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Id Card Accessories Explained

ID cards do little good if they spend all day in an employee’s wallet or purse.  They are intended to be worn in a visible and easily accessible place.  With all the accessories available on the market for displaying badges it is easy to find the perfect fit for any work environment.

Metal and plastic badge clips are the most direct way to attach IDs to clothing.  The plastic variety is gaining in popularity since it has no rough edges and the tiny teeth are gentle on fabrics.  Employees can further reduce damage to clothing by wearing a badge clip on the bottom hem of a shirt or jacket rather than on the edge of a pocket or lapel.  The least expensive clips come on a simple loop but they may also be incorporated into a holder or lanyard for a more polished look.

Clear plastic badge holders protect ID cards from exposure to the elements and keep them from being scratched and scuffed.  They also offer a way to loop the holder onto a swivel hook or badge clip without having to perforate the card itself.  This is helpful when the card has a magnetic stripe and can’t have a hole punched at the correct orientation without redesigning the entire graphic.  Credential holders and arm band badge holders offer additional options for displaying IDs in a professional manner.

A retractable badge reel allows an individual to clip the badge directly to a belt loop for super easy access.  Users can swipe a card in a time clock or access control device without unclipping the badge.  They can just pull out the ID and let it zip back into place afterward.  The retracting mechanism may wear out over time and have to be replaced, but the convenience is well worth the investment.

Badge lanyards come in round braided and woven ribbon styles.  Flat woven lanyards can be real fashion accessories and come in colors and prints to suit every taste.  They can also be custom printed with company logos for advertising purposes.  Buying an assortment of colors and letting employees pick their favorite is a good way to encourage compliance with ID wearing especially if a corporation is just introducing the practice.  Trigger hooks, bulldog clips, rings, and swivel hooks offer many ways to attach the badge to the lanyard so that it lies flat against the chest.

Safety release lanyards are designed with one or more breakaway sections that cause the strap to detach from around the neck when sufficient pressure is applied.  They are a must have item any time children will be issued lanyards since kids may be at risk for injury while playing.  These are also ideal for many manufacturing environments, offices, and outdoor settings.  Magnetic style breakaway clasps should not be used around certain types of machinery since they may be attracted to the metal and end up causing the type of hazard they were designed to avoid.  For employees who will be bending directly over equipment as part of their job the short badge clips are still the best option.

Daisy Mccarty