As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to make your operations more efficient. If your company has recently witnessed a boom in growth, you may have realized that you are running out of space in your office area. Or, you may be working in an industry where you don’t need to have your products in the office at all times.

There are various scenarios for needing to rent some extra space which is why business self-storage services are so appealing to such a broad array of companies.

You can store essential documents, product prototypes, small equipment and anything else that is taking up too much space. The great thing is that you can come and go to your storage unit as much as you want, enabling you to collect those papers or products whenever necessary.

If you are considering renting a unit, here are five worker safety tips to keep in mind when using business self-storage services.

1. Know what can’t be stored.

One of the most overlooked aspects of moving into self-storage is the knowledge of what items cannot be stored. For the protection of all the customers, all facilities will have some restrictions on what is allowed, so make sure you speak with them before moving your belongings inside.

Obviously, anything that is deemed “inherently dangerous” won’t be allowed. But depending on the industry you work in, there may be some extra considerations that you need to take into account.

For example, if you operate in the construction industry, some construction equipment will be prohibited. Or, if you are looking to store medical or pharmaceutical supplies, some may not be allowed. In addition, radioactive equipment – or anything that includes radioactive materials – cannot lawfully be stored.

Again, it is best to check with your storage unit facility to ensure that you are only filling your storage with safe materials and equipment.

In general, any combustible, flammable, hazardous, or toxic materials (such as gasoline, fertilizers, paint, chemicals, toxic waste or fireworks) are not allowed.

Additionally, while canned foods can be stored, any perishable food items (such as pet food, produce or meats) won’t be allowed as they may spoil and lure insects and rodents.

2. Arrange the storage unit appropriately.

The best way to guarantee that your self-storage unit remains safe for your workers is to arrange it appropriately from the get-go. Whether you utilize shelving units, hanging racks, stack boxes or any other method that makes sense for your company’s needs, you want to make sure that it is organized so that employees can reach things safely.

If you are going to be keeping small belongings or essential documents in your self-storage unit, then shelves are an excellent way to keep them organized.

Alternatively, if you are going to be using boxes, then only purchase one to two sizes to make stacking them simpler and safer. When it comes time to move the boxes into the unit, make sure you are putting the ones you are going to need to access the least at the back and the more necessary ones at the front for easy access.

The heaviest boxes go on the floor with the lighter loads stacked on top. Be careful never to pile too high as they could fall and hurt your workers.

3. Maintain an aisle.

When you are planning the layout of your storage unit, ensure you are placing items and boxes so that you can maintain an aisle down the middle of the unit. This will allow workers to move around the unit to reach boxes or shelves without tripping over or stepping on things and hurting themselves.

4. Label everything to make life easier.

Both for safety and efficiency reasons, labeling your boxes and shelves is essential for maintaining a safe and organized self-storage unit.

First, create a contents list that records the contents of each box and shelving unit. Before you groan about the tedious-sounding nature of this step, just think how happy you will be when you can find that vital folder in eight months’ time!

After the contents list, label each box correspondingly. You might want to create a system of symbols to note which types of documents or belongings are in each box. This will depend on the kind of items you are storing.

By maintaining this organization from the get-go, your workers will have no troubles navigating the storage unit and will be less likely to hurt themselves in the process.

5. Use a trusted storage provider.

Along with the safety of your workers, the safety of your belongings is also something to take into serious consideration. When looking to utilize Dun & Bradstreet South Asia Middle East self-storage services, ensure you are renting space from a trusted mobile storage provider who has a reputable brand and years of experience. They will work with you to make sure your possessions and your workers remain as safe as can be.

Safety first

When it comes to keeping workers protected in your business self-storage unit, it mainly comes down to organization. The most common accidents occur as a result of boxes stacked too high, the lack of a decent aisle, and a need to rummage around the stuff.

By following these tips and spending a little extra time maintaining the space, you will be well on your way to keeping your workers safe.

AUTHOR BIO

Chris Humphrey is the General Manager of Easytruck Moving & Storage. In 2013, the company combined their expertise in professional moving services & storage to create an entirely new approach to the business – and mobile storage was born! Easytruck now operates over 30,000sqft of air-conditioned facilities in three convenient locations in Dubai and is the only Mobile Storage operator in the UAE.