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Commercial Vehicles
Cleaning up vehicle storage
To prevent hazard, especially in the event of an accident, cleaning chemicals and
apparatus transported in vans needs to be properly stored. Storing items correctly
can also help contractors better organise their equipment. Kevin Woodward, MD of
Bott’s Vehicle Enhancement Division, explains
Having too much weight on one side of the van will cause uneven
wear of tyres and poor vehicle handling and could increase the risk of
skidding. In addition, most vans have a maximum weight that can be
placed across the back axle and if this is exceeded VOSA (Vehicle and
Operator Services Agency) can take legal action.
A matter of restraint
Cleaning contractors should therefore have adequate systems in
place for restraining goods and equipment safely. Using high-quality,
professional in-vehicle storage to restrain and organise items will not
only guarantee safety, but will also ensure items can be found easily
and efficiently.
With well-designed storage, everything should be easily accessible
to ensure that cleaners can quickly and safely locate the equipment
and cleaning solutions they need. For small items such as wipes,
gloves, brushes and dusters, cabinets with drawers can be included in
the storage design. These drawers can include inserts, to help
organise items by size or type.
Bott is a leading provider of in-vehicle storage equipment,
primarily for light commercial vehicles, and offers a wide range of
storage solutions including cabinets, drawers, shelving and racking. It
also offers accessories such as storage bins, boxes, containers, supply
C
leaning professionals use their vans to transport all manner of cases (which can also be removed) and restraints. The company has a
items, including cleaning chemicals, mops and buckets and dedicated design team, which can help to ensure goods are stored in
even portable ice blasters to clean graffiti and stubborn dirt. the most effective, safe way.
Professional in-vehicle storage systems will ensure that the risk of Some cleaning contractors might be tempted to turn to DIY
chemicals being spilled is minimised, which is vital as they can be storage, but this is unlikely to withstand the impact of a collision,
harmful if mixed together and are often highly flammable. Potentially and could itself be hazardous if it becomes detached. Leading in-
dangerous chemicals should be lashed down vehicle storage providers will
where necessary and rubber linings will ensure make load safety their top
containers and bottles do not slip around during priority. Bott carries out a
transit. The use of drawers and lipped trays can variety of safety tests at its
make sure any spills are contained. factories, covering endurance,
If bottles, containers and buckets aren’t tensile, tear-out, vibration and
properly secured, should a collision occur there is load. We also conduct realistic
potential for them to fly through the air to the crash tests, partly in conjunction
front of the van or through the windscreen, with the automobile industry
causing serious injury or even death – known as and the TUEV Technical
‘secondary injury’. Chemicals could be spilt in the Inspectorate.
van or onto the road or pavement, resulting in a We believe safety is
very dangerous hazard. If properly secured, the synonymous with attention to
load will not contribute to the injury of the driver detail, and this includes using
or other road users. the correct materials. We aim to
Poorly secured items can also distract the strike a balance between
driver. For example, if a bottle containing a stability and lightweight
potentially harmful chemical starts rolling around design, combining aluminium,
in the back of a van, the driver could be tempted steel and plastic to meet
to take their attention away from the road. requirements for safety, as well
as stability, weight and noise
Goal weight insulation.
When storing items, vehicle handling and weight
42736 or cleaning-matters.co.uk/enquiry
distribution issues also need to be considered. Tel: 01288 357788
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