The key to understanding how staples are sized is easy – it’s all about simply knowing what the numbers in the size represent. The two numbers used in international staple sizing are the gauge of the wire and the length of the staple shank, given in millimetres. A lower wire gauge number means a thicker staple, while a higher shank number means a longer leg.

The most widely recognized standard for staple sizes reads wire gauge/shank length, such as 23/8, for example, where the gauge of the wire (23) is the former, and the shank length (8 mm) is the latter. One example of an exception to this rule is the standardized size No. 10 staple, which is used for mini staplers.

Heavy duty staplers range in purpose from holding together thicker packets (25 pages or more), to fastening boxes or various industrial purposes. Typical staples sizes for these purposes are 13/10, 13/14, 23/12, 23/15 and 23/24.

Household or classroom and office staples are the most commonly used type. Some of the more commonly used sizes are 13/6, 13/8, 24/6, 24/8 or 26/6. These staplers are usually used to fasten packets of twenty five (or fewer) pages together, or to hold just a few pages to a bulletin board or wall.

Before purchasing staples, always check the stapler that will be used for a specific staple size that may be stamped inside the cover or on the base. If so, use the manufacturer’s recommendation for the best stapling performance.

The following shank length staples can be purchased from www.office365.co.uk

4mm Staples

6mm Staples

8mm Staples

10mm Staples

We also do specialist staple cartridges and some larger staples.

The Essential Highlighter Often overlooked, but never underused, highlighters are one of the most essential stationary items on the market today. Highlighters are basically markers with light, translucent ink used for calling attention to certain text, both numerical and alphabetical. These pens can be found in a range of colours—the most common being yellow highlighters, pink highlighters, blue highlighters, green highlighters, orange highlighters, and even red. For a remarkably low cost, the possible uses for highlighter pens are seemingly endless and are only limited by user creativity. Some of the more common uses for highlighters are as tools for editing, studying, and business.

You didn’t mention the pink highlighters in the title.. Ed!

When people think of editing, the most common image conjured to mind is usually lots of red ink and comments scribbled all over the page. However, this whole mess can be avoided simply by effective use of one or more highlighters. The editor’s job is not re-write, as is often seen, but rather to call attention to what needs to be rewritten. Thus, using a highlighter to indicate poor word choice, passive voice, “to be” verbs, (each consistently indicated by a different highlighter colour) can make the editing process easier for writer and editor alike. Furthermore, if there is more to be said on a particular passage, designating one highlighter colour for comments (yellow is often good for this, because the other colours can be used over it for further marking), can make this active editing style seem more organized. Simply highlight the passage, put a number by it out in the margin, and then attach another page with the corresponding comments.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here at Office 365 we like to provide our customers with a simple ordering process and for NHS clients we offer a FREE FAX Number 0800 612 9524 to allow our customers to fax over official purchase orders. All official NHS purchase order customers will automatically be given a credit account for office supplies from Office 365.

We consider NHS customers to include all organisations under the NHS umbrella, including Hospitals, NHS Trusts, GPs, NHS Clinics and NHS Dentists.

In addition to our free fax number we also have a quick order form where you customers can enter the product code, from our catalogue or website, and quantity they require and put the order through the website. To get a catalogue please call 08707 66 16 24 and talk to our customer service team or email order.enquiries@office365.co.uk

We also offer similar account facilities to other public sector organisations, such as local councils, schools, universities and government departments, and to registered charities (purchase order should include registered charity number).

Every so often our suppliers come up with some promotional offers, with the recent financial turmoil it seems that the offers are getting more inventive.

Inventive? – Our staff  writers are very polite – some of these offers are just plain bizarre. Ed!

For instance the first offer is a bag of sweets with your pens – The Bic Atlantis Ball Pen, one of our nicer ball pens I might add, is currently coming with a free bag of sweets.

You might think that sweets with pens is not all that inventive and that you could think up something much better, so did our suppliers, for instance Durable have some excellent name badges with free cuddly penguins. (Yes I did say ‘Cuddly Penguins’). The Durable Click Fold Name Badge with Clip, a smart high quality name badge, designed for use with the Durable bage inserts and the Duraprint software, is currently being offered with these cute cuddly penguins.

I can just see the burly security guard at the conference hall entrance, handing out the name badges with a little cuddly penguin with a pink hat in his top pocket, on the other hand I’m sure you can find a much better home for them.

Hmm I’m having difficulty imagining trying to persuade a security man that his new uniform comes with a cuddly penguin Ed!

The third offer that we are showcasing here is from Fellowes, they produce some useful CD/DVD cases, and with the 32 CD case there is a free ‘Weather Station’, okay it is really just a digital clock and calendar with a thermomenter display (and really quite a good freebie – we just thought that calling it a weather station was a little over the top – when I saw the title I was expecting something you set up in the garden to measure temperature and rainfall).

Fellowes 32 CD/DVD Case features high quality construction designed for maximum protection easy access, scratch resistant SafeSleeves™ which secure and protect CD/DVDs.

Would you wear a pair of pair of pants that are four inches too long, or a pair of shoes three sizes too small? Most people will answer this question: “No, I wouldn’t wear something that does not fit!” However, we often find ourselves in a work environment that doesn’t “fit.” Whether it be the chair is not the right height or wrists flopping around when typing….an ill fitting work environment can cause more than just discomfort.

Ergonomics refers to the science of fitting design- to people. In the workplace this is often misrepresented as just a physical task. But ergonomics is not just limited to the physical aspects of a worker. It also looks at: psychological aspects, worker limitations, social environment, physical environment, equipment, information, and work demands.

Applying ergonomics will: reduce accidents, reduce injury, reduce work absences, improve performance, and improve productivity. In the UK, there are many regulations that require not only risk assessment related to work place ergonomics, but employee health and safety training. Part of this safety training deals with posture. It does not matter how well the workplace is designed… if an employee has poor posture.

In the workplace, ergonomics focuses heavily on safety issues. Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is one common work place injury. It occurs from repetitive use of equipment (like a keyboard)while in bad posture. Yet, simple steps can avoid them. Here are two common causes of RSI in the workplace, and what to do:

When using a key board, the hand and forearm should be in alignment. The hand should not flex up and down. Using a proper wrist rest will ensure the wrist and hand will not flex. And, it will help you stay in a good posture position. The Fellowes Crystal Purple Gel Flex Rest is a good example of a stylish and comforatable wrist rest, which is greata for keeping the forearm in the correct position when using a mouse.

Keep feet flat on the floor and sit back in the chair. Many people with short statures tend to rest their feet on the chair, or only have the toes touch the floor, but this misaligns our body. A proper foot rest, such as the 5 Star Tilting Anti-Skid Office Foot Rest, can support the feet and push you back into the chair.

While there are laws in the UK that make employers comply with ergonomics in the work place, the regulations only work if the employee complies. Wrist rests and footrests may not seem important, but using them can prevent long term injuries. When you come home at the end of the day and your back, legs, wrist, etc… are hurting, that means you are not using good posture. Often we need help to align our bodies correctly. That is where wrist rests, footrests, and other adaptive equipment come in. Not everyone can touch the floor from a chair or have the wrist mobility to keep proper alignment. So, recognizing the signs of a problem are important. Speak out if you need these items and are not getting them.

Just found out some shocking facts today, and thought that maybe some of the products we stock can help you.Have a look at the list below and see if the information shocks you too!! (I feel sorry for the person having to count each one!!)

Did you know – - -

• Keyboards boast up to 3,500 microbes and the average mouse is home to 1,500!
• Telephones and headsets carry the most microbes with up to 25,000 per square inch!
• Daily cleaning with the correct anti-static products can help reduce dust and dirt. (Also did you know that dust and dirt are a cause of eyestrain?)
• If you use an anti-bacterial wipe, you can reduce levels of bacteria by about 99%!

But don’t worry – you can sort it in a hurry! Have a look at our range of computer cleaning products by clicking here.