Emergency supplies – it’s something nobody wants to think about, but something that absolutely needs the right plan of action.

From the office to the warehouse and everywhere in-between, the demand for emergency supplies is at an all time high. Cleaning supplies, toilet paper and other hygiene products, even bottled water and batteries can come in handy during any time of crisis, but figuring out where to keep them can be a challenge all on its own.

Whether you’re trying to fight the spread of Coronavirus, worried about weather emergencies, or just trying to expect the unexpected, here’s a few examples of where different workplaces can store emergency supplies:

Warehouses: Ironically, as a building built for storage, it can be a challenge to find storage space in your warehouse that isn’t already given over to items and inventory. Many warehouses, under the appropriate circumstances, turn to increasing their existing floor space through the use of warehouse mezzanines or modular offices. These installations can add extra work surface and create a designated, easy-to-find area to store things like cleaning supplies during a period of heavy illness. If your warehouse doesn’t have enough extra space for these sort of installations, many warehouses turn to security partitions to keep these items close at hand, and in an area where they can be easily counted.

Office/Business Parks: Most modern office buildings are built with additional storage in mind, but it can cut down on a lot of panic and clutter to have a designated area specifically for emergency health supplies and first-aid kits, particularly ones in line with your local regulations. Review the areas you use for storing cleaning supplies like disinfectant wipes and bleach, as well as first-aid kits and medical emergency supplies, and add storage like wire shelves and metal shelves as needed.

Retail Outlets: Retail outlets tend to be a little pressed for space due to the amount of items they already have to stock and put out on shelves, but some careful planning can help you get access to things like hygiene products and cleaning supplies. Clear any available space in your backroom to set some extra shelves up, and make sure you use a germ-resistant material like sterile plastic shelves to keep your workers and customers that much safer from germs.

Restaurants: Restaurants already have a pretty high number of health & safety requirements they have to fulfill, but keeping extra cleaning products around is always a good idea for any business that comes into that much contact with the public. In addition to the restaurant shelves you’re already using, set up at least two different areas with germ free wire shelves for both your back-of-house staff (cooks, dishwashers, etc) and your front-of-house team (servers, baristas, hosts/hostesses) to easily access in the event of spills. (Of course, this may change depending on if your restaurant is open during an emergency.) By planning ahead and giving your emergency supplies a safe place where they can be easily found, you can keep your workers and customers safer than ever.