Emergency glow sticks are very rarely top of an emergency survival kit, but if you ever find yourself in a disaster situation, they are incredibly useful tools. Glow sticks can tolerate extreme temperatures and unlike flashlights, they do not rely on an energy source.

As a source of reliable ambient light, there is no better. Here, we list why glow sticks are more than a party or festival staple.

Resilience and Longevity

The key selling point of emergency glow sticks is their longevity and resilience. As mentioned, glow sticks can work in extreme conditions including considerably high or low temperature and volatile weather. The reaction may be significantly slower in cold conditions and faster in warmer climates, but it’ll still work.

By contrast, while flashlights are useful, they sometimes suffer in extreme conditions due to their reliance on batteries, and their usefulness in certain weather conditions is limited.

Partnering this resilience are their long-life properties. Emergency glow sticks can last up to 12 hours, so when multiple sticks are used, their longevity  dwarfs other light sources such as controlled fires and flashlights. While most glow sticks cannot reach the high light levels of other light sources, they are simply unparalleled when it comes down to consistent, low-level light.

Consistent Light Output

The consistent light output of glow sticks is what makes them such a staple. The majority of glow sticks last for a long period of time, though, some can be designed to emit a large amount of light, but in a shorter timeframe.

The consistent light output makes them suitable in areas such as cellars, places underground, tunnels, castle dungeons and sewers.

The malleability and longevity of a glow stick’s light potential is thanks to the use of dye and chemicals, which relies solely on carbon dioxide. By relying on such a plentiful element, glow sticks guarantee consistency, something that other light sources cannot.

Waterproof, Non-Flammable and Easy to Use

Glow sticks are waterproof, non-flammable and easy to use, meaning they can be used in a number of emergency situations. If you’re in physical trouble, it doesn’t take too much exertion to use, which is why they’re a staple for those going on hikes, rock climbing and other activities that could leave them potentially hurt and stranded.

The waterproof nature of glow sticks allows them to be used in floods, too, plus their non-flammable nature means there is virtually no risk to using them in any situation.

Choice of Colours

Glow sticks have a range of colours that can function differently depending on the situation. Typically, the most popular colours are green and yellow, with orange coming in at a distant third. The reasons for the popularity of these colours are their strength, but other shades can function well in certain conditions.

Usually, though, you’ll want to opt for the green or yellow shades for optimum output.

A Long Shelf Life

Glow sticks can last up to 4 years in foil packaging and 1 year out of it, meaning they can stay in a survival bag for a significant amount of time. If glow sticks are preserved in colder conditions, too, they can last even longer.

The long shelf life is another string in the product’s dependable bow. As a long-term solution to night-time and disaster safety, there is simply nothing better than emergency glow sticks.

Are You Prepared?

If you haven’t got any emergency glow sticks in your home or first-aid kit, then consider the range from Label Source.

For more on the ever-changing world of labels and safety, be sure to follow Label Source on Facebook and Twitter.

“Fire safety at work” is a phrase that gets many employees rolling their eyes– for some, there’s nothing worse than getting put through a fire drill at work or listening to fire safety information for the umpteenth time. However, fire safety is no joke, and there’s a long history of evidence as to why a well-oiled safety protocol saves lives.

Recent events in the Amazon and in France show us that fire safety protocol is something that’s only really appreciated when a crisis occurs. Having routine, procedure and an array of fire equipment safety signs works to react to and proactively prevent fires.

Here, we list how to maintain fire safety at work, from safety signs to fire drills.

Fire Equipment Safety Signs

Employers and duty holders are legally responsible and obligated to keep their employees safe. Proactively preventing fires is the safest and most efficient method to achieve this responsibility.

The best way to achieve this is by using clear, legible safety signs placed at vital points in a business’s premises. Each safety sign needs to adhere to UK, EU and international standards, including ISO EN 7010, BS 5499 and the Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996. Key areas must be signposted, including:

• Fire doors.
• Fire exits.
• “Keep shut” signs.
• Fire Action notes and instructions.
• Disabled guidance safety.
• Fire equipment (extinguishers, alarms, etc.).

These signs not only help ensure safety at times of panic, but it allows a workforce to be continually reminded of procedure for escape when on work premises. Once your signs are in place, the best way to improve fire safety at work is repetition of drills and procedure.

Repetition: The Importance of Fire Drills

Fire drills give employees a chance to practice emergency procedures and employers an opportunity to review their protocols in a safe, simulated environment. Even if you’ve properly signposted your workplace and dropped volumes of safety literature on your employees’ desks, it means nothing if you don’t put it into practice.

Primarily, the goal of a fire drill is to determine if your employees understand your fire safety protocol and can carry them out. Not only is it important to run a fire drill on a trimonthly basis, but it is equally important to review, make notes and analyse places where your fire health and safety in the workplace is not up to standard.

Alongside fire drills, reviewing the workplace with an assessment is essential in producing a watertight fire safety foundation. During an assessment, you must:

• Identify all fire hazards.
• Identify members of staff at risk.
• Identify temporary staff, contractors and on-site visitors at risk.
• Remove, reduce and evaluate risks.
• Record findings and keep on record.
• Review and update the assessment regularly and keep staff informed.

Assessments are another learning opportunity for your business, especially when used preceding or after a fire drill.

Trust Procedure

Overall, once fire safety signs are in place, drills are scheduled and assessments are rigorously undertaken, you need to trust procedure and repetition. By reminding staff, through drills, assessments and changes to business protocol, they will be more than ready should a fire breakout or threaten.  

Don’t Take Any Chances

If you wish to improve your fire safety at work, then check out our range of fire equipment safety signs. Our entire range satisfies UK, EU and international standards, keeping your employees and your business safe.

After 25 years of trading and being an authoritative voice in the ever-changing world of labels, Label Source director Colin Penfold reflects on the company’s journey and how its expertise, reach and knowledge in the industry has grown.

Label Source was formed as a limited company in September 1994, although it had been trading for two years prior to that. We had previous experience of supplying ranges of labels, signs, tapes and tags from a catalogue (as this prior to the growth of online sales on the internet). The key objective was to provide a wide selection of products in low quantities of issue to service the UK market primarily. The market place is very diverse ranging from Government Departments, NHS, Manufacturing, Education (Universities, Colleges, Schools), Construction, Facilities Management to name but a few.

Bill George, who ended up as MD of that company, joined Label Source afterwards and worked with us until his retirement last year. So between us we had over 50 years’ experience in the industry.

The aim was to select the most cost-effective method of manufacture, rather than being constrained by in-house print capacity, where efforts are sometimes used to try and fit work on machines, which they are totally unsuited.

Besides offering ranges of products to British, EU and international requirements for standard format products, another element was to provide a custom printing service, where technical advice would be given on the suitability of products so that they were fit for purpose.

An inhibiting factor in the early years was the amount and frequency of catalogues issued compared with some of our larger competitors, although many had a much more limited range of products with a concentration on health and safety signs only.

Our products are manufactured by various print processes including hot foil, screen, flexographic, letterpress, digital printing, chemical etching, laser and rotary engraving and metal pressings.

Materials are varied including synthetic pressure-sensitive films, such as vinyl, polyester, polypropylene, security materials, rigid and semi-rigid plastics, metals (anodised aluminium, brass, stainless steel in different grades), internal and external engraving laminates.

The major factor to give parity against large competitors was the advent of the internet, and particularly when shopping carts were introduced. We are now on our fifth generation website, and the last four have operated with shopping carts. These have become more sophisticated over the years, although many of the key factors have remained fairly consistent in the last 10 years, there have been trends towards more mobile purchasing.

There have been developments, especially on adhesive technology, with the introduction of super-adhesives, the improvements in availability of material substrate choice (particularly in digital printing), and laminates.

Key product types include asset marking tags, health and safety signs to latest ISO regulations, pipeline marking tapes, labels and tags, equipment marking including CE standards, quality and calibration labels and tags.

As for myself, I initially began work with AB Electronics, the Irish Export Board and BT. At BT, I was the Marketing Manager for the Label Centre, part of the BT Manufacturing Group, for six years. Here, my expertise in the industry of labels grew with my experience. As part of this job, I helped supply British Telecom, the Post Office and other organisations with several label catalogues, including safety signs. My experience at BT gave me the expertise to flourish at Label Source, as well as the industry knowledge to help make it what it is today.

Looking back, 25 years have flown by, and we’re excited to see how the industry will change going forward!

As always, if you need anything from the world of labels, check out our range and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.