In occupational health and safety, a tagging system is a system of recording and displaying the status of a machine or equipment, enabling staff to view whether it is in working order. It is a product of industry-specific legislation which sets safety standards for a particular piece of equipment, involving inspection, record-keeping, and repair. This sets standardized umbrella terms for equipment and machinery (e.g. machinery, scaffolding, forklift, cherry picker) to be deemed 'safe to use'. Characteristics A tagging system consists of a holder and insert, and is specifically designed for certain industries, machinery and equipment. For instance, a scaffold tagging system is designed to be used at the entrances and exits of erect scaffolding. A ladder tag system is designed to be permanently fixed onto the inside edge of all ladders that are used within the workplace or site. The majority of tagging system holders are manufactured to withstand extreme weather conditions and remain attached to its equipment. Inserts are produced from polypropylene (PP) which is heat resistant and durable under adverse weather conditions. All tagging system holders should come with an inspection warning print on the inside of the holder with space to write a reference number (ref no.), which is based on the company's system. The empty holder should have text notifying the user that the inspection record is missing and needs to be replaced (in essence, that the equipment needs to be inspected again before being deemed 'safe to use'). This notice is hidden when an insert is placed into the holder. Tagging system inserts commonly include: a ref no.; inspection dates (due and complete); inspector name, signature, and contact number; weight class; structure type; and advice and warnings that are specific to its intended industry. Inserts are often custom designed by the company and broadly are the same format and size but include branding and contact details. Use Tagging systems are mainly used in manufacturing and construction industries, but any workplace that uses machinery, tools and equipment should ensure that all these items are in full working order and that they have been inspected and will continue to be inspected for the safety of the user. Tagging system types and their uses include: Scaffold – for scaffolding structures Tower – for scaffold towers and platforms Racking – for storage frameworks, such as in a warehouse Chemical – for chemical labelling Ladder – for ladders LOLER –