Telecom Safety Signage for Underground Installation

Underground installation of fiber optic cables for digital infrastructure utilizes different methods depending on various factors from terrain to cost to local codes.  Whichever method is chosen, safety identification is common to all.

In underground installations, fiber optic cables are housed in protective tubes or conduits.  These are buried by open trenching or boring techniques.  The fibers are pulled or injected through the conduits in segmented lengths.

Cable access varies depending upon the depth of the installation.  Smaller cable access boxes are typically used for shallow depth cables.  Deeper burials can utilize cable vaults with manhole access or they can be run through cable tunnels.

Tagging, labeling and identifying telecom cables for safety, cable type, ownership and location takes different forms and must be durable and resistant to moisture and the elements as well as being tamper-proof.

How are telecommunication cables identified to know what they are and what company owns them?

Snap Around Cable Markers are pre-curled PVC with elastic memory.  They open to accept the cable and then snap around it for a secure fit.  These cable markers are pre-printed with customized information such as the cable type and ownership information.  They can accept cables up to 3.25” in diameter and come in various color combinations.

Fiber Optic Cable tags are pre-printed on PVC with space for entering your custom information such as fiber type and count.  They are also available as blank tags.  Each fiber optic tag has 6 slotted holes to allow for attachment to cable bundles with nylon ties.  Self-laminating covers protect information from moisture.  Tags measure 2” x 3.5”.

Underground residential transmission (URD) tags provide another format for marking underground telecom cables.  These PVC tags are blank and can be written upon with pen or pencil and sealed with a self-laminating cover for protection against corrosion, moisture, and tampering.  Sizes range from 1.5″ x 3.0″ to 2.5″ x 5.75″.

How to find buried telecom cables?

Buried Detectable Utility Line Tapes are printed on an aluminum core so that metal detectors can identify their location underground.  This allows for locating without excavation.

Tracer Wires are installed along utility and telecommunications lines to trace their locations conductively for detection above ground.  A transmitter emits alternating current to the tracer wire for detectability by a locator above ground.  Various construction types, gauges and colors are available to accommodate different utility, telecom, and construction installations.

LEM Products, Inc. offers many standard safety and cable identification tags and labels for the telecommunications industry.  If you need a customized legend or text on a label or tag, contact us today.

Telecommunication Cell Tower Safety Signs & Labels

Cell towers are an integral component of our modern telecommunications network. Towers receive the radio waves from cell phones and repeat those transmissions to switching centers to send the calls to other phones or the telephone network.

There are hundreds of thousands of cellular towers in the United States alone. Each site requires maintenance and security and safety for the maintenance technicians. Maintenance is performed at ground level in the equipment shelters and power supplies to the tops of the antennas which can be several hundred feet up in the air.

How are Cell Towers marked for safety and security?

Cell towers that are not mounted on the tops of buildings require security to protect the public from the dangers of the equipment. Perimeter fencing typically encloses the tower and the ground structures. Proper safety, warning and regulatory signage can consist of the following sign types:
• ASR Number Sign: This displays the identifying F.C.C. Antenna Structure Registration number of the cell tower.
• Danger Radio Frequency Radiation Hazard Sign: This warns of the health hazards including severe burns from close and prolonged exposure to the dangerous radio frequencies.
• No Trespassing Signs alert that the area is private property and denote any associated penalties and fines.
• Danger High Voltage Signs: These signs warn of the dangerous voltage from utility lines, generators and the cell tower that can cause severe injury or death.
• Video Surveillance Signs alert that the enclosure uses video cameras for security surveillance.
• Do Not Climb Signs: These signs warn of the dangers of climbing the tower including high voltage, electrocution, radiation, and slip-and-falls.

Technicians climbing cell towers face dangerous conditions. How are these marked?

Inside the tower enclosure, there are additional safety signs and labels for the technicians servicing the tower:
• PPE Signs denote the required personal protective equipment, gear, and clothing for climbing the tower such as harnesses, hard hats, protective eye wear, boots, gloves and more.
• Nesting birds, bees’ nests and wet or icy conditions can be sudden and unexpected causes of potential slip-and-falls. Fall Protection Signs dictate the proper fall protection gear required for climbing such as full-body harnesses, shackles, slings, pulling rope, capstans ad lifts.
• Falling Objects Signs warn of the dangerous injuries from dropped objects ranging from a roll of tape to a metal wrench.

How are electrical equipment and wiring identified for technical personnel who maintain the cell towers?

Electrical Identification for equipment, wires and cables ensures that the routine maintenance and repair operations maintain safety standards and clearly identify the components, the procedures, and any associated hazards. OSHA Compliant labels, tags and signs utilized include:
• Lockout tags are used in the equipment shelters to lock out power to equipment during maintenance and repairs.
• Arc Flash Labels warn of the danger of an arc flash from proximity to high voltage equipment and for the need for proper PPE.
• Cable Markers identify the cable type such as Fiber Optic and other styles. They are available in two styles: snap-around and clip-on format.
• Voltage Markers denote the voltage level for equipment, transformers, circuit panel boxes and more. The come in three sizes to fit varying applications.

Cell towers are just one of the many sectors of the telecommunications industry. Safety identification labels, tags and signs by LEM Products, Inc., a Trident Company, are a critical part of maintaining safe conditions for industry personnel and the public.

LEM Manufactures the Best of Safety Identification in New Video

For over 50 years, LEM Products, Inc., a member of the Trident group of companies, continues to manufacture industrial safety identification decals, tags, signs, fleet graphics and other durable electrical and industrial identification products that are used to mark sites, facilities and equipment for OSHA and ANSI compliance and corporate branding and asset management.

LEM Products Inc. is located near Philadelphia, PA and has been manufacturing American Made Industrial Safety Identification since 1967.

Operations Manager Jeff Kulp and VP of Sales Tim O’Connor speak to the multitude of processes and the excellence of LEM’s manufacturing capabilities in a new video about the company.

LEAN manufacturing, Kaizen principles and continuous improvement with technological advancements in equipment and processes enables LEM Products, Inc. to provide the ultimate product performance and durability in the most extreme conditions.

This industry leader provides clients with a variety of different products that are integral in the  Maintenance, Repair and Operation (MRO) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) industries.

Additionally, LEM tags, labels and signs are used by watercraft and wind turbine manufacturers, underground and aerial utility facilities, and for many other applications, and are available in multilingual versions and custom constructions.

LEM Products Inc. continues to develop business relationships with national & international supply chains to provide organization, rapid response and product fulfillment to the customer.  The Company culture is based on Best Practices, Client Respect & Excellence.

Are switchgear tags the same as lockout tags?

Not exactly.  They are similar.  You might say they are in the lockout family.  Switchgear tags, like lockout tags, serve as very important electrical markers of safety to alert employees that equipment is locked out for maintenance and repair.  They are widely used in the electrical transmission and distribution industry.

A lockout tag indicates that a piece of machinery or equipment has been:

• shut off
• disconnected from all energy sources
• de-energized
• bled of any stored energy
• tested to make sure it is not operational

All of this is verified, and the machine is locked out before any maintenance or repairs can commence.

Because field conditions are constantly changing in transmission and distribution applications, the switchgear lock out tag out tags are customized with pertinent headings concerning clearances, authorizations, holds and requirements pertaining to switching and tagging procedures.  Additional blank fields for hand-written information are provided for on-the-spot recording of changing conditions.

Specific legends categorize and highlight special conditions and safety features such as:

• Hold (on/off), Secure (on/off) and Unsafe (on/off)
• Date / Time Tag Placed
• Verified by
• Switchman’s Name / Truck #
• Operator’s Name
• Work Authorization #

Since some switches are not lockable it is critical that this electrical marking information is clearly posted and protected.  The NEC requires it so that a verifiable record of field conditions, changes and actions is available to all personnel, supervisors and field technicians.  This maintains the safest conditions for switching and tagging processes to proceed.

Switchgear tags have spaces to accept hand-written information from the field and can be written on with pen, pencil or permanent marker.  Switching Tags have self-laminating covers on one or both sides of the tag which protects any hand-written information from the elements and tampering.  Tags are made from 20 mil PVC and are available with plastic, non-conductive grommets.

May is National Electrical Safety Month.

What Does That Mean?

National Electrical Safety Month happens every May.  It is highlighted by many national companies and agencies such as NFPA, NEC, ESFI and more. Goals include:

• Creating awareness about electrical hazards a home, in the community and in the workplace.
• Educating about the steps that can be taken to reduce electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2003 and 2010, out of 42,882 occupational fatalities 1,738 were due to contact with electric current.  The highest number of fatalities was in the Construction industry at 849.  Of that total:

• Electricians, construction laborers, roofers, painters, and carpenters comprised 32% of electrical fatalities.
• Electrical power line installers and repairers about 8%.

Workers often find themselves in environments where they are exposed to unseen electrical hazards.

An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy through the air.  It occurs when there is a high-voltage gap between conductors.

• The arc flash gives off high heat and bright, intense light.
• This can cause burns and other injuries.
• Temperatures have been recorded as high as 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Exposure can burn skin and ignite clothing.

OSHA compliant arc flash labels, such as those manufactured by LEM Products, Inc., warn of the dangers of arc flash and indicate the proper steps to avoid injury or death.  They also indicate that proper PPE be worn.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comes in many forms such as:

• Hard Hats
• Gloves
• Safety Goggles
• Safety Shoes
• Flame-resistant Shirts and Pants
• Face Shields

Workers are continually subjected to dangerous releases of power during routine maintenance ad repair operations.  The Lockout Tagout procedure is a critical safety component designed to protect against serious injury and death in these situations.

• One of the top OSHA violations I non-compliance with Lock Out Tag Out.
• The Lockout Tagout procedure safeguards workers by:
  • Isolating machine energy sources.
  • Bleeding stored energy.
  • Verifying that switching is off.
  • Testing that the machinery is not operational before repairs or maintenance begin.

Make workplace safety, especially electrical safety, a priority.

• Create a Safety Team to monitor and report conditions.
• Comply with applicable codes
• Follow safety procedures
• Use proper PPE
• Display safety warning signs
• Utilize trained personnel

LEM Products, Inc. is thrilled to win not one, but two TLMI awards for the third year in a row!

These awards for technical achievement in printing were recognized with a prestigious industry honor at the 44th annual Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) Awards Competition.

So What is TLMI and why is it important?

The Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) is a member association of professionals in the label and packaging printing industry.
Every year, for the past 44 years, the competition recognizes and honors the finest efforts of converter members throughout the previous 12-month period.

The TLMI Annual Awards Competition aims to stimulate innovative printing and recognize technical achievement in all areas of the narrow web industry including:

• Tags and Labels
• Cartons
• Flexible Packaging
• Non-Woven Pressure-Sensitives and more.

In what categories did LEM win?

LEM Products, Inc. received the 1^st Place award for the Danger Do Not Operate Tag for PEPCO Holdings, an Exelon Company.  The Award slot:

• Excellence in Technical Achievement in the Printing of – Tag – Industrial and/or Systems.

We also received the 2^nd Place award for the Circular Clear Cover Calibration Labels in the same category.

 

What characteristics of these tags helped LEM select them for submission to the competition?

• Technical complexity of construction
• Uniqueness of application
• An actual product used by a customer
• Durability
• Quality of construction

“Our focus on design standards and quality along with the technical expertise of our team enabled LEM to triumph in a category that resonates with our customer base,” said Vice President of Manufacturing, Tom Wells, adding, “We are all very proud of this achievement”

Trident Solutions, Inc. (“Trident”) of Sherman, TX, would like to announce the acquisition of LEM Products Inc. (“LEM”). The acquisition closed on December 17th, 2021. River Associates and Trident worked diligently to complete the transaction in just under two months. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

LEM is a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of industrial identification products, including labels, tags, markers, decals, and signage. Founded in 1969, LEM’s products are used in a wide variety of end markets, including Electric, Power and Renewable Energy, OEM, Security, and Government. LEM will retain its current name and will continue operations, and support services at the manufacturing facility in Montgomeryville, PA.

“Trident is pleased to announce its recent acquisition of LEM Products,” said Lisa McGregor, CEO of Presco. “The addition of LEM is entirely aligned with Trident’s vision to become a leading source for safety marking, identification, and damage prevention solutions in the infrastructure, construction, and OEM markets. With its vertical integration, LEM brings a broad line of innovative products and manufacturing capabilities. The addition of LEM will provide Trident’s customers with a broader range of safety marking and identification solutions while expanding Trident’s geographical presence . The family of Trident of companies is looking forward to serving existing and new customers with the expanded products and manufacturing capabilities.”

“The team at LEM Products Inc. is thrilled at the opportunity to join the Trident family,” commented Maureen O’Connor, CEO, and President of LEM. “I am confident that this merger of two entities will continue to support our mission to provide our customers with unique industrial identification solutions and safeguard the level of excellence our customers have been accustomed to. This is not a step we take lightly, and we are eager for the next chapter of innovation and excellence with Trident.”

Together with its platform company, Presco Polymers Opco, and previous acquisition of Pro-Line Safety Products (Pro-Line), William Frick (Frick), and Rhino Protection & Marking Systems (Rhino), Trident is a manufacturing based solutions provider of safety and requirements markings, identification and damage prevention products to infrastructure, construction, and OEM markets. The addition of LEM to the Trident family further supports a leading safety marking and identification products platform with superior scale and capabilities, improving Trident’s ability to serve as a “one-stop-shop” for these products with its customer base.

Formed in 1943, the platform company of Trident, Presco Polymers, manufactures safety marking products along with extruded engineered films and laminated products in a manufacturing facility in Sherman, TX. Pro-Line manufactures tracer wire and safety marking products, including detectable and non-detectable tapes for underground marking and locating. William Frick is a manufacturer and value-add reseller of specialty labeling and marking products. Rhino manufactures marker posts and other related damage prevention products, including surface markers, decals, and signage to a wide variety of end markets.

Trident’s management team continues to seek complementary strategic acquisition partners. Trident Solutions is a portfolio company of River Associates Investments, a longstanding lower middle-market private equity firm based in Chattanooga, TN.

Montgomeryville, PA — 04/27/2021 — Over the course of its fifty-plus years in business, LEM Products Inc., a manufacturer of industrial safety identification labels, tags and signs for OEM and MRO, has enjoyed continuous growth, thanks to an unwavering commitment to high-quality products, consistent innovation and an expanding global network of buyers and distributors. In part, the company owes its success to its team of resourceful, growth-oriented employees. Recently, LEM expanded its team once more and welcomes Kerry James Ansell as the new Strategic Account Manager for the US Territory.

Kerry brings 20 years of extensive sales experience in the OEM, Industrial, MRO, Commercial, Utility, Data, Oil and Gas, Construction, Pipe and Fence, and Government verticals.

Kerry was with WESCO Distribution for 14 years. He covered 6 states and was successful calling on Utilities, Municipalities and OEM’s. Most recently he has been working for Merchant Metals and National Fence and Construction Company in the Gulf Coast region.

Kerry holds a BS in Business from Liberty University and an MBA from Geneva University. Kerry has four children and is currently relocating from Houston to the Northeast.

About LEM Products, Inc.

LEM Products, Inc. is an industry leader in the manufacture of identification products that protect people by identifying potential hazards, provide instructional and facility/site safety information. Precision manufacturing, a dedication to customer satisfaction and a commitment to achieving corporate targets for growth and social investment set LEM apart in the industry.

LEM Products, Inc. is a WBENC certified company with the reputation as a leading safety identification supplier in North America and beyond. They are certified by the California Public Utilities Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Business placed with LEM Products, Inc. qualifies for Federal and State Diversity Spend initiatives.

For over 50 years, LEM Products, Inc. has been providing wire marking, pipe marking, safety signage, lockout tags and other products to utilities, corporations, and manufacturers to mark facilities and products for OSHA/ANSI compliance and safety. Maureen O’Connor, CEO, has received numerous awards for her leadership, her commitment to diversity in the workplace and community involvement.

LEM has built a solid reputation, across industries as a dependable supplier of industrial products ranging from safety labels and safety signs to lockout tagout to custom tags and more.

LEM proudly welcomes Kerry James Ansell to the team.

For regulatory compliance and American Made Labels, you need an industrial label convertor you can count on. LEM products Inc. is a proven partner with over 50 years of printing, imaging, and converting experience. We provide American Made Labels for UL and other regulatory labels that comply with warning label standards.

• LEM Products, Inc. is an Authorized Label Supplier – 100% Made in America
• Regulatory Labels & Your Product Labeling Requirements
• CE Labels, CSA Labels, ANSI Labels, CARB Labels, Prop 65 Labels & UL Labeling

Customers have turned to LEM Products Inc. to manufacture the custom labels they require for power tools, electronics, outdoor power equipment, recreational boats, electric transformer boxes, wind turbine components, train chassis, wire and cable and more.

In addition to delivering regulatory labels with crucial hazard information, industrial labels made by LEM products Inc. are demonstrated to adhere securely and remain readable in the toughest of environments.

Regulatory Labels Must Meet Product Labeling Requirements & Label Regulations

The UL label is the most widely recognized of the product warning labels, but there are a number of other regulated labels as well. Others include Proposition 65, CE, CSA, ANSI, and CARB emissions labels, just to name a few. Each warning label is designed to communicate regulatory compliance with a specific set of label regulations and standards. By necessity, strict design parameters are associated with design, dimensions, and colors of these labels to establish its legitimacy.

LEM Products Inc. is AN Authorized Label Supplier.

If you are seeking an Authorized UL label convertor to manufacture your industrial labels you need to ask for their UL documentation.  This is a very high area of counterfeit activity and you need to protect yourself by asking the right questions.  Do not take a chance, give us a call and we will provide the products and services you require.