Correct labelling can save lives

Correct labelling can save lives

Common labelling for electrical applications include wires and cables, circuit breakers, as well as Arc Flash and Safety labels. For an electrical engineer labelling is a crucial aspect in adhering to safe codes of practice in ensuring people are kept safe.

When implemented correctly, proper safety signage and labels help to increase worker safety (and even loss of life in extreme), communicate potentially hazardous situations, and reduce costs associated with lost time from injury. 

It is extremely important to select the right label material based on the task at hand. 

Cable and wire identification refers to the labels that are typically affixed to a cable or wire for identification purposes. These labels provide a quick and easy way to identify a cable or wire and can be placed in a location that is easy to read even in hard-to-reach areas. 

The most common type of cable and wire markers are wraps and heat-shrink tubes. The recommended materials for wire and cable wraps include Vinyl, flexible nylon, and laminated wire/cable wraps. 

Heat-Shrink Tubes provide a permanent way to mark a cable or wire. DYMO heat-shrink tubes provide a 3:1 reduction ratio to ensure a secure fit. Heat-Shrink tubes vary in size, so the easiest way to determine the size of a tube needed is to know the diameter of the wire or cable being identified.

Breaker panels are commonly labelled in the electrical space and can be found in both horizontal and vertical configurations. When work needs to be done on a circuit a properly labeled breaker panel facilitates the quick location of the breaker needing to be shut off.  It is important to be able to trace which circuit is associated with the breaker that was tripped.  

Labelling breaker panels can be challenging because of the different sizes of breakers that can be placed within the breaker box.  DYMO label makers provide applications to facilitate the quick creation of breaker panel labels, regardless of whether the breaker panel has single, double, or triple pole breakers in any combination. White on Green and White on Red All Purpose cassettes provide the ideal solution for PAT Test labeling whilst the XTL label maker’s built-in Horizontal and Vertical Breaker Apps make all of your distribution board identification requirements quick and easy.

One of the most common safety labels is the Arc Flash label. An arc flash describes a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another or to the ground. The results of an arc flash are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash serious injury and even death can occur. Because of the dangerous nature of an arc flash it is easy to see why identifying the potential hazard with safety labels is important.

There are a variety of formats for Arc Flash labels, but one of the most important pieces of information being communicated on an arc flash safety label is the personal protective equipment  (PPE) requirement. Many arc flash labels will detail the different types of PPE that must be worn by anyone working on or near the equipment labeled. Pre sized DYMO XTL Safety labels assist PPE/Arc Flash Warning for HSE guideline GS38.

DYMO offers a wide variety of label materials that were designed with specific jobs in mind and standards to meet for both XTL 300 and XTL 500 Label Makers. 

DYMO XTL label makers offer the flexibility to print continuous tape, pre-sized labels, heat-shrink tubes and small format safety signage all from the same label maker. Full compliance with 17th Edition, 3rd Amendment, BS7671 Wiring Regulations can be achieved using 41mm & 54mm All Purpose DYMO XTL labels.

A full range of durable XTL labels are also available in a variety of materials and colours that fit with OSHA, UL and ISO colour and symbol standards for workplace communication and safety. 

View the DYMO XTL range at RS

Also read how to create customised labels within a minute with the DYMO XTL