Lanyards are used by many industries as part of a larger security strategy. They allow ID to be displayed at all times and reduce the risk of unauthorized entry onto company or school property. However, these preventive measures can have a downside if good judgment is not used. Employers and school administrators should consider the following information before making their next badge supply purchase:

In September of 2007, Dunkin' Donuts made a big mistake. They began giving away glow sticks on lanyards as free gifts leading up to Halloween. It seemed like a harmless marketing gimmick at the time, but a safety recall swept the nation a couple of weeks later. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued two warnings about the toys. 1. The glow stick cap could come off and become a choking hazard. 2. The cord itself presented a strangulation risk. It was a continuous loop of woven polyester with no safety release. Dunkin' Donuts recalled approximately one million of these toys. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Lanyard safety is a serious concern where children are involved. Schools and other entities that issue ID cards to children are using foresight to prevent possible injury to students. Many educational centers and school districts now have written policies in place regarding appropriate ID badge display. For example, the Milford school district in Delaware explicitly specifies the use of break-away lanyards in its K-12 dress code. Kids can safely wear these in class and during breaks.

The Peel district school board in Canada also recognizes the benefit of such preventive measures. They actually suggested cutting student's current lanyard straps in two and using Velcro to hold them together. This would act as a makeshift safety release. One problem with Velcro is that it tends to get caught on the cord fabric causing fraying. It can also tangle in hair or snag clothing. The board's other recommendation (to simply purchase new break-away lanyards) is a better idea. Units featuring high quality plastic clasps are inexpensive and can be detached and reattached many times without losing their effectiveness.

The risk of choking is not limited to the 12 and under crowd. The NSW Nurses Association in Australia has a quite a few occupational health and safety stipulations for workplace uniforms. Safety release lanyards made the top 10 on their list of uniform requirements. Employers can specify that ID be worn around the neck, but must provide the appropriate accessories. Taking this kind of simple precaution makes a lot of sense. Investing in the right type of badge display gear is a small price to pay to avoid even one workplace injury.

As you can see from the examples above, safety lanyards are becoming popular in many countries. If you currently purchase ID supplies, there is no reason not to choose a break-away cord design. Since the clasp is at the back of the neck, it doesn't interfere with the standard attachments in the front. A safety release can be incorporated into either round braided or flat woven material. You can select the color you prefer. You may also have the strap custom printed with your logo or a message such as "Safety First!"