Lanyards originally were a simple rope or cord, used by the military or others, to reduce loss of a costly item such as a sword or pistol. They were also used to keep an item in constant awareness of the wearer as a security measure against the less than scrupulous. Modern lanyards can still be a simple cord like those used by small electronic equipment such as a cell phone or camera to prevent loss. Lifeguards use lanyards in place of pockets. Large public events use lanyards, quite often a wrist lanyard, for admission to concerts, blanket entrance for rides at an amusement park. In today’s age of increased security awareness, many employers require their employees to wear ID that is worn constantly and visible to all other employees. In that way, today’s lanyards continue their original function; they reduce loss and modern lanyards, like weapons of the past, assist and contribute to a higher level of security in a working environment. 

Customized lanyards are great used in the workplace, are inexpensive to the employer and also can be used as a promotional give away at conferences, trade shows or fundraisers. 

Lanyards can be broken down into two very basic designs: wrist or arm and neck. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Neck lanyards leave the hands and arms available for carrying, lifting and other use of hands and arms while keeping items close for use or identification. Arm/wrist lanyards allow the carrying of small objects such as keys to be continually on person and quickly accessible without fumbling in pockets or accidental mislaying. 

Once a choice has been made between an arm/wrist lanyard or neck lanyard, there are many other options to consider. Lanyards can be flat woven cloth material, tubular cloth material or silicon tubing, beaded, braided or corded. You can get custom printed lanyards by having any of these materials imprinted or embroidered or screened with a company logo, motto or mission statement. Some also may be purchased with pre-printed logos or “Awareness” motifs, such as pink “Breast Cancer Awareness” or red “AIDS Awareness”. 

There are many other decisions to consider when contemplating lanyards. If lanyards are to be worn around machinery, it is important to consider whether a “break-away” model would be in best from a safety point of view. When pressure is applied to the lanyard, it pops or breaks apart, avoiding injurious entanglements. They can also be devised as a “dead man’s switch” in the event a worker is suddenly incapacitated. Break-aways are a must for anyone working around machinery of any type.

Custom Lanyard Decisions

Other options include the style of holder at the end of a lanyard. These can be customized with swivel hooks, trigger hooks, a reel, a pull-apart key ring or loops to hold cell phones or walkie-talkies or even a pen. These choices depend on the intended use of the lanyard. Those used for ID purposes need to able to somehow hold the ID in a “face-out” direction. A sturdy badge could be held within a clear pocket attached to the lanyard or perhaps slid onto a split ring. Keys needed to go between secure areas would work well on a split ring or a pull-apart key ring. A reel holder is a must for ease of movement where magnetized-strip cards are frequently needed to “swipe” for door entries/exits. Much other information can be stored on these magnetic cards and with proper equipment, one can “reel” the card to swipe and record attendance, duties, and/or activities of employees. 

If a lanyard is needed in a “clean” or “sterile” environment, one should consider an antimicrobial addition. This allows use in areas where germ transfer may be of concern, as in laboratories, medical clinics or hospitals. 

All the choices above are without regard to colors and font styles. Color combinations and font color can create a custom lanyard to meet the needs and wants of employer, charity, schools or wherever they are needed or desired.