By Alex Hassel, Storage.com
You’ve probably heard this mantra before: “100% of accidents are preventable.” But it takes a lot of work and education to actually make that happen. Your tenants and employees can encounter many dangerous situations at your self storage facility. That’s why it’s important to think about safety in order to protect your customers and yourself, as well as know how to handle the situation if something bad does happen.
Avoiding Accidents
Alyssa Quill is the co-owner of Storage Asset Management, a privately held self storage management and consulting company that oversees more than 45 properties along the East Coast. With her experience in the industry, she has some advice for self storage facility owners about how to prevent injuries and property damage.
Quill says there are five ways in which work-related injuries typically occur: overexertion, falls, body reaction, strikes/blows, and repetitive motion. By educating everyone that comes to your property on how to bypass these issues, you will decrease your chances for accidents.
Overexertion
Tenants might have a lot of heavy items, but that doesn’t mean they’re professional movers. When they hold, lift, pull, or push too excessively, this can lead to overexertion. When it comes to preventing the problem, Quill suggests:
- When lifting objects (including roll-up doors), lift with your legs, not your back.
- If a door is sticking, don’t pull or push too hard on it. Get an expert to fix it.
- Make sure ropes hanging from door handles are in good condition. Use them to pull the door closed.
- Refrain from assisting tenants with moving items into or out of their units.
- If an item that needs to be moved is heavy, get help or use a hand cart.
Falls
Renters probably don’t spend a lot of time at your storage facility, so they’re likely not familiar with the surroundings. It’s important to help them avoid anything that could cause a fall.
Quill suggests a few ways to stay proactive. “Check the property lighting, including emergency lights, on a monthly basis. Also, be on the lookout for trip hazards like trash, tree roots, and asphalt cracks. Repair as needed.” If your facility is located in a cold environment, ice is always a concern as well. Be sure to keep sidewalk and road salt on hand at your facility to prevent ice-related injuries.
Another issue that can cause falls is climbing on unstable surfaces. Make sure to advise renters against scaling the furniture or boxes in their storage units to reach belongings. Have a ladder available that they can use.
Body Reaction
A body-reaction injury is what happens when you slip on ice, for example. Quill says it’s when “your body doesn’t respond in a situation the way it should.” Everyone on the property should be alert at all times. If anything could be slippery from ice, rain, or even cleaning, be sure to mark the area with signs or cones. Quill recommends obtaining a contract with a reputable snow removal company.
Strikes and Blows
Beware of falling objects. This can be caused by poor storage or bad maintenance. To stop this from happening, Quill recommends:
- Use caution with hammers and other tools
- Use ice clips on sloped metal roofs to prevent falling ice sheets
- Avoid overpacking shelves
- Keep everything in the office and company storage units neat and well-organized
Repetitive Motion
Moving large loads can lead to repetitive motion. This can strain back movement and cause problems for joints like knees, shoulders, and wrists. Quill says, “Don’t stay in the same position for too long. Get up and move around frequently. If you type for long periods of time, use a wrist rest near your keypad.”
Handling On-Site Injuries
So even after all of your safety precautions, what if someone still gets hurt? Don Sedlacek, Vice President of claims for MiniCo Insurance Agency, has some advice. If there is an injury that’s not handled correctly, he says the results could severely damage your business. The key items to remember are to immediately take care of any medical issues, document the incident, don’t admit liability, and report the incident to your insurance agent.
Addressing the Medical Issue
In the event of an injury, your first priority should be to immediately take care of that person’s needs. If injuries are severe or if the person is unconscious, call an ambulance as soon as possible. “Wait with the person for the ambulance to arrive and provide as much information as you can about the incident and the person’s identity to the medical personnel,” says Sedlacek. If the person is responsive, still offer to call an ambulance or contact their family to get them a ride to an urgent-care facility or hospital.
Documenting the Incident
Once medical needs have been addressed, turn your attention to documentation. This is critical for making a claim with your insurance company. Your incident report should list every detail. “If you’re not currently using an incident report or employees aren’t regularly trained in how to use the form correctly, make it a priority to rectify this situation,” Sedlacek says.
In your report, gather information about the injured person and any witnesses, including names, phone numbers, and home addresses. Take statements from witnesses and ask them to sign and date them. Make note whether the injured person is an employee, tenant, or prospective tenant. Photograph the scene and injuries as well. If injuries occurred as a result of a hazard on the property, take photos of that as well before making repairs.
Avoiding Issues of Liability
When someone gets hurt on your property, it’s natural to be sympathetic. It’s the human thing to do. Just don’t go so far as to admit responsibility or say anything that would lead the injured party to believe you will pay for their medical bills or other damages. If the injured person wants money from you, refer them to your insurance agent.
Sedlacek gives examples of how to properly respond to a tenant coming to you about a bleeding cut on their hand:
- GOOD: That looks like a serious cut. I’m glad you reported this to me. I would be happy to call an ambulance for you. Would you like me to do that? While we’re waiting, could you tell me where you were when this happened and how it happened?
- BAD: I’m sorry you got hurt. Those door latches have sharp metal burrs on them. I keep meaning to have someone fix it, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. Don’t worry. I’ll drive you to the hospital, and we will take care of getting you treated.
Reporting to Your Insurance Agent
After you take care of all medical needs and make documentation, get the complete incident report and photos to your insurance agent. Sedlacek notes that many business owners will delay making a claim or avoid it altogether.
“Remember that your insurance policy contains certain duties regarding the reporting of a loss,” says Sedlacek. “Your agent is working for you and your interests. Alerting [them] to the situation as quickly as possible affords your carrier the opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation, collect the information needed to process the claim and, if necessary, represent your interests in any legal action that may result.”
Sedlacek says to talk to your lawyer to ensure your lease agreement has the correct language to restrict a tenant’s rights to make a claim against your business in the event of an injury. Also, have your attorney or insurance agent review any paperwork between your company and an outside contractor working at your facility.
Review your emergency protocols and safety practices regularly to ensure you’re taking all the precautions you can to keep employees, renters, and the property as safe as possible. You can also make classes and training available through organizations like the National Safety Council. However, even with the most preparation, you still have to know what to do if the worst does happen.
