Preventing job site errors or accidents before they occur is the best way to maintain a truly safe work environment.

Being proactive is the only way to accomplish this goal. Utilizing safety identification tags, signs, and placards are an effective method for businesses to keep employees and the general public safe from harm.

Types of Safety Signage

Warning Labels & Signs

Warning labels and signs are ubiquitous in industrial environments. Take one step into a factory or facility and you’ll see dozens of warnings and hazard signs.

These signs serve to caution employees and the public from any potential hazards or risks. This is doubly true for industries which use dangerous chemicals or heavy machinery. In this instances, warning signs, placards, and labels are an absolute must.

In many cases, warning labels are not an optional decision for businesses. They are required by law depending on location and industry.

For example, organizations on the west coast are subject to California Proposition 65. This law mandates warning labels on any product or near any environment which exposes individuals to potentially harmful chemicals. Businesses are obligated to comply if they exceed certain thresholds, or be slammed with hefty fines.

Another example is elevator code data plates, which are required by ASME, or GHS labels.

Valve Tags

As the name suggests, valve tags are used to mark valves. While these tags may seem pretty straightforward, their value can’t be overstated.

Valve tags ensure the pipes and their accompanying valves are properly identified. This is incredibly important for workers. A simple mistake can mean the difference between a pipe full of water or a dangerous chemical. In addition, valve tags make inspections significantly easier to process and document.

A great implementation for metal ID tags is for steam trap valves. These valves regulate the flow of potentially hazardous steam. Steam traps are autonomous systems that don’t require frequent human intervention. So why would they need to be marked?

Since steam trap valves house high pressure steam, frequent inspections are very important to ensure all of the mechanical parts are functioning properly. These inspections prevent malfunctions, as well as potential harm or damage. With correct identification, workers will not be put into a hazardous position whether during inspection or maintenance.

Equipment Nameplates

Equipment nameplates? How are they considered part of safety?

It’s really simple: if workers are correctly utilizing equipment and tools, fewer workplace mistakes occur. Fewer mistakes means a safer and less costly organization.

Safety is all about prevention through proper training and awareness. If employees are able to quickly and easily identify correct equipment, weight tolerances, restrictions, etc., they will complete they tasks more effectively (and safely).

Sling Tags

You can’t have a discussion about workplace safety without including OSHA. The Occupational and Safety Health Administration provides strict guidelines for workplaces nationwide. Their restrictions are in place to ensure jobs sites are safe environments.

For example, wire and rope slings are a vital tool in the construction industry. They enable workers to lift and manipulate extremely heavy objects in a safe and effective manner. However, if best practices are not followed, there is great risk of property damage and bodily harm.

To combat this, OSHA has mandated that every sling must have a sling tag affixed to it. These tags indicate specific usage techniques that should be used, and weight tolerances for a given sling.

These sling tags make construction zones significantly safer and reduce the risk for error or improper use.

Similarly, cell phone tower servicers rely on wire ropes to ascend the towers safely. These must be marked with metal safety tags with anchorage and tolerance limits.

Many More

There are such a wide range of applications for safety tags that it would be impossible to cover them all. These examples should give you a fair idea of just some of the possibilities for safety nameplates.

Industries

Safety signs are used in nearly any industry you can imagine.

A few examples include:

  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Food Processing
  • Energy
  • Oil & Gas
  • Telecommunications
  • Many More!

Processes Used for Safety Signage

Just like every work environment is unique, every metal identification solution is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all fix. Fortunately, there an array of marking processes used to fit different applications.

Embossing

Embossed safety signs sport a raised design in the durable metal. These raised characters remain legible even in challenging conditions. For example, if they are painted over, the text will still be readable. This makes embossing a great process for tough environments.

MetalPhoto

The MetalPhoto process is highly versatile. It can embed any design, text, code, or image into specially made anodized aluminum material. Plus, colored backgrounds can be added, allowing for immense customization.

For safety signs, this opens up a world of possibilities. You can add a customized message with step by step rules for each piece of equipment. Include a QR code with a link to a special video reviewing the correct process for a machine, or a link to the manufacturer’s support line. Maybe a simple warning sign with a bright yellow background makes the most sense. Whatever your application requires, photo anodization can accommodate.

In addition, they are incredibly long-lasting. This process is rated for 20+ years outdoors. This makes photo anodized tags an excellent option for industrial safety signage.

Digital Printing (Labels/Decals)

Digital printing is used to print highly detailed designs on custom decals. These are used for everything from company branding to warehouse inventory labeling. In addition, they make a great choice for safety and warning signs. Their ability to have full color designs makes creating a stand-out warning sign a breeze.

Not every application requires the durability of metal identification. As such, decals and Safety is the number one priority in every organization. This is why safety signs, labels, and tags are so important. Protecting employees and maintaining a 100% safe work environment is the standard for organizations today.labels are not to be considered as long-lasting. While they will last for a significant period of time, they will not hold up as well when exposed to heavy wear and tear.

Wrap-Up

Safety is the number one priority in every organization. This is why safety signs, labels, and tags are so important. Protecting employees and maintaining a 100% safe work environment is the standard for organizations today. Make sure your company has every bit of safety it can with custom safety signs.