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Computer systems are able to store and process vast amounts of information, make calculations, transmit complex messages across great distances, and create records. It’s fair to say that, during recent decades, computers have revolutionised the business world. But one thing computers still can’t do is think for themselves. A computer can’t look at an object and recognize it without some frame of reference. And it can’t tell the difference between two such objects unless we help it to do so. That’s where barcode labels come in. Barcode labels are one way a machine can be made to recognize an object for itself. They are that all important transitional step between the physical world and the world of data that is the computer’s memory. To see the impact which barcode labels, stickers and tags have had on the retail sector, we need only pay a visit to a local supermarket. Many years ago, a shopkeeper had to calculate a customer’s bill mentally, or by using a pen and paper. When the cash register came along, these calculations could be performed by punching the prices into a numeric keypad. But the process was still very much dependent upon a human operator. The next leap forward in technology was the introduction of product barcodes. By attaching barcode stickers to all their products, stores made these items instantly recognizable to the computer system. Bills could be calculated, stock levels adjusted and sales recorded simply by passing each product through a barcode scanner. The technology has become so successful that some retailers are eliminating the need for checkout staff altogether in favour of self-service barcode scanning machines. But what information is actually stored on a barcode label? Those who are unfamiliar with the technical side of EPOS systems are often surprised to find out that a barcode is simply a number – nothing more. But it is a number in a form that a computer can recognize, and once the barcode is scanned, the computer can link it to all the relevant information such as price, product type, and so on. Thus, barcodes can be used for far more than just adding up shopping bills. By using custom barcode labels, any item or location can be made identifiable to a computer. This approach has long been utilised in warehousing systems. Locations in a shelving or racking system are fitted with barcode tags, and every time stock is added to or removed from the location, the barcode is scanned and the details of the movement are recorded. If this procedure is followed diligently, the computer system will always have an accurate record of the locations and quantities of all stock in the system. Many companies now use asset barcode labels to identify each appliance and piece of equipment on their premises. This makes it easier to maintain and test such items, and to monitor their movements. If you are searching for custom barcode labels online, visit PAT Labels Online and see what we can do for you. Read Full Story -
PAT Test Labels
PAT testing is one of the most effective ways to fulfil your health and safety responsibilities as an employer by regularly checking that all the equipment operated on your premises is safe to use. By affixing ‘PAT Test Passed’ labels to each item when it is inspected, you reassure your staff and visitors that their welfare is at the forefront of your mind. Where can you get PAT test pass labels? From PAT Labels Online, of course! PAT test stickers are an essential part of making sure this system works in everyone’s interest. Regularly inspecting each appliance – usually once per year or more – means that if a fault develops it is usually spotted before anyone comes to harm. But ‘Passed PAT Test’ labels are not the only documentation involved in this system. The inspector may sometimes be required to use ‘Failed PAT Test’ labels when a product is not up to scratch, or even a Failed PAT Test tag which physically prevents the appliance from being used until it has been repaired. There are many types of PAT test tags for use under various circumstances. Cable wrap PAT testing labels can be attached to items which have no suitable surface for a sticker or regular label. And PAT testing tuff tags are resilient enough to do their job of displaying important safety information under the harshest of conditions. Some companies, and even some professional electricians, struggle on with standard PAT testing stickers, labels which may not be ideal for all applications. But it’s now possible to order just the right PAT test labels online, including the tuff tag PAT labels and cable wrap PAT test labels mentioned above, from PAT Labels Online. But these aren’t the only kinds of PAT labels we have available. We can also supply the following: PAT Testing Visual Inspection Labels – When PAT testing appliances, the first part of the process is usually a visual check, and devices which pass this stage can be affixed with our Visual Inspection PAT Labels. Personalised PAT Testing Labels – Are you an electrician who provides a PAT testing service to various companies? Or are you responsible for performing your company’s PAT testing in-house? Either way, you may like to have your company details displayed on personalised PAT stickers to record who conducted each inspection. See our website for details of our personalised label service, including what information can be displayed on each personalised PAT test label. Barcode PAT Testing Labels – These are the PAT test labels UK companies often find most useful. Barcodes can contain a wealth of information, and in the case of PAT stickers they can become a combination of asset ID tag and PAT test label. Your computer system can record results and even raise a reminder when a new inspection is required. Custom PAT Test Labels – If you can think of any other information which you would like included on a PAT label, get in touch and we’ll see what we can do. Read Full Story -
Asset Labels and Tags
Asset labels are an easy and practical way for businesses to keep control of the appliances they own, whether they have loaned a piece of equipment out to another business or own several of the same type of appliance and need to be able to distinguish between them. By applying asset stickers to an appliance, securing and monitoring it is a breeze. Here at PAT Labels Online we know all about asset labels and tags, as we stock a huge variety of tags for our customers to choose from. But what kind of thing can you expect to see on the average asset label? Here are some of the common features you are likely to spot on an asset tag and the reasons why they are included. Property of individual/company Putting the name of a company or individual contact on your asset ID labels will help your appliances be easy to identify if someone takes them accidentally. Doing this also allows the asset to work as a good advertising tool! Companies who have a snazzy company logo they wish to share with the world can do this on custom asset labels instead of putting their name in plain text. Contact details Obviously it’s no good knowing the name of who owns an appliance if you don’t know how to get in touch with them! Asset labels often feature a person or company’s contact details which allow their colleagues or customers to get in touch if an appliance is misplaced or requires repairing. Appliance ID number Companies often give their appliances an ID number in order to help identify a particular asset. Asset ID labels are especially useful in situations where staff need to tell the difference between different assets of the same model, for example if a particular unit is faulty and in need of repair. Asset ID numbers are often numerical, although asset tags with barcodes are also very common. Test date/Next test due Electrical appliances are regularly tested as part of what is known as portable appliance testing. It’s important for businesses to check appliances regularly in order to ensure that they are safe to use. Many asset labels feature a space outlining when the asset was last tested and when an asset’s next test is due. Passed/Failed Finally, this feature frequently found on asset tracking labels shows whether an asset has passed or failed its electrical safety test. If an asset has passed then the person looking at it will know that it’s safe to use. If it has failed the test, it will demonstrate that this asset requires repair and should not be used until then. Contact us today! Here at PAT Labels Online we offer custom asset labels for almost any appliance imaginable. If you have any questions about our asset labels and tags please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have. Read Full Story -
Health & Safety
Putting up health and safety stickers is a crucial task in many types of environment in order to ensure that workers on a site remain safe and to make sure that employers meet their statutory requirements. However, we can be so used to seeing safety signs around that we often don’t notice them or think about why they are there. Here at PAT Labels Online we stock health and safety labels for almost every single danger, hazard or warning notice imaginable. But what types of safety labels are there? Here are explanations of just a few of the common health and safety labels which almost everyone will have seen at some point, either at work or in their everyday lives. Danger high voltage Name-dropped in the famous Electric Six song, electrical safety stickers are unsurprisingly found around electrical equipment or locations, such as junction boxes or sub-stations. Electrocution is a serious health hazard and is particularly likely in areas of high voltage, hence why electrical safety labels urge caution for people nearby. While many electrical safety signs offer a general warning, many labels can also state the specific level of voltage, such as 33,000 volts. No naked flame Found in red and white, no naked flame labels are designed to warn people against starting fires that have the potential to be uncontrolled, such as the flame at the end of a struck match. These types of safety labels are especially important in areas containing flammable materials such as petrol stations and oil rigs. High visibility clothing There are many reasons why people working in certain areas need to wear high visibility clothing. These include if they work in potentially dangerous environments such as construction sites, roads and railways, or at times of low visibility such as in the early hours of the morning. With these labels employers can wear staff and guests to put on their helmets and day-glo jackets and stay safe. Fire extinguisher point One of the requirements for many workplaces is a fire extinguisher in the case of a fire. As a sudden fire can be extremely stressful, it’s vital that extinguishers are clearly marked in case of emergencies. These safety labels in red and white make the fire extinguisher clearly visible. Some mark the type of extinguisher whether it is water, foam or carbon dioxide. Ear protection Ear protection safety labels advise people to protect their ears, such as by wearing earmuffs. This is vital in areas of loud noise like construction sites, music concerts or airplane runways. As these labels are blue and white, they are less urgent but are linked to good practice. Similar labels exist for other pieces of clothing include visors, hairnets, and safety harnesses. Contact us today! We stock all of these types of health and safety labels here at PAT Labels Online, along with many others which you can find on our website. If you have any questions about which health and safety stickers may best suit your requirements please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We would be delighted to be of help. Read Full Story -
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Pat Labels Online are delighted to announce the launch of their new website. After many years of service, the decision was taken to retire the old site and replace it with a new, more advanced website, which not only provides a better user experience across mobile phones and tablets, but also boasts a number of new different product categories. The changes allow customers to order a wider range of Pat Test Labels, Electrical Safety Labels & Inspection Labels quicker than ever before. As always, standard first class delivery is always free and orders received before 2pm are despatched same day. Will Best, Manager at Pat Labels Online commented: Over the last couple of years we’ve noticed a steady increase in traffic to our website from mobile phones and tablets. Knowing that our website was not optimised for mobile users, we took the decision to invest for the future and have our store completely rebuilt using responsive technology. Our website will now re-size itself to fit any screen it is displayed on, giving the best user experience possible. We have also more than doubled our range of products we have available, adding completely new departments to give our customers better choice. We would love to get your opinion on the new site and the changes that we have made, so if you can do take a minute to leave us some feedback. Read Full Story -
Health & Safety
Many people are killed and injured each year by coming in contact with live overhead power lines or when flashovers happen. The risk is even higher if your occupation involves tall vehicles and long equipment, for example, elevated work platforms, vehicle mounted cranes, scaffold poles or combines, sprayer booms and irrigation pipes. Accidents have happened after mistaking overhead power lines for telephone wires; add to the fact that electricity can, under moist conditions, pass through wood, plastic and even rubber then subsequently flash over, you don’t even need to be touching the conductor to be shocked. And don’t be fooled; you cannot rely on gloves or rubber boots for protection. As a consequence of these risks, stringent health and safety measures must be implemented when working with, or near overhead power lines. And here the ball rests firmly in the employer’s court. Any company whose business operations fall into this category must ensure their duty of care is fulfilled at all times and should have conducted an in-depth risk assessment and referred to the various controlling documents regarding the industry sector. Only by doing so, can personal safety be reasonably assured. What should employers do? Planning and management must be meticulous when working near electric overhead power lines so that all persons are free from risk of accidental contact. These areas and their near proximity must be adequately controlled at all times, with sufficient signage clearly visible as a warning. These precautions will vary and depend on the nature of the work. The safety aims may be achieved by a number of actions: Planning and preparation, including risk assessment. Training of personnel. Reduction and removal of risk and danger Control of access Control and manage the work effectively. How to reduce danger and risk Very often, the danger cannot be simply removed from the equation, and where this is the case, the focus then becomes one of reducing danger and minimising risk, making things as safe as practicably possible, such as the control of access and managing the area near and around the ‘works’ in an effective manner. For example, ensure storage areas, materials and temporary structures are erected and sited at safe distances from the work in hand where possible. Divert overhead lines away from the work area, and check if there are times the lines can be made dead while the work is being done. However, where overhead lines pass over permanent work areas this is not always possible. Control of access Controlling access is essential when carrying out work near overhead power lines and where access and passage way is required. And to that end, warning signage, clearly visible at all times, and barriers, are both all seen as effective lines of protection and defence. Barriers must be erected at the correct clearance distance from power lines to warn of the dangers of closer approach. Safe clearance distances can be obtained from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Further essential reading includes HSE guidance document ‘Avoidance of danger from overhead electric power lines and Electricity at Work’ Controlling and managing the work activities Where work underneath live overhead power lines cannot be avoided, in addition to barriers and warning notices, the following additional actions may also be required: Exclusion – any vehicles, plant, machinery, equipment, or materials capable of reaching beyond the safe clearance distance should be prevented from coming too close to live lines. Where this measure is impractical, all equipment, plant, and vehicles that pose such risk should only be modified to include adequate restraint that cannot be tampered with, or changed readily by unauthorised persons. Movement in and around the site should be controlled by, and under the direct supervision of a suitable person appointed to ensure that safety precautions are observed and rules are followed. Frequent safety checks and audits. Induction and safety awareness training. Pat Labels Online have a huge selection of Electrical Safety Labels. We stock everything from Voltage Labels, to Solar PV Warning Labels and 17th Edition Stickers. All of our Electrical Safety Labels are dispatched inside 24 hours of receiving your order. If you can’t find the Electrical Safety Label you’re looking for, please contact our Sales Team for assistance in finding the right Electrical Safety Label for you. Read Full Story -
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If you touch a live electrical component, or wire, an electrical current passes through the body and will try to find a path to earth, and in doing so, blocks out the electrical signals between the brain and the muscles, resulting in what is commonly known as an electric shock. An electric shock, in addition to being extremely painful can result in: Unconsciousness Burns along the path of the electric current, and where the current entered and left the body contact areas Muscular spasms, and severe weakness Short, shallow breathing, and rapid pulse rate, which can lead on to serious injury, and even; Death! Electrical shock The severity of electric shock effect is dependent upon a number of things including the amount of voltage received, the parts of the body involved, the presence of moisture, and how damp the person was at the time of exposure, and the length of time the current flowed through the body. Static electricity shocks such as those that take us by surprise when getting out of a car or simply walking across a synthetic fibre carpet can pack a punch of more than 10,000 volts, but because the current flows for only a very short time, these shocks are not so dangerous. But that does not mean static electricity is safe: it can cause catastrophic fire or explosion in certain circumstances. Loss of muscle control Following an electric shock, victims often experience extremely painful muscle spasms that can fracture and break bones, or dislocate joints. Because of this loss of muscle control, very often the person is unable to ‘let go’ of the live source, and escape the electric shock. The impact of the shock can also cause a person to fall from height, or be thrown into the path of hazards, such as machinery, structures, and moving vehicles.elec Electrical burns As an electrical current passes through the human body it heats the tissue along the path of the current flow which can result in serious, disabling burns that often require major surgery. Electrical burns caused as a result of shock are usually associated with higher voltages but injuries can result from domestic electricity supplies if the current flows for even slightly longer than a few fractions of a second. Thermal burns The biggest, most devastating fires and explosions can be caused by the smallest of sparks. Be that from a single low voltage torch battery, or a spark from a damaged extension lead in a paint booth, or gas storage area, the effects can be the same – injury, death, and damage. Electrical overloading, faulty and damaged equipment, and lack of adequate maintenance, can all to lead to overheating in electrical equipment, causing it to become hot enough to burn and inflict injury. So, as can be seen, electricity poses a very real hazard, particularly in the workplace. For this reason most employers implement rigid risk assessment programmes that consider the risks, hazards, and dangers in a given area or during a specific process, to keep electricity safe and protect lives and property. Electrical overloading, faulty and damaged equipment, and lack of adequate maintenance, can all to lead to overheating in electrical equipment, causing it to become hot enough to burn and inflict injury. So, as can be seen, electricity poses a very real hazard, particularly in the workplace. For this reason most employers implement rigid risk assessment programmes that consider the risks, hazards, and dangers in a given area or during a specific process, to keep electricity safe and protect lives and property. Pat Labels Online have a huge selection of Electrical Safety Labels. We stock everything from Voltage Labels, to Solar PV Warning Labels and 17th Edition Stickers. All of our Electrical Safety Labels are dispatched inside 24 hours of receiving your order. If you can’t find the Electrical Safety Label you’re looking for, please contact our Sales Team for assistance in finding the right Electrical Safety Label for you. Read Full Story -
News
Electrical Safety First, the UK’s electrical safety charity has released market research which shows that 18 Million UK residents could be putting themselves and their home at risk because they feel too embarrassed to ask if an electrician carrying work out for them, if they are registered to the UK national safety standard (BS 7671) The charity has since launched a major consumer campaign to increase awareness of the need to use a registered tradesman, especially for any electrical work. Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety First is quoted: ‘While most of us claim to use registered tradespeople, only one in five of us actually request proof. It seems that British awkwardness is a real barrier when it comes to checking that an electrician is safe to work on your home. But with more than half of all domestic fires in the UK arising from electricity – which also causes 350,000 serious accidents each year – ensuring your electrician is registered could end up saving your life’ The charity’s website has a search function, allowing you to easily and quickly find a registered electrician close to you. The search function can be found here: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-an-electrician The authorities are also coming down hard on unqualified electricians; working without being registered is against the Electricity Regulation Act of 1999. The Act covers all of the industry in the UK. It’s not just in your home where poor quality electrical work can cause problems, businesses and organisations of all sizes are also at risk. One of the most efficient and cost effective ways of securing electrical safety for your business is PAT testing, a testing process which examines each and every portable electrical appliance used by a company. The testing is usually carried out yearly and ensures piece of mind for both company owners & employees. There are many PAT testing companies around, although some companies prefer to train a member of staff internally to carry out PAT Testing work, to avoid disruption work is often carried out on weekends. Pat Labels Online are Suppliers of High Quality PAT Testing Labels, Electrical Safety Labels and Inspection Labels. Read Full Story -
Health & Safety
While most of us know that without a fuse, a household plug, and whichever appliance it’s attached to, won’t work. A question frequently asked is “How does a fuse work, what is its purpose, and why it is important to fit the correct one?” In our world of hi tech appliances, fuses play a very important, but sometimes overlooked role which is frequently misunderstood. This can leave expensive electronic equipment inadequately protected and at risk. A plug fuse is a safety device which is connected into an electrical circuit to prevent excessive current flow during fault conditions. Upon overload, the wire fuse element heats up and melts, or blows with a resounding bang, interrupting and cutting off the current flow. The plug fuse may be thought of as an electrical safety valve which provides extra protection in addition to the main house fuse box or circuit breaker. By doing so it helps reduce the risk of electric shock and fire. All electrical appliances in the UK must be marked with the correct plug fuse rating by law. This figure is generally found on the plugs rating plate, or on an affixed label. In the UK, most household appliances with a motor and/or heating element, such as a washing machine, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, etc, will usually require a fuse with the maximum rating of 13 Amps. Appliances with a small heating element (toaster, clothes iron, electric kettle) will also need a high rating fuse of 7 or 13 Amps. Lamps, radios, small TV sets, computers, power drills, video’s, etc. with a rating up to 100 Watts (or 100 VA) need a fuse of 3 Amp rating. UK household plugs are generally fitted with either a 3A or 13A fuse. For appliances up to 700w you need to use a 3A fuse and for appliances over 700w you need to use a 13A fuse. Most appliance manufacturers have now standardised plug fuse ratings to either 3A or 13A. But take care; some older equipment may use 5 amps fuses which are still available today. Having discussed the importance of fuse ratings, the other safety aspect relating to safety and reducing risk in the home is the plug into which the fuse is fitted. Damaged electrical plugs pose a risk of fire and injury making a quick periodic check essential for peace of mind. Checking the plug and cable from time to time is simple and takes minutes at most. Check the following; With the plug removed from the socket, check the cable for signs of wear or damage. Never repair damaged electrical cables with insulating tape or join with connectors Check the cable is securely attached to the appliance and plug. Check that the plug cable is securely clamped into the plug with no plug wires showing. Check for cracks or damage on the plug casing. When replacing plugs, check it meets British Standard BS 1363. Pat Labels Online are Suppliers of High Quality PAT Testing Labels, Electrical Safety Labels and Inspection Labels. Read Full Story
