From bedroom wardrobes to high-security vaults, there are
many different types of storage used around the world on a day to day basis.
Some may be more specialised than others, however, their purpose remains the
same: to keep items organised and out of sight, for whatever reason. Storage
cabinets are also used in all different environments, from domestic to
commercial properties, and are an integral part of workplaces across the globe.
For this reason, they’re one of the most important parts of any office, healthcare
building or industrial warehouse.
As storage experts, we at Racking + Shelving are well aware
of the importance of storage boxes and cabinets in professional environments.
With this in mind, we discuss some of the main reasons why they deserve so much
attention and some of the ways they’re used in particular industries.
The benefits of
storage cabinets
No matter what type of job you work in, you’re bound to have
relied on storage at some point or another - even if you don’t realise you’re
doing it! Whether you work as a receptionist and frequently file important
documents away, or you’re a pharmacist who needs to store medicine in a
controlled environment, putting things in and taking things out of storage is
sure to be a big part of your day. But, why is the right storage so important
at work?
Time and
cost-effective
Without storage, your employees are likely to spend much more
time than they really need to finding stock or important documents. As a
result, your business won’t be working as efficiently as it should be -
something that will see you lose money over time. For this reason, making sure
you’ve got an organised storage system that your employees can navigate quickly
and easily should be a priority for every business.
Safety first
When you’re considering ways to make your work environment a
safer place to be, you might not consider storage a vital aspect. However, it
really does pay to be organised, especially when it comes to safety. After all,
making sure your work floor is tidy and uncluttered is a simple yet effective
way to prevent accidents from occurring. This is true whether you work in an
industrial warehouse and need to prevent staff from tripping over stock, or if
you work in a kitchen and need to keep foods from cross contaminating. Making
sure everything in your workplace has a designated space is a crucial part of
promoting employee safety.
Professionalism is
key
When it comes to remaining professional and helping your
business maintain a positive professional reputation, it’s important to
consider the layout of your workplace. After all, if you welcome potential
business partners or customers into your office and they’re faced with piles of
stock, they’re unlikely to get the best impression of your business. Alternatively,
if you can demonstrate that you’re extremely organised, it’ll certainly work in
your favour by making you appear much more competent as a business.
The benefits of using storage cabinets in the workplace far
extend these three, however, these are perhaps the most significant. Of course,
how storage boxes are used and why they’re so important varies from job to job,
as we discuss here.
Different uses for
metal storage cabinets
No matter what job environment you work in, it’s likely
you’ll need metal storage cabinets to keep stock, chemicals or important
documents safe on a daily basis. Here are just some of the ways storage
cabinets are used:
To store industrial
stock
When you work in supply and demand, you’ll know just how
important it is to make sure you and your employees are organised. Without
efficient systems in place, it’s inevitable that you’ll waste valuable time and
money. From stock going missing to employees taking double the amount of time
to find certain items, there are a variety of problems that can occur if you
don’t invest in effective storage systems.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get organised when
you work in a warehouse, including shelving and racking solutions, metal storage cabinets and specialist cupboards.
When choosing storage cabinets for your warehouse, it’s always advisable to
discuss your requirements with the experts. That way, you’ll be able to find
the right storage for your specific needs.
To store PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential in every workplace
that poses a risk to personal safety, including construction sites, factories
and warehouses. Not only does it look extremely professional, but steel-capped
boots, high visibility jackets and hard hats also keep workers safe and prevent
injury from occurring.
For this reason, all PPE should be stored correctly in every
workplace, allowing employees to access it if and when they need to. Messy
piles of work clothes and shoes don’t promote a safe environment, so it’s
important to find suitable storage solutions for your workplace to keep all PPE
neat, tidy and out of the way. With an easy-to-read “Personal Protective
Equipment” label, PPE storage cabinets can also be identified quickly to save
employees time.
To store medical equipment
Even if you don’t work in a medical environment, it’s highly
likely that you’ll need to keep medical supplies on site in case of accident or
injury. From plasters to bandages, it’s important to keep these in a safe and
organised place to make sure you can access them without delay. After all, if
you aren’t sure where your first aid kit is, you simply aren’t doing enough to
create a safe space for your employees.
This aside, it isn’t enough to store your medical hygiene
supplies and equipment in any old storage container. Dedicated medical cabinets
have been designed to be especially hygienic, in a way that just isn’t
necessary for documentation and PPE, making them suitable for storing medical
clothing and equipment. With a highly recognisable design complete with a green
medical cross, these cabinets are also easy to identify in times of need.
To store hazardous waste
Making sure all hazardous waste is stored properly is
essential in any workplace, as the consequences of chemical spills or burns
could be huge. Without the appropriate storage, chemicals could cause damage to
important machinery, injure employees or even cause electrical shortages. For
this reason, it’s imperative that all workplace managers invest in dedicated
hazardous waste storage cabinets.
As with medical equipment, hazardous waste must not be stored
in just any metal cabinet. Storage for toxic waste must adhere to all relevant
guidelines and must be flame resistant, not to mention having reinforced doors
to prevent hazardous material from falling into the wrong hands. Whether you
need to store disinfectants, pesticides or petroleum, it’s essential to make
sure you have the right kind of storage cabinets in the workplace.
To store COSHH
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) storage
cabinets are another essential for every workplace, especially in environments
where children may be around. COSHH metal storage cabinets can be used to store
substances that are corrosive, volatile or reactive, and must be used according
to strict safety standards to prevent leaks or spillages from occurring. As
it’s highly important that the chemicals in the cabinet are only accessed by
those with permission to do so, COSHH cabinets are designed with reinforced
doors and a variety of locks.
To store acids and
alkali
If you work in a laboratory or a school with a dedicated
science department, you will almost certainly need somewhere safe to store
acids and alkali. Unless you keep these substances in a controlled environment,
you may experience a wide range of potentially dangerous issues. From chemical
fires to burns, the list of dangers that could occur as a result of leaks and
spills goes on.
To keep these substances in a safe place and out of reach
from vulnerable people, your chosen storage facility needs to have reinforced
doors that can be locked securely. The cabinet must also be labelled clearly to
make sure everyone is aware of the dangers of the substances inside and
therefore the need to act carefully.
Racking + Shelving:
Efficient storage solutions including pallet racking, industrial shelving,
metal cabinets and more
As storage experts, we at Racking + Shelving understand the
importance of reliable storage cabinets in the workplace. Whether you work in
the healthcare sector or retail, making sure you’ve got the appropriate storage
systems in place is essential to keeping your employees safe and your workspace
organised. That’s why we supply only the highest quality metal storage cabinets
for use across a wide range of applications, including the ones we’ve discussed
above. So, if you’re in need of industrial cupboards, hazardous cabinets, PPE
storage or COSHH containers, look no further than Northern Ireland’s leading
storage experts, Racking + Shelving.
For more information about our range of storage cabinets, get in touch
with our team of
experts today. We may be based in Antrim, but we’re proud to deliver
intelligent storage solutions to clients across Northern Ireland and the UK.
