Voluntary Protection Program
Safety Labels & Signs
Label Materials
 You
can have THE BEST label printer, but if it does not have the supplies
required to make the labels and signs needed to support your VPP
efforts, it is nothing more than a paperweight. Evaluating the supplies
available for a label printer is an important step before making
a label printer purchase.
The following provides an overview of the
more commonly used types of labeling supplies that might be used
as a part of a VPP. Ideally a label printer that has all of these
types of supplies available would be best. For example, although
you may not currently see a need for phosphorescent tapes (glow-in-the-dark),
a few years from now a need for emergency information that
glows in the dark may become apparent.
Industrial Grade Vinyl
The most commonly used label material is indoor/outdoor
industrial grade vinyl. Vinyl is available in a variety of thickness',
widths, colors and with various types of adhesives.
Average Outdoor Life: You should look for
machines that use vinyl tapes with a minimum average outdoor life
of five years. This does not mean all your labels are guaranteed
to last at least five years. Depending on environmental conditions,
some labels may have a shorter life and some will have a longer
life. However, a five year average outdoor life is a good rating
that will give you excellent labels.
Tape Thickness: The thicker the tape, the
sturdier the label will be. However, there is a tradeoff. The thicker
the tape is, the less flexible it will be. For most labels a 3.0
mil vinyl will provide sturdy labels. However, if you need to label
curved or irregular surfaces, then using a thinner 2.0 mil vinyl
will give better results. On curved surfaces the 3.0 mil labels
will try to straighten out, causing them to possibly come unstuck.
Look for a label printer that has both 3.0 mil and 2.0 mil vinyl
tapes available.
Tape Widths: Except for a few specialized
machines, the maximum tape width used by industrial label printers
is typically four inches. But not all printers can use four inch
tapes. Many desktop printers with built-in keyboards have a maximum
tape width of 1-1/2 to two inches. If you're looking at handheld
printers, then you are typically looking at maximum tape widths
of one to 1-1/2 inches.
There is no need to purchase a larger machine
than what you need, but purchasing a machine that is too small will
end up ultimately costing you more money because of the time lost
when larger size labels are needed. Evaluate the labeling needs
throughout your facility to determine what the maximum size will
be for the labels you'll need to make.
When evaluating your labeling needs, also determine
what the smallest size label will be. There is also a limit to how
small of a supply is available for each label printer.
If you have a wide range of label size needs,
for example you need labels that are just 1/8" wide, and you
need labels that are 4" wide, then you'll need to consider
purchasing two label printers. This size range is beyond the capabilities
of any one printer. In this case a handheld printer to make the
small labels, and a desktop machine to print the larger labels is
usually a good combination that provides versatility and convenience.
 Tape
Colors: Label color is a critical part of communication, in
particular when it comes to safety related labels and signs. The
color of a label can convey the message much sooner than the text
on the label. We can see a certain color label and immediately associate
a message--such as danger, warning or caution--with that color.
Be sure that the label printer you purchase has vinyl tapes available
in all of the key colors for safety--such as white, yellow, red
and orange. You also want to be sure that the proper colors are
available for color coding piping, valves, equipment and processes.
Plus you'll want colors available that are not safety, equipment
or process related that you can use for color coding tools, hard
hats, vehicles and locations in your facility.
Tape Adhesives: There are a variety of
adhesive types available. For most applications you'll want a permanent
adhesive. If you'll be applying labels at low temperatures, be sure
that tapes with a low temperature permanent adhesive are available.
Tapes with a lighter adhesive, allowing the labels to be repositioned,
are also available.
Repositionable Labels
Respositionable labels can be applied, then removed
and applied in another location, then removed and applied again
in another location. They are like Post-It Notes, but for industrial
labels. Repositionable labels use a lighter adhesive that does not
make a permanent bond, allowing them to be removed and reapplied
many times. Repositionable labels are excellent for labeling a warehouse
or shelves that are used for temporary storage of materials or supplies.
Low Temperature Labels
Low temperature labels were created for the cold
storage industry to allow labeling in freezers, but they can be
used anywhere labels need to be applied at low temperatures. Low
temperature labels have a special adhesive that remains flexible
at low temperatures, which allows it to bond and permanently attach
the label.
 Die-Cut
Labels
Die-cut labels are labels cut into a specific
shape, most commonly a rectangle with rounded corners, and supplied
on a paper backing. Die-cut labels are commonly used to make labels
that have a preprinted header such as DANGER or WARNING. Die-cut
labels are also commonly used to make preformatted labels such as
RTK and arc flash labels.
The advantage of die-cut labels are that
they provide an economical way to make a multi-color label using
a monochrome printer. The colored areas are preprinted on the label.
The information is then added to the label, by filling in the blanks
on the label, using your label printer.
Reflective Labels
Reflective labels are excellent for low light
areas and when labels need to be viewed from a distance. They are
also used when labels need to be highly visible.
 Phosphorescent
Labels
Phosphorescent labels glow in the dark, providing
emergency information during a power failure or blackout. They are
excellent for this type of application because they are fail-safe.
No battery or other source of power is needed. If it gets dark,
the labels will glow, displaying their message. Phosphorescent label
tapes can also be used to mark walkways, stairways, doors and the
locations of emergency equipment.
Be sure to purchase a label printer that has phosphorescent
supplies available that will provide an 8-10 hour life. (Glow for
8-10 hours.)
Wire
& Cable Labels
Wire and cable labeling is often not considered
when selecting a label printer, and eventually a second "wire
labeling" printer is purchase. However, you can get full wire
and cable labeling capabilities in a general purpose labeler such
as the DuraLabel Pro. There are two types of wire and cable labels:
 Polyolefin Shrink Tube - the labeling machine
prints on the tubing while it is pressed flat. It is then open up
into a tube; slipped over the end of the wire; and heat is used
to shrink it to a tight fit. Shrink tubes provide a durable, permanent
label.
Self-Laminating Wire Wraps - A wire wrap
has an opaque portion on which information is printed and a long,
clear "tail". The label is applied to a cable and the
clear tail wrapped around the cable so it comes around and covers
the printed portion of the label. This protects the label and makes
it durable.
Ribbons
Ribbons are an important component of labels.
There are two basic types of ribbons that can be used with thermal
transfer printers: standard industrial ribbons and chemical resistant
ribbons. Chemical resistant ribbons provide the greatest label durability,
but they can not be used with all materials. For example, polyolefin
shrink tubing can only be printed with a standard industrial ribbon.
Chemical resistant ribbons can be used with vinyl
tapes, and will result in labels that are UV, water, weather and
chemical resistant.
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