As a facilities manager of any description, some of your primary roles will include health and safety, fire safety, security, and the maintenance, testing and inspection of your premises. For each of these roles you’re going to need the correct signs, labels, and tags to ensure the facilities you manage are safely maintained

Failure to meet health and safety requirements can lead to prosecution, insurance claims, loss of business, and of course injury. Luckily, at Label Source we sell a range of safety signs from hazard signs to mandatory safety signs, all of which ensure regulations are met by the general public.

When it comes it fire safety we can also assist facilities managers in their duties. Our fire equipment safety signs inform the public where all extinguishers, fire hose reels, and alarm call points are, making sure your area is fully protected in case of an outbreak of fire.

And of course when it comes to correctly labelling maintenance and testing items, we have your back fully covered! From plant maintenance labels to PAT testing labels, we sell only high-quality signs and tags that meet all the government regulations.

What’s been mentioned is literally only the tip of the iceberg, if you are a facilities manager and need help sourcing a vast array of quality labels, signs, and tags, come on over to Label Source and we’re certain we can assist!

We understand that for most of you the where’s, why’s and when’s of PAT testing can leave you feeling a little perplexed. Because of this, we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions and then answered them – because we can do a lot more than just offer you a selection of PAT testing labels, oh yes.

Should I Test My Portable Electrical Appliances Every Year?

The Electricity at Work Regulations act from 1989 states that any equipment with potential to inflict harm needs to be kept in a safe condition. It does not however specify what needs to be done, by whom, or indeed how frequently - so there is no legal obligation for annual inspection.

Should I test Any New Appliances?

As all new equipment should come fully tested and in a safe condition it should not require more than a visual examination. This means you should have no compulsion to purchase PAT testing labels from the go.

Should I Get a Qualified Electrician to Perform Any PAT Work I Need Done?

For basic PAT testing in low-risk environments, a sensible and competent member of staff can carry out inspections with the right training. When carrying out testing and inspection the member of staff will require the correct equipment and PAT testing labels, the ability to use such equipment, and the ability to correctly analyse the results.

Is it Compulsory to Conduct PAT Testing?

Simply put, no. What the law does state is that the employer knows electrical equipment is maintained in a safe order. The law also recommends taking a risk-based approach – think about the type of equipment, what it is being used for, and how often it is being used e.g. something in frequent use like a kettle may be a suitable candidate for PAT testing labels.

As paranoid as it sounds, CCTV is everywhere; whether you’re in a shop, waiting for a train, or just out for a walk, there’s a pretty good chance you’re on camera!

Of course, closed-circuit surveillance systems are a huge boon for businesses who want to cut down on crime. CCTV cameras are particularly popular in convenience stores and other small shops, where they are used to spot any suspicious behaviour and catch shoplifters red-handed.

Do you use CCTV cameras?

If so, you need to put up some CCTV warning signs! Not merely because it’s courteous, but because you’re actually obliged by law to do so – several acts of parliaments have been passed to regulate the use of CCTV, including the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Basically, people have the right to know when they are being filmed, and so it’s your responsibility as the CCTV operator to notify them. Of course, those CCTV signs benefit you as well – people are less likely to shoplift in the first place when they’re aware of the cameras that are pointed at them!

Reasons to put up CCTV signs:

• Meet the necessary legal requirements
• Discourage criminals
• Reassure customers/visitors that they are protected from crime

Order your waterproof, vandalism-resistant CCTV signs from Label Source today!

We're a sensible bunch here at Label Source, but even we don't like to take ourselves too seriously all of the time. This short blog is all about traffic signs, and divulging a few - perhaps pointless - facts related to them; just think how impressed your mates will be when you start reciting traffic signs trivia!

1. Traffic signs have been around since the time of the Roman Empire. Using pillars or milestones the Romans would let travellers know just how far away they were from the great city.

2. Double yellow lines were first introuced to the UK in 1960, by the Road Traffic Act of 1960.

3. Pedestrian crossings have a small metal or plastic cone on the underneath of them which spins as the green man appears.

4. There is a genuine correlation between the number of road traffic incidents and the condition of the signs in that area.

5. The colour red was first used as a stop signal as it symbolises blood, and so is the logical choice to get people's attention, and warn them of perils.

We all see traffic signs most days, but how many of us actually know what they mean? Of course we have a good understanding of the general jest (or at least we’d hope so), but do you know exactly what traffic signs are asking you to do?

Now we are not going to go through every single traffic sign and explain what each one does as it would take up far too much of your time – and it’s pointless anyway as there is a highway code for that! Instead we thought we would talk you through some of the rules traffic signs follow.

If you see a red triangular sign of any description this will indicate a direct warning to the road user. These warnings could include anything from junctions to upcoming obstructions, and of course the signs apply to cyclists, riders and pedestrians too, as they're also road users.

The next type of signs you will notice are red circular signs, these indicate an order or orders. Again these signs are applicable to all road users and contain information such as the speed limit on that particular stretch of road. 

Another type of sign you will encounter on British roads are larger rectangular ones such as these direction ones found on motorways. Although the particular one we have chosen is green, you can expect to find these in a variety of other colours, all of which indicate the direction of a place.

The last type of traffic sign you will find indicates information of sorts. These signs inform road users of potential hazards like lane restrictions and merging road lanes, for example. These signs can also come in an assortment of different colours, though they are usually rectangular.