How to Label Warehouse Racking

The core function of any distribution centre is to accurately select goods speedily and safely. The emphasis should be on picking the correct products in the chosen colour, size, type or model in the necessary quantity; this eliminates errors which will result in returns and customer dissatisfaction, along with the consequent cost to the business for replacement.

One important element in operating an efficient logistics facility is to have clearly marked warehouse locations of racking, shelves, bins, totes, trays or pallets. There tends to be a number of industry standards, which form part of any warehouse racking identification system:

• Shelves should be numbered from the ground up. This allows vertical expansion of racking, without the need to re-label all shelves.
• For all numbers less than ten it is recommended that zero is added before the number, i.e. 01, 02, 03 etc. This will allow locations to be located alphanumerically. If the warehouse is vast and exceeds 99 aisles, then numbering needs to start at 001 rather than 01.
• Labelling should be consistent to prevent picker confusion.
• Aisles should be marked alphabetically to match pick lists to create organised and efficient routes for pickers.
• Location tends to be initially labelled aisle, secondly shelf or rack and thirdly row/ bin ie aisle 01, rack 02, bin 01.
• In some instances there may be a need to create zones, such as dry goods, chilled and refrigerated.
• Labelling should be highly visible, with the best colour combinations being black on white, or black on yellow.
• Labels can be alphanumeric, with or without barcodes for scanning, dependent on the type of location. Barcodes can be either 3 of 9, interleaved 2 of 5, code 128, Data Matrix or QR, which tend to be the most popular types.
• Labels for locations should have a suitable adhesive to prevent any problems with lifting or peeling. They should be easily released from their backing to allow quick installation. They need to be installed at suitable temperatures, normally 10°C. For variable location marking another material option tend to be magnetic, which allows easy repositioning
• Labels should have laminated surface to improve their durability in the event of damage from impacts. Surfaces which are not highly glossy tend to provide more accurate and consistent scanning of barcodes.

For your bespoke warehouse rack labelling solutions, contact Label Source to discuss your requirement, browse our warehouse racking labels or request a quotation.

Certain hazards signs, along with their meanings and designs, have embedded themselves in popular thought through their prominence in media, world events and, generally, provocative designs. These three labels – the skull and crossbone, the biohazard four circles and the radiation tri-foil – are the most famous, allowing them to be some of the most well-recognised hazard signs and meanings.

Danger: Skull and Crossbone

Since as far back as the twelfth century, the skull and crossbone has been used to warn others of danger or ferocity. Originally used for military flags and insignia, it was soon associated with piracy and had developed into its current form by the fifteenth century.

Throughout the years, the symbol was quite often used on the entrances of graveyards. However, in the nineteenth century, it was adopted as a warning for poison or other dangerous substances, replacing previous symbols, such as +++ and drawings of skeletons. This came to prominence thanks to a New York State requirement in 1829 for all containers holding poisonous substances to be labelled.

In a stroke of strange local news, the sign was adopted by Cardiff Rugby Football Club in 1870 for use on their uniforms, before being removed following a campaign by the players’ parents.

Variants of the skull and crossbone label were used throughout the early twentieth century, causing conflicting issues behind the hazard sign’s meaning.

In 1986, a study in the University of Alberta determined that the most effective variant of the sign was one that is similar to the one we see today:  a white skull and crossbones in a black triangle. While the modern variant differs, the study spoke volumes for the importance of having universal and recognised hazard signs and meanings.

Biohazard Tape

The creative brief for the biohazard label read as follows: “memorable but meaningless”. This was the task chemical company Dow Chemical had to follow in 1966 when designing a new label for their containment products. Following its huge success, Science declared the sign as the gold standard for biological hazards in 1967, sparking a love affair with scientists and zombie-aficionados alike. 

Before that, biohazard labels were not effective, bordering on impotent. The US Army labs employed an upside-down blue triangle in the early 20^th century, while the Navy chose a pink triangle. The Universal Postal Convention tried pushing for a white staff-and-snake with a violet background. Thankfully, Dow recognised that this lack of proper universality in hazard signs and meanings was causing problems.

Pinning down what made the biohazard label so immediately recognisable, even one year after its debut in 1967, is tough, but its spiky, sharp design may have something to do with it.

Radiation

Alongside the above tapes, the radiation sign is easily recognised. The symbol was driven in the wider consciousness during the Cold War, plus modern disaster, superhero and war films of all descriptions tend to centre on a nuclear threat or origin of some description.

The life of this “tre-foil” design came from, once again, the United States at the University of California, Berkeley in 1946. The symbol originally came via a doodle by a research group, who wrote that the logo was meant to represent energy coming out of an atom. 

Things went quiet on the radiation front for two years when, in 1948, Brookhaven National Laboratory requested a symbol of standardised colours for use in radiation safety.

The original designs were completely different to what we see today, with the sign having a blue background with a fuchsia symbol. This background was changed to yellow by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory the same year. The symbol is still fascia in the US today, with Europe opting for a black and yellow colour scheme.

How Well Do You Know Your Hazard Symbols?

Hazardous signs and their meanings are incredibly important as science moves forward. As with most industries, the world of labels moves fast. Be sure to keep up with Label Source’s news blog and hazard sign product pages for the newest information on all things labelling and safety.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 555,000 estimated non-fatal injuries to workers in 2017/2018 and 71,062 reported by employers during the same period. 420,000 of these led to injuries which required up to seven days of absence from work, and 135,000 required more than a week off.

HSE also reports, under RIDDOR in 2017/2018, slips, trips and falls on the same level accounted for 31% of reported accidents, handling, lifting and carrying 21% and 10% were caused by being struck by a moving object. Falls from height and acts of violence were also key causes.

A year previous, the total cost of workplace injuries and ill-health was reported to be £15billion, with injury contributing towards 35% of this at £5.2billion. The majority of these costs fell on individuals, but both employers and the government also felt the effect.

Overall, there has been a general downward trend in the number of self-reported non-fatal injuries over the last two decades, which is great news for health and safety and everyone affected. However, we believe these numbers could be decreased further with appropriate safety signage.

How to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls

If you’d like to learn how to prevent slips and falls, then we have some top tips for you:

1. Run a risk assessment – ask employees about known hazards and identify problem areas through hazard-spotting.

2. Clearly mark hazards using appropriate signage and labels.

3. Keep your premises clean and well-kept, clearing spillages asap.

4. Ensure the correct protective clothing and safety footwear is worn.

5. Make a record of hazards and what you have done to rectify them. Also, encourage staff to report near misses.

Please note: We always recommend referring to The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 for legal guidance.

The Importance of Appropriate Signage

You may be surprised at how much impact a sign can make; in some cases, it can save a life.

In November 2018 a construction company was fined when a chauffeur fell to his death at a home that was under construction. The chauffeur stepped onto a blue tarpaulin that was placed over a void to prevent water leaking in and fell.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive said that the company had failed to use adequate construction site fencing and there had been no warning signs.

HSE inspector Rauf Ahmed added:

“This tragic incident could easily have been prevented. Builders need to take adequate measures to prevent unauthorised access into construction sites and prevent persons falling into open basements.”

A danger, deep excavation symbol and text safety sign could have certainly notified the deceased of the basement excavation in this case, and possibly prevented his fatal fall.

Avoid the Consequences by Utilising Safety Signage

Whether you want to notify passers-by of a wet floor or workers of excavation, we’re sure to have a suitable sign or label in our extensive range here at Label Source. Do your bit to prevent accident and injury occurring by investing in warning signs for slips, trips and falls.

One of the key objects when marking external, over-ground pipelines is that the identification tape has a longer lifespan, thus eliminating the need for costly maintenance.

Our external grade pipe identification products are constructed to meet such expectations. These two-ply tapes enable users to mark the type of pipe contents and the direction of flow. The base material is self-adhesive polyester (high-tack permanent bond), printed with colour-fast, solvent-based inks, and fully laminated with a surface layer of clear polyester, allowing the tapes to be easily cleaned. The material construction is such that it is highly resistant to abrasion, UV, salt, humidity, acid and alkali. These tapes have an operating temperature of -40°C to +150°C.

All these tapes are compliant with BS 1710 (2014) RAL colour coding, BS 4800 (2011) construction, and ISO 14726 for ship and marine pipeline marking standards. The RoHS compliant tapes are manufactured in three width sizes of 50mm, 100mm and 150mm, come in roll lengths of 23 metre, and supplied on 76mm cores.

For further information, and details on pricing, please contact our sales office by e-mail (sales@labelsource.co.uk) or by telephone 0800 3761693 (in the UK) or +44 1443 842769 (outside the UK).

As part of our custom print service, we can supply labels in different languages to cater for your export marking needs. Not only would we produce these for you, but we can assist with technical advice on the label construction to cover the following;

Compliance. To meet the relevant standards, such as CE, EAC, and ISO etc..

Operating conditions. To operate where humidity is high, temperatures are extreme (low or high), protection against UV.

Adhesion. We can recommend a range of different products for differing surfaces, whether low energy, or rough, stippled or curved surfaces.

If we can assist you on any of your labelling requirements for information, safety instructions, or operating guidance, do not hesitate to contact us.