Tips for Safe Storage and Injury Prevention

Storage units are an excellent option if you’re moving, remodeling your home, or just have too many things that you can’t keep by your side. People usually think of storage as a place that can keep their things safe, but they rarely think of how to be safe while they use storage units.

Unfortunately, accidents happen. And just as you can get injured in your home or at the workplace, you can easily get injured while you’re using your storage units. As storage facility operators will tell you, there are many common causes of injury in the facilities. Falls, overexertion, body-reaction injuries, etc. – these all happen more often that we’d like to think.

That is why it’s important to be aware of all the things that could potentially go wrong, and take steps to avoid getting hurt at your storage unit.

Identify Items to Which You Might Need Access

Keeping your storage locker organized is a must, as most accidents that happen in storage units are caused by falls – be it by somebody tripping over a box and falling, or by boxes falling on someone.

Usually, people get frustrated if they just can’t seem to find something they want in their unit, and frustration can lead to carelessness.

This is why you should always keep in mind which items you might need access to more often, then place those items closest to the entry. It’s a good rule of thumb to place large items like furniture and mattresses in the back, and things like your seasonal clothes and shoes to the front. It will make everything nice and organized, and you’ll always know where to find your favorite skates without digging through all the boxes and making a mess.

Pick a Unit According to Your Needs

Selecting a unit that is too small could be dangerous, as items tend to tumble down and fall over each other. Before you pick your unit, it’s best to take an inventory of all the things you’d like to store. This helps not only with keeping you organized and informed about everything that you’ve stored, it also lets  you determine the size of the unit that you need. If faced with the option of whether to go too big vs too small, bigger gives you more flexibility and safety. It’s more expensive, but it gives you more room to organize your things the way you’d like to and the way that will keep you safe.

If you have a lot of items you’d like to store, it’s best for you to have enough space to create aisles so that you can move around freely and quickly get to the boxes that you need.

Stick to One Box Size

There are many storage principles that can help you stay safe, but one that many people don’t even consider is the box size.

First things first, don’t buy flimsy boxes. For your own safety, it’s much better to invest a bit of money in high-quality, sturdy boxes that will not fall apart as soon as you pick them up. Second, for storing purposes, it’s easier for you to stick to one box size.

When you stack similarly-sized boxes on top of each other, you will create a structure that cannot easily tumble down. And if you can, opt for medium-sized boxes. Large ones are difficult to remove, especially if they’re under a lot of other boxes, and small ones have their clear disadvantages.

Large Boxes Go In First

If you cannot stick to the boxes of the same size, listen to your common sense, and put all the larger boxes in first. No matter how well you think you’ve placed the boxes, try not to stack them to a height that’s above your head. This creates a hazard for anything breakable in your storage unit, and more importantly, it creates a hazard for you.

If you want to make use of all the available space that’s in the upper part of the room, you might want to consider investing in some shelves. Don’t overpack them, however.

Pack the Boxes Completely

Half-filled boxes will crumble down and become hazardous to anyone who visits your storage unit. To stay on the safe side, both for yourself and your valuable items, pack the boxes completely.

If your items don’t fill the boxes up, make use of packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and newspapers. This will ensure that the boxes keep their shape under the weight and remain stacked nicely and securely.

Do Not Store Dangerous Items

First, never store perishables in your storage units. Any food that can be spoiled, for example, not only might lead to a bad odor in your unit, it could also attract bugs and rodents and make your storage unit unhygienic and potentially dangerous.

No weapons or ammunition is allowed in storage units, nothing flammable or explosive. This is dangerous for you, and all the other people who are using storage units in your proximity.

It’s in your best interest to check which items are allowed to be stored and which are not. The guidelines are there to keep you and everyone around you safe. Call us and ask, we’ll be glad to let you know.

Pay Attention to How You Carry Your Items

One of the most common injuries that happens at storage units can be very easily prevented. People most often hurt themselves by carrying or moving heavy items by themselves.

The most important thing to keep in mind is where you store your heavy boxes, and where you store the lightweight boxes. Basically, you should keep all the heavier boxes at the height between your shoulder and thigh. This will allow you to lift them more easily and it won’t hurt your back. Lighter boxes can be placed in lower or higher places without a problem. If anything seems difficult to move, ask for help or use a hand cart.

One thing to keep in mind if you want to prevent injury in your storage unit is that organized units are safe units. If you follow these tips, you can avoid a lot of potential dangers, so stay smart and stay safe.

If you have any questions, want to know more about self-storage in Ottawa, or are ready to book your next storage unit, give us a call or contact us online at Acceptable Storage.