If You’re Just Hitting ‘Print,’ You’re Doing HazCom Wrong
In this Hack Your Hazcom episode kicking off the show’s second year, Atanu invites audience feedback at hackyourhazcom.com and is joined by labeling experts Steve Donze and Nathan Stellman of Empower Label (formerly Brandywine Drum Labels) to discuss how labeling programs become compliance and safety liabilities. They explain common HazCom breakdowns between requirements and field reality, especially with secondary and small containers that go unlabeled or are illegible, as well as issues with outdated SDS information, inconsistent processes across sites, and insufficient employee training. The conversation covers durability failures from UV, rain, abrasion, solvents, and poor printer settings, plus best practices for replacing labels and identifying unknown containers. They also compare thermal transfer, laser, and inkjet options, emphasize a “three-legged stool” of software, labels, and printers, and highlight how strong labeling improves efficiency, audit readiness, and incident response.
00:00 Year Two Kickoff
00:56 Meet the Labeling Pros
02:23 Where Hazcom Breaks Down
05:51 Secondary Container Pitfalls
08:42 Small Container Rule Updates
10:35 Real World Label Failures
12:54 Harsh Environment Best Practices
16:35 Choosing Materials and Printers
20:49 Managing Multiple Label Systems
22:36 Centralized Labeling Systems
27:51 Software Labels Printers Trio
31:25 Printing Choices and Durability
36:04 Choosing Printer Types
37:19 Pictograms and Color Limits
39:23 Laser and Inkjet Tradeoffs
41:01 Bring Key Stakeholders
42:40 Fixing Print Failures
47:20 Labeling by Container Size
52:10 Solvent Exposure Troubleshooting
58:04 Efficiency Beyond Compliance
01:01:57 Audit Readiness and Safety
01:05:31 Common Hazcom Gaps
01:08:19 Final Takeaways and Wrap
Sales Director
Nathan Stellman is the Sales Director for Empower Label. He started with Brandywine Drum labels prior to the company rebranding as Empower Label in 2025. Nathan has spent decades in the compliance realm dealing with GHS label compliance to Hazcom management systems. Nathan has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston and currently lives in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
On a personal note, Nathan was once a classical guitar major in college and has performed with a cover band at various venues from Texas to Florida going back to his college days to now spanning 30 years.
Regional Manager
A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Business, I have spent over four decades mastering the complexities of industrial sales and regional management. Since joining Brandywine Drumlabels in 1991, I have served as an Account Representative and Regional Manager, specializing in the chemical manufacturing and distribution sectors. With a career rooted in technical expertise and long-term client relationships, I provide essential solutions in hazard communication, ensuring firms are equipped with the precise labels, printers, and inks required to meet stringent safety standards.