Eric Adams – Page 3 – J&L Moving Supplies Blog

August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

Tips for Lifting Heavy Objects

We all have to lift something heavy once in awhile. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 182,270 work-related injuries to the back each year. Back problems are nothing to joke about. Often ignored for long periods of time, back injuries can develop into an extremely painful, even disabling experience. It’s no surprise that a lot of back injuries come from lifting. Twisting or bending the wrong way while lifting, attempting to lift something too heavy, etc., will increase your chances of a back injury. One bad moment can change your life. Read below for some tips for lifting heavy objects.

Before Lifting:
Be prepared to take your time with any lift. It’s worth the extra few seconds. Before you even start lifting, you should be checking a for few things. Clear the walkway and make space around the heavy item. Then, make sure your box is packed correctly. If things are moving around, you’re more likely to drop it. Gripping the box or object before a lift will help you get an idea of how heavy the object will be. If you need to, get a mechanical assist or a co-worker to help.

During the Lift:
When you’re about to lift an object, make sure you’re not reaching! You want to get as close as you can. Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart, and get down and bend your knees so you’re squatting. Your posture should resemble a baseball catcher and your body should be over the box. When you extend your arms to pick up the box, they should be almost vertical to start. When you pick the item up, get a good grip and lift as you straighten your body. You want to make sure you’re never bending at the waist. You can slightly bend your hips, knees, back, and arms. The old saying really is true – lift with your legs. Do not lift with your back!

Setting the Item Down:
When you’re setting the item down, make sure you follow a motion similar to how you originally got down to get the item. If you get lazy with setting items down, you’re still putting yourself at great risk. Remember, it always helps if items are easy to get to. If possible, make sure you’re not keeping heavy items on the floor or above the shoulders.

Hopefully you found this guide helpful. If you’ve been lifting things the wrong way for a long time, the right way may not feel right at first. It takes time to get used to. Nobody is immune to back problems, so lift your heavy object the correct way!

Eric is the owner of J&L Moving Supplies. You can find him on Google+, Facebook or Twitter, so be sure to connect with him!

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

How to Organize Your Warehouse Inventory

For many businesses, the warehouse is the primary place for inventory. Many items come and go from the warehouse to the showroom floor or are distributed to customers.

However, when was the last time you seriously organized your warehouse inventory? These six organizational tactics can help increase productivity and keep your products organized.

Implement a labeling system

When sorting through your inventory, it’s critical to label everything. This will ensure that you can easily track and store all of your products. Label your inventory with a SKU (stock-keeping unit) number, along with the type of product and a short description. This way, when you’re searching for a certain product, you can look according to labels instead of just guessing.

Install shelving units

You can create aisles throughout the warehouse by implementing standing shelves. Also, take advantage of the vertical space within your warehouse by installing shelving units on the walls. For easier access, label each level of your shelving unit. This will allow you to organize products within the same category by shelf.

Stack items vertically

When possible, stack boxes and products neatly on top of one another. Stacking items vertically will save space in the warehouse and it look much neater too. Keeping like products together and organized will make for an orderly warehouse to boot.

Keep aisles clear

Not only is it important for warehouse safety, but keeping aisles clear will help you find what you need easier. Better yet, assign someone to keep aisles clear. At any time of day, your employees should be able to walk through the warehouse without running into obstacles along the way.

Throw away trash

One way to keep aisles clear is by eliminating trash. Start by purging all of the trash that sits in your warehouse. This includes empty boxes, packing tape and any leftover cardboard. Be realistic and throw away any items that no longer serve a purpose in your warehouse.

Hang signs in aisles

Managing a warehouse can seem overwhelming at times. Hanging signs at the ends of the aisles can be very helpful. In fact, it’s a great organizational tactic and can keep your warehouse neat and orderly. For example, storing products relating to a specific category in a predetermined aisle will make it easier for employees in your warehouse to remember where items are located.

Eric is the owner of J&L Moving Supplies. You can find him on Google+, Facebook or Twitter, so be sure to connect with him!

July 23, 2013July 24, 2013

5 Tips for Moving Cross Country

Are you getting ready to move across the country? While the opportunity is exciting, there are certainly a lot of obstacles standing in your way. In order to make your big move a little easier, here are five tips for your upcoming cross country relocation:

Plan Ahead

You’re moving out of state, which means you most likely cannot visit beforehand. For that reason, you will want to plan ahead. Use the Internet to search for apartments or houses online. Luckily, certain apartment complexes will allow you to apply for a lease directly online. If you’re moving blindly, I would suggest you sign a short-term lease for three or six months.

Give yourself time to pack

Moving across the country is a pretty big venture. For example, you cannot just drive back if you forget something to move. On the same token, you will most likely have to the move everything in one trip. You should allow yourself enough time to pack. This includes deciding which items should be brought in the car or moving truck and which items can be shipped. Take your time, this step is important!

Look at a map

The best way to learn your way around a new city is by starring a map, seriously! Start to familiarize yourself with the main streets and how you can reach them from your new home. You should also highlight important locations located near your new place, such as laundry mats, grocery stores and gas stations. While you’re looking at a map, try to figure out the best possible route for your cross-country move. If you have to stay over night, plan where you will be stopping and make a list of hotels within that area. Lastly, make note of all the gas stations along your route.

Hire professionals

You’re moving across the country, which means you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Hiring professional movers can make your move easier. They will transport your items and unload them for you. However, if it’s not in your budget, compare doing it yourself vs. paying for movers. Or, you can save the cost of hiring professionals altogether by renting a moving truck.

Wear comfortable clothes

While this should go without saying, wear comfortable clothes. You will be in the same outfit for hours on end. If you get cold, you will want a sweater accessible. On the other hand, if you anticipate hot weather, try to wear something lightweight or that can be taken off. Also, when you’re moving to a new location it’s important to wear shoes that are comfortable and protective of your feet, such as sneakers.

Eric is the owner of J&L Moving Supplies. You can find him on Google+, Facebook or Twitter, so be sure to connect with him!

July 16, 2013

Packing Tips for Moving Your Office

Despite your efforts, packing can always have complications. Whether you’re moving your entire home or you’re just moving out of your office, it’s important to understand the basics in packing tips. Below you will find a list of tactics to follow for packing up and moving your own personal office!

What to pack

As your putting your belongings in boxes, make sure to pack the appropriate tools that are office essentials. This includes any miscellaneous items such as pens, clips, staplers, etc. For the more fragile and personal items like CD’s and hand-held calculators, be smart and carry those items with you as opposed to packing them up. This will ensure that you’ll keep them safe and nothing will break.

Labeling

If you carry this out correctly, labeling can be a life saver. Whether you prefer color coordinating to help assign different office items to different boxes or you like to section off your office with category names, use whatever works best for your style. Place labels on lamps, furniture, coffee mugs, computer equipment, etc. This will make unpacking after the move MUCH easier on you.

Dissemble furniture

Offices are filled with organization tools to help you perform better. When you’re moving out of an office though, it’s easy to forget about bookshelves and desk drawers. Once you’ve cleared the shelves and drawers and packed all of your papers, it’s time to dissemble the furniture to take with you. Take the shelves off a bookshelf and tape together when they’re all removed. Same goes for shelves in a desk. If it’s easier to remove the drawers for traveling, don’t forget about this option!

Pictures and personal items

If you’ve been in an office for a long time, it’s not uncommon to have compiled quite a lot of pictures, artwork and other miscellaneous items from family or friends to remind you of them during your day at work. When it’s time to move on to a new job, it’s important not to just toss these items into a box with other random items. You should absolutely create a box or two to fit these personal items and have it labeled appropriately so you don’t lose any of these items. If there is a mover coming in, it might be a good idea to take these items with you as opposed to allowing movers to move them for you.

Packing tools

The final step in your packing process is making sure you’ve compiled the right packing tools! Packing paper and bubble wrap are two items that will definitely help secure your office equipment while packing. Also making sure that the boxes you get to move items with are strong and can support heavy loads will ensure that you’re all set when it comes to your move!

Eric is the owner of J&L Moving Supplies. You can find him on Google+, Facebook or Twitter, so be sure to connect with him!

July 8, 2013July 8, 2013

5 Tips For Moving in Summer

Summer weather can be brutal! And moving during this time of year can make the weather seem even worse. While many people may think you’re crazy, summer is generally the most convenient time of year for families to move. To make your summer move a little bit more pleasant, follow these simple tips during the hottest season of the year.

Dress light

When planning your summer move, it’s important to dress comfortably. This includes wearing loose fitting clothing, light-colored shirts and the appropriate footwear. While it may seem convenient to wear flip-flops, we don’t recommend it. Instead, wear comfortable, close-toed shoes that will provide sufficient airflow.

Stay hydrated

Summer weather can be hot and humid. Whether it’s water or Gatorade, it’s important to stay hydrated. Spending lengths of time in the sun can be detrimental to your body, especially if you’re lifting boxes and moving furniture. Make sure to take water breaks throughout the day—at least one every hour during your move. Also, have plenty of water dispensers or bottles on hand for the whole moving team.

Wear sunscreen

Skin cancer is nothing to joke about. Even the slightest sunburn can be the biggest pain the following day. Before you head outside to begin your move, lather up the sunscreen and reapply it several times throughout the day. If possible, opt for sweat-proof sunscreen SPF 30+ in order to protect your skin from those harmful UV rays.

Take breaks

In addition to taking frequent water breaks, your body will need time to cool off during the summer heat. Because our bodies are in constant motion, simple functions like moving boxes or lifting heavy objects can cause our bodies to over work at such high temperatures. Taking even ten-minute breaks each hour will allow your body to recoup and last throughout the day.

Plan for your pets/kids

Make arrangements for your children and pets during the move. They will both need a safe, climate-controlled place to play, nap and stay out of the way of your moving crew. The best idea is to find a babysitter for them. If you can’t find a babysitter, plan to have plenty of weather appropriate activities to keep you’re your children and pets occupied.

While summer can be a wonderful time of year, moving or relocating can become quite the predicament during those sweaty and sweltering months. These tips are sure to make your summer move easy, breezy and stress-free!

Eric is the owner of J&L Moving Supplies. You can find him on Google+, Facebook or Twitter, so be sure to connect with him!