Expert Commentary

The Advantages of Kerb Ramps

Posted on October 03, 2014

One of our more popular products here at The Workplace Depot are our kerb ramps. Admittedly, this product has more than one name associated with it as it is suitable for a number of different uses; although the main reason is to manoeuvre a wheeled vehicle or object up a kerb smoothly and securely. What can they be used for? We have come to realise that not only are kerb ramps useful for loading or unloading vehicles such as cars, vans and lorries, they are also handy for wheelchairs, trucks, trolleys, wheelbarrows, pushchairs, caravans, motorbikes, scooters and bikes. Kerb ramps are ideal for preventing damage from vehicle wheels, allowing easy access for wheelchair users and those that constantly have to manoeuvre up and down ramps. They are extremely helpful for loading and unloading large, heavy products that might be placed on sack trucks and will make it a lot easier to move these items whilst offering a bit of extra support when you find you have...

Motor Vehicle First Aid Kits - New British Standards

Posted on May 06, 2014

Until last month, no official standard or specifications existed for motor vehicle first aid kits in Britain. People would buy any good looking, portable first aid kit for vehicular use, or store some basic first aid items in a container that could be anything from a lunchbox to a toolbox or even shaving pouch. The British Standards Institution (BSI) has filled this gap in vehicular safety by introducing BS 85599-2, the new standard for motor vehicle first aid kits. Car and vehicle first aid kit plays a vital role in case of accidents or medical emergencies. Items such as pressure bandages and splints can prevent injuries from worsening or even leading to mortalities. Yet, it is not always possible for an average person to envisage the kind of emergency he/she can potentially encounter when in a motor vehicle. Before BS 85599-2, the new standard for motor vehicle first aid kits in Britain, the selection of items for the car first aid kit depended upon some vague recommendations from the...

Security Mirrors - Simple Surveillance Solutions for Warehouses, Shops and Offices

Posted on April 17, 2014

Security convex mirrors have universal applications when you're trying to create a safe and secure movement area or monitored space. Security mirrors work like security cameras, but they are much cheaper and need no maintenance or power supply. Moreover, they provide utility where cameras may be too complicated to use, such as blind curves and corners. Security mirrors come in all shapes and sizes for shops, warehouses, driveways, security checkpoints, and other places where you need an inexpensive "eye-in-the-sky". Security Mirrors for Warehouses The warehousing and road haulage industries reported more than 8,500 accidents in 2009–10, out of which some 1,600 caused serious injuries such as fractures or even amputations. Blind spots and corners can cause collisions between loaded trolleys or hoists, with disastrous consequences. A blind spot mirror doesn't just cover potentially hazardous spots but will also provide you a view where you most need it. Thanks to the variety of designs including...

Medical Scissors for First Aid Kits

Posted on January 27, 2014

If you look through the list of contents for the first aid kits on this site, you will notice that some of them contain scissors and some contain ‘shears’. Most people think of sheers as something you cut hedges with, so we did a bit of research into the history of scissors to try and find out more about the different types. Scissors were invented in ancient Egypt in around 1500 BC. The oldest known scissors were discovered from archeological digs at what was once Mesopotamia. These are 3000–4000 years old "spring-scissors", comprising two blades joined by a curved flexible bronze strip. Between that day and now, scissors have come a long way, finding thousands of applications in fields such as engineering, agriculture, grooming, and medical, apart from regular everyday use in homes and offices. Medical scissors today are made from stainless steel, nitinol, titanium and tungsten carbide. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each suitable for a particular use. The type of medical...

Awesome Office Organisation Ideas

Posted on January 15, 2014

The environment where you work has a huge impact on your work productivity. Spending all day every day in the office can make you lose concentration, especially if the place is not arranged in a way to make you feel comfortable. Therefore, it's important to keep your office organised in order to be able to focus on the important things and actually get things done. There are several things you can do to make your office a more lovely place that gets you in the right mood to work effectively. Here are our tips on how to improve the environment at your place of work and organise things so that you don't get distracted by unimportant factors. De-Clutter Your Desk Perhaps the very first thing you should start with when trying to organise your office is to de-clutter your desk. A desk can be quite a distraction, having in mind all of the office tools and piles of paper that are covering most of the surface of your desk, making the whole office look like chaos. According to a survey led by the...

Hazards in the Office

Posted on January 07, 2014

You don’t have to be rock climbing, skiing or playing rugby to have a injury serious enough to be hospitalized. There are plenty of hazards around the office that could cause health problems ranging from minor respiratory problems to serious traumas and chronic, terminal illnesses. The following hazards might force you to take a second look at your office from a new, safer angle. Air The stale office air that we breathe can give rise to numerous minor or major health problems. The recycled office air can be swarming with viruses exhaled by a sick person. Some of these viruses can survive up to 72 hours in the warm and unventilated office air and attack healthy employees. Cough, cold and flu are the common infections transmitted through the office air. Dry, heated air can cause respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks. Breathing in a confined space can cause people to inhale air with lower amounts of oxygen and higher concentrations of carbon-dioxide, leading to headaches, dizziness...

The Best Storage Ideas

Posted on December 12, 2013

Good storage is a very important part of your home and also your workplace. Storage can make a room look a lot bigger as it can seriously reduce the amount of clutter on show. This results in a more welcoming and relaxing living environment that people enjoy spending time in. Storage can come in a large variety of colours, shapes and sizes and can fit into whatever design or style of room you are looking for. Whether you want a modern, simplistic design, an older fashioned look, or a bright and colourful style, you can find something that will fit perfectly into your home. Below is a short guide to some of the best storage ideas that could benefit your home. Wall Storage Wall storage is one of the best options, particularly in rooms that have a high ceiling as it takes advantage of the space. There are a variety of different types of wall storage available, from a straightforward shelf to a Volani wall system. BoConcept have some very unique wall storage ideas and products on their website...

Four Reasons Why You Should Invest in Workplace Health and Safety Training

Posted on November 27, 2013

Even today, in a time when health and safety red tape supposedly streams across workplaces up and down the UK, there are a shocking 200 deaths as a result of accidents in the workplace, and over a million injuries every single year. The health and safety naysayers might be right to criticise needless bureaucracy and over the top health and safety regulations, but in the 21st century, when there are still deaths occurring in the workplace, it is plain for all to see that something has to be done. Of course, there are some professions where an element of danger is inherent and unavoidable. Forestry is statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK, with workers six times more likely than construction workers to be killed at work. This simply highlights the importance of preventing accidents and ill health at work; after all, every employee is entitled to thorough training and a safe working environment. With competent workers often difficult to come by, the last thing you want is to...

Warehouse Organization Tips

Posted on September 19, 2013

Regardless of what type of business you operate, chances are you already have a warehouse or storage area where products are being housed, organized and prepared for their trip to buyers and clients. If you want to make the process more streamlined and effective, you should focus on every aspect of it for maximum efficiency and control. This means you must go through a number of possible solutions that boost your productivity toward that goal. The following tips are aimed toward giving you that edge: Upkeep You should check on your warehouse on a regular basis so you can review its operations. If you have kept it well-organized in the beginning, this may not always be the case with the changing standards that flow into new requirements. It would be a good idea to work with a checklist for your manager so you'll know what's happening. Prioritizing by Sellers You should place the higher volume items closer to your shipping area so they can be moved with ease. That way you'll be able to eliminate...

Pal-Disc Pallet Turntable

Posted on July 22, 2013

The Pal-Disc Pallet Turntable is a free-rotating turntable for loads of up to 2,000kg, and has a ramped edge for easy pallet truck loading. The turntable has a wide range of industrial uses including the automotive & engineering industries, animal feeds, grain silos, aggregates and general warehousing. Virtually Maintenance Free One of the most impressive aspects of the turntable is the fact that it is virtually maintenance free. It is suitable for use in 'harsh' environments where there might be high levels of dust and grime – such as the aggregates and animal feed industries. It has a brush strip on the inner age which can prevent some of the worse aspects of a dirty environment. Although the Pal-Disc Pallet Turntable is not specifically designed to be used outdoors, it can and is used by some businesses externally. The manufacturer would however recommend carefully monitoring it and ensuring it is kept well lubricated when used outdoors. It can also be used at cold temperatures in facilities...

How To Choose The Best Art For Your Office

Posted on July 05, 2013

With the majority of modern workers busying themselves in an office environment, it's important to choose the right art work to evoke the best atmosphere and mood. Morale will be boosted, work will be done, and time will fly - as long as you have the best art work to decorate your office. Choosing the right artwork for the workplace is essential. A well placed piece of art can help to create a great first impression. Get it right and you can make a visual statement that compliments the office and inspires the workforce. If you get it wrong, you’ll get grimaces and even the odd headache complaint! Follow these office-based, art-selecting handy hints and you can’t go wrong. Think Of Others When deciding what to hang on the walls, it’s a good idea to gather some opinions - especially if you share a work space. Consult your co-workers to find out what they would like to see on display. Remember, they will have to see it every working day too. A piece of art offers another focus, a break...

Why You Should Have Plants in Your Office

Posted on June 25, 2013

Ever wondered why the office feels so stuffy after someone’s been churning out reams on the photocopier all day or why more people take sick leave during winter? It’s because the pollutants from office equipment produce the kind of low humidity levels usually only found in winter. Now, you could get together and insist your boss spend a fortune on humidity creating equipment. Problem is—these new-fangled machines harbour bacteria and can be noisy. No, you’d be much better off petitioning your boss to introduce a few plants. If he refuses, try pointing out that improving office air quality is proven to reduce sick leave and the introduction of plants has the added benefit of increasing productivity. Indeed, more plants means improved concentration levels and an altogether happier work force, but your employer should be aware that going overboard could have negative effects. Don’t be surprised if you walk into the office one day and find Nutty Norma chatting to Simple Simon about Graham the...