What Is UL?!

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

How many times have you seen these two letters without any idea of what they stand for? Almost every electronic gadget you use on a daily basis will have this logo somewhere including the device you’re using to read this blog.

The UL mark is given out by a not-for-profit safety consulting and certification organization called Underwriters Laboratories. UL certifies, validates, tests, inspects, and audits both business and consumer products to ensure their safety. They also provide expertise knowledge and training to educate customers in global trade compliance and regulatory issues when accessing world markets. 

UL was founded by William Henry Merrill in 1894 with a goal to ensure the safety of electrical devices. By the early 1900s the demand for electric powered homes and tools was increasing at exponential rates. Most people were unaware of the dangers posed by these new technologies which led to careless fires, electrocution, and even invisible microwaves that are harmful to humans.

Underwriters Laboratories first published the Tin Clad Fire Door in 1903, a design for a solid core wood door wrapped in metal. The heavy wood and metal doors slowed the spread of fires and gave precious minutes to people trying to escape a burning building. The doors also stopped fire from spreading out of control before firefighters arrived on seen. One year later, in 1904, the first UL mark made its first appearance on a fire extinguisher.

Since its first publication, UL has gone on to provide safety services to 104 countries with 64 laboratories across the globe. Today there are nearly 22 billion UL marks on products across the globe. UL no longer focuses solely on electrical safety, but has expanded into five different business divisions: Product Safety, Verification Services, Life & Health, Knowledge Services, and Environment.

Today on Make-It-Safe Monday look for the UL logo on the electronics you use every day. You can have the peace of mind knowing that gadget you’re using has been put through its paces and is deemed safe for typical use. Next time your company releases a new product or wants to expand into a foreign market, remember that your safety experts are only a click away.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let's make it safe this Monday.

Brad Lindemann

Sales Coordinator, Lift'n Buddy, A Southworth Company.

All electronics in the Lift’n Buddy are UL Certified and more information can be found at www.liftbuddy.com.