Last year, Aim Lock & Safe provided 3 reasons why you shouldn’t move a safe on your own.
Today, we take a look at the safety precautions we take when handling tough, challenging safe relocation jobs.
Using specialized safe moving equipment
A heavy-duty moving dolly won’t do it. Not even close. And bungee cords and straps aren’t much help, either.
Especially if your home safe needs to be moved up or down a set of stairs.
A specialized hydraulic stair lift unit is required to load, transport and unload a heavy safe without damaging:
- The safe
- Your stairs (including railings)
- Your wall
- And most importantly, yourself
Here’s a video of one in action:
And if you’re thinking of purchasing one, keep in mind they can easily cost over $1000.
Renting them isn’t much easier because many equipment rental companies simply don’t have them in stock.
Planning an exit strategy
Most conventional moving companies aren’t equipped to handle safes.
They’re accustomed to moving boxes and items through the front door.
However, a large, 800lb safe which doesn’t come apart like an IKEA bed requires a bit of extra planning.
Before we get to work, we look for and account for areas which could be a problem, such as:
- Stairs
- Tight corners
- Small doorways
- Narrow corridors
And if any adjustments need to be made to carefully get your safe outside (such as removing and reinstalling the door and door frame), we’ll do it.
Wearing proper clothing
Grabbing a safe bare-handed isn’t a smart idea.
Neither is wearing running shoes while moving it.
When moving a safe from one location to another, it’s important to dress properly, which involves:
- Kevlar grip gloves
- Non-slip steel-toed boots
- Made to fit (which means non-baggy) work uniforms
It may seem like a small thing, but in the rare circumstance, the right footwear can be the difference between a deep bruise and a severe break.
Knowing the type of safe being moved
Most safes are big and heavy.
But not all safes are the same.
Various safe types have different moving requirements. You can’t just pick it up and move it around.
For example, a gun safe should be emptied before transporting it while a smaller wall safe could be moved fully loaded.
Meanwhile, commercial safes tend to be heavier, larger and bulkier than their residential counterparts.
The bottom line is that each kind of safe has its own moving specifications.
Knowing what they are goes a long way to protecting everything and everyone involved.
Need a safe moved? Contact the experts who know how to do it
We’ve been moving safes throughout Toronto, Milton, Oakville, Mississauga, Hamilton and Burlington since 1986.
We have the tools, equipment, know-how and experience to make sure it’s done right.
And the last thing anyone wants is for your safe to get damaged or for you to become injured.
So when it comes to moving a heavy safe, we’d be happy to handle it for you.
Contact us with your safe moving needs and we’ll get back to you quickly to discuss them.
