As the pressure continues to redevelop brownfield sites, there is the need to dismantle defunct buildings, and provide site clearance. A paramount consideration during any demolition or structural alteration of buildings is that it is conducted safely and in a controlled manner for members of staff, sub-contractors and the general public.

Hazards can be numerous and varied, and these can include;

Falling from heights. This can include falling off the edge of building structures, through openings or off partly removed floors. Risk assessments need to be made for safe access, control of work on fragile surfaces and safe use of ladders and scaffolding structures.

Falling objects. Injuries sustained from being hit by parts of the building structure or from tools or other equipment. Exclusion areas and hard hat use, together with covered walkways and reinforced cabs on machines, and use of high reach equipment should form part of any safety plan.

Collapsed structures. Injuries from crush, lacerations and entrapment. Weight loadings, age of premises, former use of premises and surrounding structures should form part of any safety assessment.

Risks from connected services. Gas, electricity and telecommunications supply needs to be isolated or disconnected to prevent accidents. If this is not possible then any pipes or cables should be clearly identified by labelling.

Noise and vibration. Dangers exist to hearing from noise generated during demolition, and power tools need to be assessed to prevent hand vibration injuries. Suitable ear protection should be made available, and all hand held power tools (electric, pneumatic or hydraulic) need to be assessed for exposure levels established.

Hazardous materials. During removal workers can come into contact with asbestos, flammable liquids, paints and acids (covered by COSHH regulations), dust hazards, and microbiological hazards (particularly for hospitals etc.). Identification of all site hazards, and supply of protective equipment to handle such dangerous substances.

Risks from outbreak of fire.  Where sparks, heat or flames are generated during demolition there is the potential for fire.  A fire plan should be regularly updated identifying escape routes, location of fire fighting equipment and fire action training.

Risks from traffic accidents. Plant mobile equipment and vehicles used to remove debris from the site. A traffic plan should be established with designated pedestrian and vehicular routes, clearly marked crossing points, with controlled access for vehicles and establishing turning areas.

Risks from rodents and insects. Potential bites, stings and inhalation of contaminated dust from urine and faeces. It is necessary to provide protective clothing (ie gloves, dust masks), and have a policy on disposal of carcases.

Label Source can assist you with safety induction of staff and subcontractors with our range of health and safety signs to the latest legislation to identify workplace hazards, mark prescribed pedestrian and vehicle routes, fire equipment and access routes, and to identify the mandatory use of protective equipment and workwear. Also, we supply a range of construction related barrier tapes and underground utility pipe and cable marking tapes.

Any labels used outdoors are subject to the effects of ultra violet rays from sunlight. To mitigate this effect which has the tendency to fade label colours, it is important to extend the label life by choosing products, which are UV stable. One such material type is external grade engraving laminate, which is durable and provides colour fast identification products for a longer period.

These labels are used on instrument enclosures for water, gas, electricity, telecommunications, local authorities, construction and rail sectors, and provide location identification, serial numbering, barcoding and operational safety information.

Such labels can be designed to your own requirement in a variety of colour combinations, and can be fixed by adhesive backing or fixing holes for screws, self-tappers or rivets.

Please contact us by e-mail on sales@labelsource.co.uk for further information or a quotation.

The pressure on organisations, both public and private, to have waste management plans is unswerving, and the challenge to improve is constant. Many EU directives have a direct bearing on the targets laid down for recycling in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Included in the legislation is the Landfill Directive 1999 laying down progressive targets for reducing disposal by landfill; the EU Waste Framework Directive covering a waste hierarchy ranging from prevention, re-use or recycling, energy recovery and disposal; and others such as The Packaging Directive for the recycling of packaging waste.

So no matter if the waste is generated by households, commerce or industry there is an ongoing pressure to improve waste performance, by diverting waste from landfill, improve recycling schemes, and a reduction in overall waste.

Label Source has a range of recycling signs to help manage waste segregation and recovery by clearly identifying waste streams on bins, containers, waste collection sites and waste treatment facilities. Our colour coded WRAP range identifies groupings of waste from automotive, electrical, mixed glass, garden waste, food waste, metals, mixed recycling, paint, plastics, textiles , building materials, and wood and timber. These are suitable for organisations seeking to implement ISO 14001 environmental standards, or for eco-audits.

Our ever popular range of plastic tags is in the process of being extended. Six extra colours are being introduced on our more popular sizes, namely purple, grey, dark blue, light green, light brown and pink. Also, there is a new size being added to the range, a 50mm x 80mm version.

All these thermoplastic polymer tags are available in 0.5mm thickness polypropylene. Despite being light in weight, the tags are abrasion, chemical and high impact resistant. Other properties include a resistance to cracking and low moisture absorption, the latter offering resistance to bacterial infection (particularly suitable in food processing or healthcare applications).

These plain, vibrant coloured tags are supplied in several rectangular and circular sizes, in packs of 500 tags. Other sizes can be produced, as well as tags with printed with customer specific information. Contact our sales office by e-mail on sales@labelsource.co.uk or by freephone 0800 3761693 (or +44 1443 842769 from outside UK) for further details or a quotation.

Many companies operate with the risk to health from exposure at work to biological agents. These bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi can cause biological infection, ranging from mild discomfort to acute or even chronic health issues. Therefore, it is imperative that such biohazard risks are identified, fully assessed and controlled.

Much of the legislation covering biological safety stems from the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and lays the foundation for effective measures to minimise or eliminate biological risks to human health.

Many health and safety measures to prevent biological infections can include controlling the following;

• Personal hygiene. To encourage regular washing of hands, and where practical supplementing with the use of hand sanitisers.
   
• First aid. All open wounds such as cuts, scratches or grazes should be washed and treated, before being covered with protective, waterproof dressings. Eye wash or emergency shower facilities.
   
• Rest areas. All meal breaks should be taken remotely away from the work area.
   
• Cross contamination. Avoid the transfer of infection from hands by contact to eye, mouth or nose.
   
• Protective clothing. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to eyes (visors face shields or goggles), breathing (masks or respirators), ears (ear protectors), hands (gloves or gauntlets), body (aprons, gowns, lab coats or overalls), and feet (overboots).
   
• Waste disposal. Contaminated waste, substances or clothing should be disposed of safely.
   
• Housekeeping. Work equipment and work surfaces should be cleaned and decontaminated, which may include sterilizing or autoclaving in some sectors.
   
• Building maintenance. Air conditioning should prevent build up or circulation of dusts or liquids, water supply should be checked for micro-organism growth (legionella), and adequate ventilation
   
• Pest control. To prevent bites and infection from waste from pests, insects or animals.
   
• Protection from injury by sharps. To prevent the piercing of skin from needles or broken glass.

It is the employers’ responsibility to identify any of the risks and accompanying preventative actions necessary as outlined above.  At Label Source we supply a comprehensive range of health and safety signs to promote good practice and endorse sound operating procedures. These include biological hazard warning signs, labels and tapes; mandatory safety signs including personal protection ranges; prohibition safety signs; first aid signs; and waste management signs.

Our customers include:

• Clinical or biomedical scientific research laboratories.
   
• Healthcare, including hospitals, health centres, dental surgeries, social care, chiropodist or acupuncture practices, and associated services, such as porters, cleaners and laundry workers.
   
• Animal welfare, such as veterinary practices, zoos, farms, kennels, catteries and stables.
   
• Social services including, social workers, care workers and custodial services (police or prison services).
   
• Horticultural services such as groundsmen, gardeners and park keepers.
   
• Waste services including refuse collectors, sewerage workers, ditch cleaners and sludge removers.
   
• Other services including undertakers, grave diggers, poultry processors, abattoirs, butchers, tattooists, hairdressers and beauticians.

For more information on the product ranges available on biological hazards please visit our website www.labelsource.co.uk or contact us by e-mail on sales@labelsource.co.uk for further information.