| Lanyards are used by many industries as part of | | | | student's current lanyard straps in two and using |
| a larger security strategy. They allow ID to be | | | | Velcro to hold them together. This would act as |
| displayed at all times and reduce the risk of | | | | a makeshift safety release. One problem with |
| unauthorized entry onto company or school | | | | Velcro is that it tends to get caught on the cord |
| property. However, these preventive measures | | | | fabric causing fraying. It can also tangle in hair or |
| can have a downside if good judgment is not | | | | snag clothing. The board's other |
| used. Employers and school administrators should | | | | recommendation (to simply purchase new |
| consider the following information before making | | | | break-away lanyards) is a better idea. Units |
| their next badge supply purchase: | | | | featuring high quality plastic clasps are inexpensive |
| In September of 2007, Dunkin' Donuts made a big | | | | and can be detached and reattached many times |
| mistake. They began giving away glow sticks on | | | | without losing their effectiveness. |
| lanyards as free gifts leading up to Halloween. It | | | | The risk of choking is not limited to the 12 and |
| seemed like a harmless marketing gimmick at the | | | | under crowd. The NSW Nurses Association in |
| time, but a safety recall swept the nation a | | | | Australia has a quite a few occupational health and |
| couple of weeks later. The U.S. Consumer | | | | safety stipulations for workplace uniforms. |
| Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued two | | | | Safety release lanyards made the top 10 on their |
| warnings about the toys. 1. The glow stick cap | | | | list of uniform requirements. Employers can |
| could come off and become a choking hazard. 2. | | | | specify that ID be worn around the neck, but |
| The cord itself presented a strangulation risk. It | | | | must provide the appropriate accessories. |
| was a continuous loop of woven polyester with | | | | Taking this kind of simple precaution makes a lot |
| no safety release. Dunkin' Donuts recalled | | | | of sense. Investing in the right type of badge |
| approximately one million of these toys. | | | | display gear is a small price to pay to avoid even |
| Fortunately, no injuries were reported. | | | | one workplace injury. |
| Lanyard safety is a serious concern where | | | | As you can see from the examples above, |
| children are involved. Schools and other entities | | | | safety lanyards are becoming popular in many |
| that issue ID cards to children are using foresight | | | | countries. If you currently purchase ID supplies, |
| to prevent possible injury to students. Many | | | | there is no reason not to choose a break-away |
| educational centers and school districts now have | | | | cord design. Since the clasp is at the back of |
| written policies in place regarding appropriate ID | | | | the neck, it doesn't interfere with the standard |
| badge display. For example, the Milford school | | | | attachments in the front. A safety release can |
| district in Delaware explicitly specifies the use of | | | | be incorporated into either round braided or flat |
| break-away lanyards in its K-12 dress code. Kids | | | | woven material. You can select the color you |
| can safely wear these in class and during breaks. | | | | prefer. You may also have the strap custom |
| The Peel district school board in Canada also | | | | printed with your logo or a message such as |
| recognizes the benefit of such preventive | | | | "Safety First! |
| measures. They actually suggested cutting | | | | |