Unprecedented times call for us all to work together for the common good. A virus that started just after Christmas thousands of miles away has arrived here and changed our society for the foreseeable future. 

Our sympathise are with all those affected by Coronavirus, wishing you well and a very speedy recovery.

We hope that Unisto, in our limited way can help. We have been providing security and control solutions for industry since the 1930s and has one of the widest ranges of security seals and accessories available on the market, much of it available in stock at our DC in Essex.

Seals in our Unisto range secure bags and drums of pharmaceuticals, the caps and taps of intermediate bulk containers, controls, valves, data cabinets and fuse boxes as well as emergency exits and of course both indicative and barrier security control of vans, trailers and freight containers. To put it succinctly, if it can be moved Unisto can secure it against unauthorised access. 

The Purpose of Seals

The purpose of security seals is essentially to provide control. Whether a freight container or a hospital trolley filled with vital drugs and equipment, the seal is a sign that a system is in operation to control and indicate that access to the contents may have been made. Whatever’s inside may well have been taken, used or compromised in some way. 

An unsealed container, be it a bag, box, trolley or freight container is open to anyone wanting to access the contents, with or without authorisation. Once sealed there is an audit trail of opening, the seal number, its markings, colour and design together, confirm that the goods inside are safe from pilferage, contamination and are as complete as they were when loaded. The seal is a unique item that secures the doors, hatches or drawers, and its systematic control, provides reassurance or flags a need for further investigation.

The first duty of a tamper evident seal is to provide signs of having been opened. Therefore it cannot be rebuilt after opening without leaving clear evidence. Staff members responsible for checking the arrival of a consignment need to know what they are looking for; a serial number is insufficient on its own.

What Seal to Choose?

The choice of seal depends upon a few factors like the type of container to be sealed, the conditions and robustness required in use. For transport applications a key question is if the consignment is to be left unattended in an insecure area? In some places just stopping at traffic lights can give enough time for an opportunist to break a simple plastic strip seal and gain access to the load. Should that be a risk then a barrier type cable or bolt seal should be used. Plastic indicative seals are suited to simple point to point deliveries of low value goods and where the load is additionally protected inside using sealed roll cages, tote boxes or bags. 

Reusable electronic seals such as C2K and Manta work well in closed loop environments, where the seal is an integrated part of the control system and is checked by a security manager or supervisor against the manifest at the receiving store. These reusable seals have either a cable hasp passed through the latch mechanism or are fitted with remote sensors that detect each door opening and changes the seal number automatically - a solution that is ideal for vehicles with more than one access door.

Reusable, electronic seals are perfect for 24/7 operations where challenging light conditions can be a problem, as they offer an easy to read, LED display and avoid management time being spent issuing and controlling single use seals perhaps with the build-up of seal debris in the yard, if not properly managed.

Safe Removal of Barrier Seals

Barrier type seals whilst providing robust security against opportunistic access can be challenging to remove. Bolt seals are made of steel up to 12mm in diameter and cutting through that requires a high level of power. Traditionally this type of seal has been removed using long handled bolt croppers and someone with sufficient upper body strength to use them. The danger of being hit in the face by a flying part of the cut seal or incurring a musculoskeletal injury caused by the amount of pressure that is needed to cut through the bolt has caused many health and safety managers to look for alternatives. 

Unisto has created a kit to safely remove barrier seals. The Unisto Bolt and Cable Safety Cutter Kit comprises a Klauke EBS12 electronically operated hydraulic bolt seal cutter, a battery charger, spare battery, scissor action cable seal snips, safety glasses and protective gloves, all contained in a clearly identified carry case. 

The Klauke EBS12 is a light weight hand-held device providing approx. 3.5 tonnes of cutting force at the blades. The blade closes incrementally, in complete safety in an easy single handed operation that allows the operator’s free hand to hold the bolt steady, preventing any flying parts. The battery provides up to 200 cuts on a single charge and a spare battery is supplied for back-up.

The removal of wire cable seals requires a different type of cut; the scissor action Greenlee cable cutters are ideal, slicing through up to 5mm security cable with ease. 

As a manager it is important to provide your workforce with everything needed to do their job in complete safety; providing tools and safety equipment together in one complete kit is critical to avoiding excuses like “I couldn’t find any safety glasses but I was under pressure to just get it done”. 

Dixons Carphone Group the electrical retailer’s HSE Compliance Officer, Hannah Frost said “the Klauke Bolt Cutter is a revelation! They are very popular. Many were sceptical at the start but now no-one can imagine going back to using massive metal bolt cutters! I’d say there were few things on campus that have had such an impact”

Unisto can Help

At Unisto providing security seals, systems and solutions for our customers and enabling your teams to work safely and efficiently is our focus. Our long serving team of security seal experts is at your disposal for advice and demonstrations which in these social distancing times can be made over video link, via Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom at a time to suit you.

www.unisto.co.uk