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A lanyard is a cord or string, sometimes referred to as a shoelace, that is worn around the neck or wrist with an object attached. Perhaps the most common use for a lanyard is to have a small plastic pouch containing an employee or visitor’s ID attached to it. They are now an everyday sight at many workplaces and are often required wearing for employees. While that may be a very common use for lanyards, it is by no means the only use.
Originally, lanyards were used by the military. They were styled from corded rope and worn across the shoulder where they usually held either a gun or a sword. The original intention was to enable a soldier or officer to keep hold of his weapon in situations where it was likely it could be easily lost, such as at sea, or by cavalry soldiers although they have since become a more decorative part of military uniforms, often denoting rank or regiment. Today lanyards are often used for the same purpose. Electronic items are getting smaller than ever, and are used increasingly more especially in the workplace. Thus, it is not uncommon to see people keeping track of their USB drives and other small devices by attaching them to a lanyard and hanging them from their neck. Another item that seems to frequently be misplaced are keys, thus key lanyards are also commonly used these days especially in situations where doors are constantly being locked and unlocked such as at pools and gyms. Security access cards, which oftentimes double as ID cards, are also often worn on security lanyards.
In situations where employees work around machinery, yet are required to show their ID or wear other lanyards, safety lanyards are usually the type of lanyard that is chosen. These lanyards, often also referred to as breakaway lanyards, are specially made so that the lanyard will come off easily should the lanyard become entangled in any machinery. Usually they are fastened at the back with Velcro which stays securely shut under normal everyday use, but that will snap open should the lanyard become tangled up in heavy machinery.
Another popular use for lanyards is to use them as promotional items at trade fairs, factory tours, and on other business orientation occasions. There are many suppliers who offer to make promotional lanyards for customers, and while these do cost a little extra and take time to design and produce, they offer great opportunities for future promotion and advertising. Commonly, promotional lanyards are printed on polyester material. Almost anything can be printed onto the lanyard although companies usually either print their logo and their company name or just the company name. These promotional lanyards are also often used by charities to help promote their cause. They also accompany equipment that is sold, such as cameras, where they are printed with the name brand of the equipment.
Blank lanyards can be bought in most office supply stores, such as Office Depot and they are often found in the sports section of stores. You can buy a single lanyard or you can buy a whole box of cheap lanyards in these stores. They are also very easy to purchase online either singly or in bulk. Regular lanyards are not very expensive to buy and of course, the cost goes down when these items are bought in bulk. Promotional lanyards that are printed with a company logo or slogan are usually quite a bit more expensive, especially if they are to be used by employees on a regular basis, however for promotional use they are much cheaper than many other forms of advertising.
Some people may have need of a more specialized lanyard such as a retractable lanyard. These are often found in shops that specifically sell lanyards, badges, key rings and keychain supplies. A retractable lanyard is useful for those who have to swipe their ID through an ID machine. Being able to pull your ID out from the lanyard is certainly much easier than having to bend down over a machine or to take the lanyard off entirely.
