Whether you run a restaurant or a fashion retail, you probably have a back room that you would rather not think about. Unfortunately, while junk rooms like these might be fine at home, this dreaded space could end up being the reason why you fail your next work safety inspection.
If you expect employees to head here or not, this area is a verified part of your business premises, and it should adhere to health and safety rules as a result. So, instead of pretending your back room doesn’t exist, you might want to consider the following three reasons why it could fail a safety inspection, and what to do about them.
# 1 – The Clutter Conundrum
Whatever the specifics of your business, it probably creates a fair amount of clutter. And, that clutter most likely ends up in your back room. Yet, you have a responsibility to keep walkways clear and ensure proper ventilation at all times. That’s never going to happen if this room is wall-to-wall with boxes! So, what can you do?
Having a good clearout should be your first port of call, as you’d be surprised by how much excess packaging and other unnecessary additions you can get rid of this way. If you still have too much stuff after you’ve done this, you may also want to consider hiring a small warehouse for rent. This can serve as your company overflow, and will be ideal for storing stock you don’t necessarily need on your primary premises.
# 2 – Who Put That There?
You’ll need to keep some overflow on hand, but remember – your company’s backroom isn’t like your spare room at home. You certainly can’t stick boxes here without thought. This is because unsafe packing processes, which include stacking boxes on top of each other or otherwise balancing things precariously, is one of the worst safety no-nos.
Having some level of organization in even your overflow space is the best way to overcome this, and you may also find that it makes your back room generally easier to manage. There are plenty of racking storage systems that could help with this. Also, taking the time to regularly clean and organize this room will prevent an escalating avalanche of stock that could otherwise pose a major risk one day.
# 3 – Where’s the Light?
Storage areas with low visibility are a significant safety risk, and a dark back room is perhaps the worst of all. This is especially true if employees have to stumble over piles to reach the light switch.
That’s why, where possible, you’ll want to introduce natural light elements, which can also double up for the sake of air quality and ventilation. If you don’t have the option to introduce a window, consider installing better lighting for the space, which will typically include brighter bulbs and automated motion sensors for guaranteed visibility.
If your back room is currently letting you down on the health and safety front, don’t hesitate to address these issues!
