appliance labels with standard features, each of our numbered appliance ID labels can also be customised. From our ready-made design, you can select which best suits your requirements and decide on the most appropriate colours as part of the personalisation process. Furthermore, your design can then be used with your company logo. As stated, you can also incorporate barcodes, which has the advantage of making tracking appliances even easier. Additionally, you can keep track of appliance testing through these appliance ID labels, as we also provide marker pens for you to manually write in the necessary test dates. Contact Us To find out more about our appliance ID labels, 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 glad to assist you with any queries you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Uncategorized
Here at PAT Labels Online, we offer our customers an extensive choice of labels for a range of purposes to all those across the UK, providing quality labels at an affordable price. Available for dispatching within 24 hours of your order being received, part of our range includes electrical safety labels. Whatever the workplace, the provision of accurate health and safety information for your staff and visitors can potentially decrease the risk of accidents in the workplace, and even save lives. Our range of electrical safety labels exists in many forms: voltage safety labels, connection labels, wiring safety stickers, lockout labels, prohibition health and safety stickers or GHS regulation labels. Each type of label can help when handling specific equipment or for use within a specific part of your work area. Voltage Labels One of the most obvious labels required when working with electrical equipment is our range of voltage labels. It may be important to take caution in areas of high voltage, where there could be a risk of electric shock. Voltage labels can be used to specify the level of voltage and signal any potentially hazardous areas. Cable and Wiring Labels When it comes to cables, you’ll also need some labels. When workers are completing cable and wiring jobs, you may need to warn others, about wiring colours that have two different versions of BS761. Additionally, you may need to warn about fibre optic cables, electrical data cables, as well as a solar PV warning for DC cables. Lockout Labels Most electrical safety labels come in bright yellow for warning, including lockout labels. However, we also stock red lockout labels that warn users not to use the equipment, including one that specifically states not to touch the valve when locked out. We also include blue lockout labels to inform and remind workers to lock out the equipment before working on it. This is especially important if, as one label highlights, that disconnecting the item doesn’t remove all the power from the panel. Whether a reminder to lockout electrical switches before working with equipment, or ensuring all power sources are isolated and locked out, these signs can help to prevent accidents, injury, or fines for incorrect practice. Other Warning Labels There are many reasons why you may need to use a warning label, and we have an extensive range to suit all the usual requirements for electrical safety. Using text and images, these electrical safety labels are easy to understand by anyone and form a vital part of the workplace and its health and safety systems. Our Electrical Safety Labels Our electrical safety labels come in various sizes, enabling them to be clearly identified from any distance. They are available in a variety of colours and designs, which depends on their purpose, including red and white, yellow, orange or blue and white. These labels ensure that workers can quickly see whether it is a hazard warning or an indicator that PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) should be worn. The cost of these electrical safety labels begins at £6.95 (ex. VAT), and the quantities available can be altered to suit your requirements and budget, from 6 labels to 500 labels, depending on the product. They are made highly durable and tear resistant plastic with ultra strong permanent adhesive, which makes them excellent for both indoor and outdoor use. Contact Us To find out more about our quality control label, stickers and tags, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. Alternatively, you can call us on 01325 525 675 to speak to someone directly, and a member of our team will be pleased to assist you with any questions you may have for us. Read Full Story -
GHS Labels
Here at PAT Labels Online, we provide our customers with a large choice of labels for a variety of different purposes to clients across the whole of the UK. Our products are both great quality and cost effective, always available for dispatch within 24 hours of your order being received. With over a decade’s experience working within the field, we believe we can offer you the best GHS labels around, so read on to find out more about what GHS labels are, why they are important and some of the properties of the labels that we provide. What are GHS Labels? GHS stands for ‘Globally Harmonised System’ and the aim of this system is to use internationally recognised symbols. The different symbols and identifiers correspond to potential hazards, whether a particular substance that is present or a particular situation in the vicinity. Why are GHS Labels Important? Every company has an ethical responsibility and legal requirement to identify potential risk factors within the site. GHS labels offer an immediate visual that someone can see and understand regardless of language. This type of label will enables workers to spot potentially dangerous situations and undertake the necessary precautions to prepare themselves, thereby minimising the risk of accident and injury. GHS Labels at PAT Labels Online Our GHS labels can be used for a variety of different hazardous situations, covering a range of industries. Examples include GHS labels for flammable materials and irritants, as well as for explosives and environmental hazards. We provide GHS labels in two different sizes, which includes small (50mm x 50mm) or large (100mm x 100mm). Robust GHS Labels All of our GHS labels are made from a robust non-rip polypropylene and come with an ultra-strong adhesive so they are able to stand even the harshest environments. Being water-proof and weather-proof, they will stand the test of time in both cases where they come into direct contact with water or if they are left in a humid setting for a long time. Contact Us To find out more about our GHS labelling, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. Alternatively, you can call us on 01325 525 675 to speak to someone directly, and a member of our team will be glad to assist you with any questions you may have for us. Read Full Story -
Warning & Danger Signs
When someone uses a sentence like, “No-one saw the warning signs”, they can mean many different things. Sometimes, the ‘warning signs’ they are referring to are market fluctuations before an economic reversal. On other occasions, the danger signs under discussion may have taken the form of tremors which preceded an earthquake, or physiological symptoms which signalled a decline in a patient’s medical condition. All of the above warning signs are events to which many of us may have been blissfully unaware, unless we had the specific expertise to interpret them and realise what they meant. Unless we were a financial expert, seismologist, or doctor, these danger signs would be meaningless to us because they are not presented in a form we can easily understand. Thus, we arrive at the challenge which faces the designers of danger labels and safety warning signs: how to make sure everyone sees, and understands, the signs relating to a particular danger, so they can take steps to protect themselves. The artists who create such signs cannot be held responsible if someone ignores the warning and suffers the consequences, but by direct and efficient communication they can at least try to persuade their audience to comply. Most danger safety signs are brightly coloured. The reason for this is obvious: for anyone to notice the warning sign is there in the first place, it needs to stand out from its surroundings. This is less of an issue in the case of warning labels on products or other items, where there is little competition for the reader’s attention. But imagine a danger warning sign in, say, a supermarket car park. In between all the bright and attractive signs saying ‘Entrance’, ‘Exit’, ‘Leave Your Trollies Here’, ‘Cash Machines This Way’, ‘Buy-One-Get-One-Free on Toilet Rolls’, etc, getting your safety warning sign noticed is bound to be difficult. Yellow is the standard warning colour, because small flashes of bright yellow draw people’s eyes when surrounded by softer colours. Another visually strong feature is the shape – the human brain will quickly recognize simple shapes and can be trained to make associations with them. Therefore, most safety warning labels and signs from PAT Labels Online are in the form of bright yellow triangles, sometimes with explanation panels attached. The use of triangles follows the unofficial, but widely accepted, convention which was standardized by the road sign system: rectangles for information, circles for instructions, and triangles for warning signs. The next factor to consider is the way the information is presented on danger safety signs. Words are inefficient for this kind of communication, as they require more concentration than the casual observer is likely to afford them. Therefore, strong and simple graphics are used to make the point. Many symbols, such as those denoting flammable or electrical hazards, are so recognizable to us that we may get the message without realizing we’ve seen a danger safety sign at all. To find out more, or to buy danger safety labels and signs, contact PAT Labels Online today, browse our website. Read Full Story

