Safety Tips for Long Distance Moving Day: If you are old enough, you may remember the days when many moving experiences meant rounding up a few friends and providing a case of beer once the heavy items and odds and ends were transported across town.
Safety was a matter of not dropping anything important on a helper’s fingers or feet. If someone over-used back muscles, it was soaked away in the tub or with the help of some muscle rub.
Today, you may elect to have a professional team of movers come safety on moving day into your house or apartment to do the physical work of relocation. Even if you can have a professional team to help with the work, it is highly likely that there will be work to do before and safe on moving day. Read on to learn some tips to help you and your household members avoid accidents and injuries while preparing for and accomplishing the relocation.
Some factors that increase the likelihood of a mishap can be prevented with proper planning. A safety on moving Day checklist provided by the professional moving company account manager or customer service person is a good starting point. Some of the criteria apply whether the customer does majority of work or the pros do all the heavy lifting.
Clear Your Pathways
Commercial moving teams are trained of safety on long distance Moving check the overall environment of the customer’s house or apartment, both inside and outside. Safe access to the property will take into consideration such things as rough walkways, low hanging branches or broken steps.
Anything which might pose a risk of tripping or stumbling should be noted and corrected if possible. This comprises components, landscaping features, and clutter like children’s toys or equipment that obstructs entry to the building interior property.
Inside the structure there are also some features which could cause a slip-and-fall accident. Uneven floor levels, low ceilings, worn spots in carpets or rugs are all dangerous when people are coming and going, especially if they are unused to the layout of the rooms and the quirks that the homeowners ignore due to familiarity.
If you have friends or family members helping you, ensure they understand the basic safety precautions you’ve set. Before turning an amateur team loose in your house or apartment, remind them that you don’t want anyone to have to interrupt the move because of an emergency room visit.
Liquid
When planning your safety on moving day, think about the risks of glass bottles, jugs, and food storage containers. With the exception of cleaning products which you may need to use for the last minute cleaning tasks such as sinks, toilets and tile floors, it is not a good idea to pack opened containers. If you can do so, donate the products to a local shelter or discard them safely. Replace them at the new location. If you want to eat or drink something while the transfer is taking place, send someone to a neighboring drive-thru.
Trying to transport liquids is asking for spillage or breakage. Leaking cleaning products or opened food containers can ruin everything packed nearby. Spoiled food or food poisoning from poor temperature control while moving is not a way to spend the early days in your new abode.
If something gets broken or spilled clean it up immediately. Broken glass can cause serious cuts and can also be the cause of a slip-and-fall injury. Other things which can cause treacherous footing include paper, cardboard, bubble wrap and packing materials underfoot.
Don’t Overestimate Your Lifting Capacity
Many of the moving-related injuries are due to trying to lift something that is too heavy. Even if you are able to lift a heavy object, the packing box may not be sturdy enough to hold the item without bursting or tearing. A refresher course in how to safely lift items might be time well spent.
Special care to lift correctly may prevent days of back pain for those at risk of back problems. An item doesn’t necessarily have to be heavy to cause problems during lifting. Stacking one additional box on top of another might cause complete stack to collapse, resulting in breakage, falls, and injuries.
Keep all boxes of a size and weight that one person can move. Heavy items should be placed in smaller boxes, and light items can be placed in larger boxes. However, care should be taken that heavy boxes are placed under lighter boxes.
Fashion Sense
The clothing that you choose for moving day is important. Don’t wear clothing that is so loose-fitting it is interfering with your actions in lifting and moving items. Long sleeves and long pants will help to prevent scrapes and cuts when lifting objects into position.
Gloves are a must for hand protection. Closed-toe shoes can help to avoid damaged toes from dropped heavy objects. A slight heel and non-skid sole will help to avoid slipping on steps and ramps.
Don’t Reinvent The Wheel
When you are moving, using the right equipment can help to reduce the risk of injuries. Appliance dollies, straps, hand trucks, and similar equipment items are helpful when moving and placing heavy items. If your home or apartment has multiple levels, if only one or two, consider using a ramp to transfer objects.
For a multi-person lift, it is a good idea to talk through the steps involved in lifting, transporting, and placing a heavy or awkward item. Knowing what the other person is planning on doing will avoid working against each other.
If you are using unfamiliar tools or equipment, be sure you understand how to operate it correctly. For example, a ratchet strap or bungee cord that is improperly fastened can easily cause serious injuries to fingers or eyes.
