Safety!

Without question, safety is the first priority in any work environment. Labeling is an essential non-verbal communication tool that can prevent accidents by identifying hazardous conditions and situations.

It would be nice to say that it's the right thing to do. In fact, it is the right thing to do, but labeling is also a requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Electric Code (NEC). Its main purpose is to protect workers and the general public from hazards that could lead to accidental injury or property damage if not identified.

• OSHA 1910.145 addresses the requirements for classifying and labeling hazardous situations.
• the National Electric Code (NEC) Article 690 specifies how photovoltaic systems must be installed from a code standpoint including proper labeling.
• The American National Standards Institutes (ANSI) Z535.4 standard defines the requirements for safety signage in the US. Although it is voluntary, it is essentially required since it represents the latest state-of-the-art labeling standards which relates to liability issues. 
• International Standards Organization (ISO) 3864 defines how safety signs and labels should be designed if products are destined for international markets.

Labeling is an important tool that communicates critical information both textually and graphically to a knowledgeable and skilled work force that perform the work from installation to day-to-day maintenance. Labels act as reminders that hazardous conditions exist if adequate safety measures are not applied.

Labeling of hazardous conditions is often overlooked as not being necessary or unimportant. In fact, labeling violations are the third highest cited and monetarily penalized OSHA citation. Liability issues from accidental injuries as a result of inadequate or insufficient safety labels are just plain bad business.

The concept of safety labeling and hazard identification started at the turn of the 20th century. Safety labeling has evolved over the last several decades; especially since the early 1990s when ANSI standards changed the design of safety labels. Labels took on a new look with graphics and more appropriate hazard identification and action statements to help individuals recognize and prevent injury. In 2007, ANSI Z535 was revised to include ISO labeling best practices, which began the harmonization of label design and a newer look for labels.

Label Comparison – Label-Wright labels vs other label options