GHS Chemical Labeling Standards In Effect For All Companies In June

Last summer we posted about new regulations regarding how chemicals are labeled. OSHA is mandating a conversion to an internationally universal system called GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals). This system is already mandatory for chemical manufacturers and distributors. Starting June 1, it is now mandatory for any workplace that uses or stores hazardous materials to use GHS-compliant labeling.

GHS-Compliant Chemical Label

The GHS label system is more comprehensive than the old standard, putting the most essential information from a material safety data sheet directly on the container. It includes the exact material name, pictograms identifying specific hazards, supplier information, and instructions for handling, storage, and accident prevention/response. If the chemicals in your workplace do not comply with these standards, you will now be subject to fines.

The good news is that if chemicals are kept in their original containers, they are probably already labeled properly. These regulations already kicked in for the manufacturers and distributors of chemicals, so anything bought since then left the factories and distribution centers good to go. However, workplaces will still have to update labels for chemicals purchased before this system kicked in, or chemicals that are no longer in their original containers. Thankfully there is help available.

Avery GHS Chemical Labels

Avery's GHS Chemical Labels make GHS compliance easy with software pre-formatted to GHS standards. Fill out basic information and the software will look up the material in its database and fill out the correct details for you. These labels are also designed to stick to containers and stay legible, resisting the elements, scratching, tearing, and the chemicals themselves. With both the software and the right labels, complying with these new standards will be easy.

The Rise and Fall of the Paper Napkin

Shifts in technology and cultural evolution often change what sorts of products are relevant at any given time. Normally this is seen in fashion trends or the kinds of electronics we use. Digital media, smartphones and cloud computing have made plenty of things obsolete in the last few years. People these days are using less paper than ever. But this doesn't just apply to offices. It's also beginning to have an interesting impact on the kitchen, and a product most of us would consider a household staple- the paper napkin.

Bounty Paper Napkins

A recent marketing study found that only 56 percent of consumers purchased paper napkins in the last six months, as opposed to 86 percent for paper towels. The logic is simple: many of us, especially in younger demographics, realize there is nothing paper napkins do that paper towels can't. So why get both? Paper towels will remain an essential part of every household until the day we no longer spill anything. Turns out we can wipe our greasy fingers and mouths on them too. Instead of spending our money and kitchen space on a product with limited use, we're getting more utility out of something we all stock up on.

Marcal Recycled Paper Towels

Nobody is lamenting the fall of the paper napkin in homes. We aren't eating at home as much and we're sitting around the table even less. Even on the rare occasions when we have friends over for a proper dinner party, paper napkins have never been in fashion. Any event worth breaking out the nice flatware calls for cloth napkins instead. In fact, paper napkins only became popular in the 50s since they were cheap and disposable as opposed to cloth napkins that needed to be washed and ironed. Nowadays, disposable cloth napkins are a thing too.

Cascades Airlaid Dinner Napkins

Style experts view paper napkins the way audiophiles treat cassette tapes- inferior to vinyl records despite their popularity and hardly sad to see them go. So the next time you run out of napkins and question if you really need to restock, you're not alone. It's all right to double down on paper towels instead.

Share Your Whiteboard in Real Time with Quartet SMART kapp Boards

Electronic white boards have been around for a few years now but have struggled to gain much traction in the workplace. The reasoning was simple: a board that can scan its contents isn't much more useful than taking a picture of it, and the technology to scan in real time was finicky and relied on the markers as much as the board itself. Thankfully, Quartet now has a board that is easy to use, works with regular dry erase markers, and automatically streams real-time content to anybody connected online.

Quartet SMART kapp 84 Digital Dry-Erase Board

This board simplifies every process that posed a challenge for mobile collaboration. There's no complicated set-up: mount the board to the wall and plug it in. Each board has a QR code that will connect to a mobile app that streams whatever content is on the board live. This stream can be shared with anyone in the world through the app, providing a versatile collaboration tool for any office.

Since not everybody can make every meeting, even remotely, SMART kapp boards also can document what's going up on the board. With the push of a button, a snapshot can be created and either streamed to everyone following online or sent in pdf form to a connected USB drive. These can be viewed as a slideshow, tracking ideas on the board from inception to realization. With the ability to follow along anywhere and capture the image on the board, SMART kapp is finally the digital whiteboard we've been waiting for.

Boards are available in a 72x53 inchsize and a smaller 23x44 inch model.

Order Labels for Holiday Shipping and Receive a Gift Card!

As the holiday season kicks into gear, everybody will be sending packages. Shipping volume sees a sharp increase in these final months of the year, with FedEx and UPS hiring thousands of seasonal workers to try to keep up. If you're putting gifts or other items on the truck this year, you'll want to have labels you can print on clearly to make sure your package ends up going in the right direction. Avery, always the choice name for labels, wants to help by offering a gift card for your purchase.

Avery Gift Card Rebate

Order $75 or more of qualifying Avery products and you will qualify for a rebate netting you a $25 Pottery Barn gift card. That means that while you prepare to send presents to loved ones, you'll be able to claim something yourself! The rebates runs until the end of the year and there are more than just shipping labels eligible. You can find neon labels, labels that print all the way to the edge, and Avery's newest creation- self-laminating labels.

 

Avery Self-Laminating Labels

These print normally, but include a laminate film that applies easily and turns normal paper into a heavy-duty label. Once applied, it will resist weather, harsh conditions, and other wear and tear. Laminating ID labels are available in many sizes and compatible with any printer.

Automatically Setting Clocks Built By Not-For-Profit Chicago Lighthouse

We're all used to checking our phones for the time these days, so in many places, clocks have become as much a piece of decoration as an essential device. That's not the case everywhere, of course, as schools, factories, and other facilities still use clocks in their hallways and shop floors. You can imagine that these days, wall clock technology has improved to the point where the clocks set themselves. What you may not know is how one company is using clockmaking to train and offer jobs to people with certain disabilities.

Chicago Lighthouse Atomic Wall Clock

Atomic radio controlled clocks rely on a radio signal that can reach across the continental United States. The clock receives the signal and makes daily adjustments so the time is always correct and never runs too fast or slow. All you do is pop in a battery, set the time zone and find a place that works. Since it does need to receive the signal to work, some locations with a lot of electrical equipment (like hospitals) or buildings with metal roofs may not work right (and depending on where the signal comes in, it may need to be switched to a north-south wall or an east-west wall or vice versa), but the general rule is that if you get cell phone reception in a location, the clock will work there. This is important for large facilities, as keeping clocks accurate and changing them twice a year can be a huge burden on maintenance staff. Even if a radio-controlled clock doesn't work for your location, Chicago Lighthouse does offer several clocks that are programmed to automatically go forward or back an hour when Daylight Savings Time begins and ends (which November 1, by the way).

Chicago Lighthouse SelfSet Wall Clock

Chicago Lighthouse is one of the leading manufacturers of radio-controlled and selfset clocks, and is a worthy company to support due to their mission. It's a not-for-profit agency that offers job training skills to people who are blind or visually impaired. All of their products are made in the US, and their line of clocks are produced by employees with disabilities and serve as a major part of their vocational service and training operations.

New NFL Team Staplers

A new football season is upon us and we now have more ways than ever to show your love for your favorite team with the items on your desk. Our newest series will not only show off your colors, but even offer a rebate that will let you get even more of your favorite NFL merchandise!

3M NFL Post-It Holder and Tape Dispenser

NFL Scotch Tape dispensers and Post-It Note dispensers are still around this season. The Scotch Tape dispenser takes the form of your team's football helmet while the Post-It dispenser puts the logo on a teed football. Get these products while they're still available!

Swingline NFL Stapler

Our newest NFL product is a Swingline stapler featuring team colors, logo and name. These are the popular metal Swingline 747 model, decorated in NFL glory. Only about half of the teams are available at this time, but more popular teams like the Steelers, Cowboys and Packers are in stock.

Even better, the NFL staplers are part of a larger rebate with Acco Brands! These, along with other great items like Quartet dry-erase boards, At-A-Glance planners and GBC presentation materials, are eligible for a rebate that will get you a gift card for NFLShop.com. You could earn up to a $100 gift card, so check out all the details here. The rebate runs through the end of the year.

Get a Free Glass Marker Board By Buying A Swingline Shredder

The importance of having a paper shredder handy at your desk can't be understated. Privacy laws require certain companies to destroy sensitive information. Even when it isn't a legal issue, the risk of identity theft and corporate espionage means slicing up old credit cards and personal data offers peace of mind. Many offices don't have enough shredders to go around or overwork the shredders that are present. More shredders to accommodate more desks or departments are always a good idea, and now there's a way to get something to else to help the office- a free glass marker board!

Quartet Infinity Glass Board

Acco Brands is running a promotion in September and October where purchases of a qualifying Swingline shredder are eligible for a rebate for a Quartet glass marker board. Shredders that qualify range from small office use to heavy-duty Stack-and-Shred units that can accommodate entire departments, shredding entire reams of paper on their own while you go back to work.

Swingline Stack-and-Shred 750X Shredder

Glass marker boards are some of the trendiest office products around. They're stylish and aren't as susceptible to ghosting the way melamine boards are. Put up marker boards to promote collaboration among employees or replace outdated or worn out boards in your conference room. The better the shredder purchased, the bigger the marker board you'll get!