National Safety Month is a good time to remember the critical role that labels play in the safe manufacture and use of durable and industrial goods. 

“Since June is National Safety Month, we want manufacturers of durable and industrial goods to consider the important role labels play in product safety and compliance,” said Jeffery Moder, chief marketing officer of WorkflowOne, a leading provider of industrial labels and other printed products. “That’s why we’re providing the checklist below to help them ensure their labels are engineered to improve safety.”

• Do you know when safety and warning labels are skipped or misapplied during your work in process? Missing warning labels can jeopardize user safety and violate state and federal regulations. WorkflowOne’s digital label technology known as OneMark™ provides kits of labels on a single sheet so it’s easier to see when required labels have been skipped during the production process. 
• Are workers and consumers able to understand your labels? Your labels should be clearly legible and written in the language appropriate for their intended readers. Since OneMark labels are digitally printed, it is easy to make copy changes so labels may be printed in multiple languages in the exact quantities needed, depending on the needs of your workforce or markets. OneMark uses UV resins in place of inks, resulting in sharper surface images and crisper characters that make labels easier to read.  
• Are your labels made with toxic materials? About 85% of all industrial decals are made with PVC material, which emits PCBs, dioxins and phthalates. OneMark labels use an inert, durable synthetic face stock (LOD PET) that is non-toxic. They can endure rugged conditions for 7 to 10 years, while still being safer for workers to handle. Many label adhesives are solvent-based and use petrochemicals, while OneMark’s adhesives are aqueous-based.
• Do your facilities “use up” outdated labels in an effort to control costs? With digital technology, OneMark labels can be economically produced in quantities as low as one, so there is less temptation to “use up” outdated labels that may no longer meet safety regulations. Label art can be easily updated to reflect the latest engineering changes, as well.
• Does label failure threaten your company’s reputation? Labels that fall off your products or are easily marred, making them illegible, can jeopardize your company’s brand image and increase your liability in potential lawsuits. While vinyl labels require a laminate for protection, OneMark labels contain a strong laminate with UV protection that resists tearing, fading and marring.
  
  

“Manufacturers often struggle to maintain an up-to-date inventory of dozens of labels for their work in process,” Moder said. “The result is waste from obsolescence and long-lead times in replenishment. With OneMark industrial marking from WorkflowOne, we offer a way to eliminate waste, obsolescence and expensive die charges through “on demand” printing of label kits. Labels can be printed in the exact quantities needed, which leads to greater operational efficiency, fewer errors and improved regulatory compliance.”

For more information about OneMark digital label solutions, visit www.workflowone.com/onemark.