Asset tags have many different uses in many different settings. Here at Label Source, we aim to provide the perfect asset marking solution for each and every customer, and so our asset tags and labels come in a wide variety of different materials and designs.

But which asset tag is right for you? With so many options to choose from, it's easy to feel a little uncertain when you're trying to implement an asset tagging system. There are lots of decisions to make; for example, would you like your labels to be made of vinyl, foil, or polyester? Do you need your tags to be tamper-evident for security purposes? And what colour would you like the labels to be?

To help you through this potentially mind-boggling process, we at Label Source have put together a handy guide to the different types of asset tag we offer. If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to give us a call on 0800 3761 693 (UK enquiries) or 0044 1443 842769 (international customers).

PVC Asset Labels

PVC is a type of self-adhesive vinyl with great durability. These labels are waterproof, chemical-resistant, and able to withstand temperatures between -30 and +90 degrees Celsius. They come with a permanent adhesive that will work perfectly on most smooth, flat surfaces, and they are abrasion- and rub-resistant, so they should last for a very long time.

Polyester Asset Tags

These labels are similar to the PVC labels described above, but their operating temperature range is somewhat larger; our polyester tags can withstand any temperature between -40 and +120 degrees Celsius.

 Foil Asset Labels

Our foil labels have all of the properties listed above. Additionally, they are oil-resistant and have an even larger temperature range (-40 to +150 degrees Celsius) than our polyester labels.

 Destructible Asset Labels

Want to make sure that your labels aren't removed? These destructible labels will fragment (tear) upon attempted removal, which means that they cannot be removed cleanly.

 Tamper-Evident Labels

Another high-security option; these labels can't be removed intact, and they will leave behind a printed pattern if peeled away.

These are just some of the asset tagging options available from Label Source. We also sell cable wrap labels, jumbo-sized tags, dual labels, and more.

Another day, another silly "elf and safety" story. With a solar eclipse due to darken much of Europe for a few minutes tomorrow morning, school chiefs are reportedly planning to keep pupils indoors during the event so as to protect the children's eyes.

One ring to rule them all...

As usual, the newspapers have painted this as a case of 'health and safety gone mad', but in fairness to the school workers in question, solar eclipses can be very harmful. The sun's rays can damage human eyesight even during an eclipse, and it's important to note that only the northernmost parts of Europe will experience a full eclipse tomorrow - the rest of us will still be able to see part of the sun. In some ways, looking at the eclipsed sun is actually more hazardous than looking straight at the sun on a normal day, because your body's natural reactions (squinting, looking away) won't kick in due to the darkness.

Still, this doesn't necessarily mean that Britain's schoolchildren should be robbed of this opportunity (which, after all, doesn't come along every year). Instead, here are a few quick safety tips for tomorrow's eclipse - remember, health and safety is here to keep you safe, not to ruin your fun!

1. Know the dangers. Staring at the sun (even during a total eclipse) can cause irreversible damage to human eyes, scorching the retinas and potentially triggering a variety of ocular disorders and even blindness. If you are taking children outside to enjoy the eclipse, make it clear to them that looking straight at the sun is dangerous, and be sure to explain what may happen if they try it.
    
2. Don't look at the sun (even with sunglasses on!) No commercially-available pair of sunglasses will be sufficient to protect your eyes from direct contact with the sun's rays, so don't even try it. Of course, you can buy special eclipse glasses that are specifically designed for eclipse viewings, but be sure to buy with caution - there's no way to guarantee that every pair of so-called 'eclipse glasses' will actually protect your eyes.
    
3. Make a pinhole camera. This is a time-honoured way to view solar eclipses safely, and it can double as a fun craft project for children. Simply take a piece of cardboard and poke a pin-sized hole in the centre; then, during the eclipse, hold your card up to the sun (remember not to look!) and hold another piece of cardboard underneath. A vision of the eclipse will be projected onto the second piece of card, allowing you to watch as it happens.
    
4. Steer clear of selfies! This is one "elf and safety" warning that's totally justified - many experts are concerned that people will try to take 'selfies' during the eclipse and, in doing so, inadvertently glance up at the sun. We recommend that you stay safe and hold your selfies until afterwards!

Click here for more health and safety blogs from Label Source.

As we've mentioned previously, asbestos is extremely dangerous. Its dust can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and a variety of other diseases, and statistics suggest that 20 lives are lost every week to asbestos-related illnesses.

With this in mind, you may shocked to learn that asbestos can reportedly be found in 86% of UK schools. A BBC News article posted earlier this week claims that asbestos, which was commonly used for insulation before the turn of the millennium, is "still present in nearly nine out of ten schools in the UK - higher than previous official estimates."

If true, this news is cause for concern indeed. Last month, the Health and Safety Executive ran a #BewareAsbestos campaign, repeatedly quoting statistics about the number of tradespeople (roughly 5,000) who allegedly die from asbestos-related diseases every year. These figures were alarming enough on their own, but we are now forced to consider how much larger the numbers become when you factor in non-trade workers. The BBC report claims that 158 schoolteachers have died of mesothelioma in the last decade, and it is probably safe to assume that more have been taken by cancer, asbestosis, and the other diseases for which asbestos has been held responsible over the years.

Perhaps even worse is the thought of our children being exposed to asbestos dust. Exposure can cause serious health problems in later life, and the oft-quoted fact that 'asbestos is safe if left undisturbed' is not especially reassuring given the circumstances. After all, if asbestos exists in a school environment, the chances of it being "left undisturbed" are slim indeed!

What can be done about asbestos?
 

• Where possible, asbestos should be removed by professionals using the proper PPE
   
• Asbestos warning signs can be utilised to warn people of areas where asbestos is present
   
• We can educate people (especially children) about the dangers of asbestos using informational posters and other means

Here at Label Source, we've got quite the comprehensive range of Environmental Management Signs & Tapes. Most workplaces have an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in place, so you'll be more than familiar with our various environmental signs and tapes, however, there are still many workplaces who currently don't have an enviornmental management system in place

Recycling Signs 

Environmental management systems are designed to help you and your business organisation to reduce waste and help save the planet by helping the environment, and must comply with ISO 14001 which is a set of industry standards for environmental management systems. If your organisation doesn't currently have one in place, then there are a number of simple steps you can take to help recuce your carbon footprint and make your contribution to saving the planet. 

The added bonus of having an environmental management system in place is that it will help you keep your business costs down and you'll be wasting fewer resources. So how do you get started? 

• Encourage recycling and waste segregation by popping the correct recycling signs above your bins to ensure staff are recycling the appropriate materials 
• Make sure all of your bins have the proper wrap recycling signs on them
• Warn of any contaminated areas by ensuring the appropriate labels are in place 
• Promote energy-saving practices with signs to ensure staff turn the lights off when they leave 
• Prohibit access to spill areas with the appropriate control barrier taps 

Spill Control Barrier Tapes 

Label Source's range of environmental signs & tapes are broken down into the following categories:

• Recycling Signs
• Waste Segregation Signs
• Wrap Recycling Signs
• Spill Control Barrier Tapes
• Contaminated Land Signs
• Resource Conservation Signs & Notices
• Spill Control & Liquid Storage Signs 

Contaminated Land Signs

All of our Environmental Management products are compliant with ISO 14001 regulations, so if your business is looking to put an environmental management system in place, rest assured you're always in safe hands with Label Source. For any information about our Environmental Signs & Tapes, please call 0800 3761 693. 
Resource Conservation Signs & Notices 

You might have noticed by now that Health and Safety posts frequent the Label Source blog almost daily. As suppliers of health and safety signs and warning labels, we not only understand the importance of having the correct signage in compliance with health and safety legislations in your work place, but are also advocates for celebrating health and safety rules and regulations, which are put in place to protect us, saving lives and minimising risk. 

Over the past few months in particular, health and safety has become somewhat of a scapegoat for businesses, blaming health and safety legislations for bizarre decisions and causing public hostility towards health and safety, which is something that every one of us needs at some point in our lives in order to live a safe and risk-minimised life (wouldn't that be nice!)

Many don't actually realise how vitally important health and safety legislation is, and unfortunately through tragic accidents which make the press, we see examples almost daily of deaths, injuries or property damage due to a relaxed attitude towards health and safety, with companies in all areas and of all sizes being prosecuted almost weekly for breaches of these legislations. 

Not having the appropriate health and safety signs and hazard warnings in place can lead to fatal accidents, as these three devastating news stories show:

1. Farmer in Court over Driver's Electrocution 

A HGV driver was electrocuted to death after hitting a power line which had no corresponding safety signage or barriers.

2. Safety Failings put Finchley Worker in Burns Coma

A labourer from North London received life-threatening burn injuries in an explosion on a farm after severing a 415-volt electrical cable, unaware it was live. There was no health and safety signage in place highlighting the live cable.

3. Developer Prosecuted after Lorry Hit Power Line 

A developer in Kettering has been fined after a lorry hit a power line which caused a power cut in 11 properties. Similarly, the line had no health and safety signs. 

The important thing to highlight here is that not only do these three examples show tragic injuries and even fatalities due to lack of health and safety signage, but they also show three different cases of employers or individuals being prosecuted for their failings. Make sure that your company meets the appropriate health and safety legislations by ordering your Safety Signs from Label Source today.