The fall brings with it a number of hazards. These hazards can result in injuries if you’re not careful. When trying to move heavy objects like appliances, the risk of injury greatly increases. If you were to slip on a damp sidewalk, you may break your fall and walk away with just a few bruises. If you slip while also trying to maneuver an old refrigerator out of your home, the appliance could fall on you. This can lead to cuts, fractures, broken bones, and other, more severe injuries.

If you know you’ll be dealing with old appliances this fall; you need to be aware of the risks you face and how to stop them. Here at Junk King St. Paul, our crews are very familiar with working in unfavorable weather conditions and in recognizing safety hazards. Here are some of the tips we use regularly to avoid slip and fall injuries.

Why Are Slip and Fall Injuries Dangerous?

Slip and fall accidents are one of those situations that can range from fairly minor to very severe. You may have slipped and fallen in the past, only to get up with a few bumps and bruises. Sometimes that’s the case, but other times, it’s not. Some people slip, fall, and fracture or break bones. Severe slips and falls can put you in the hospital and result in long recovery times. 

Another reason why this type of injury is dangerous is that it’s both unexpected and can occur anywhere. You can slip and fall getting out of the shower, walking down the sidewalk, or going upstairs, and really in any other situation where you’re walking somewhere. Your risk of slipping and falling increases when you’re walking on ice, a damp surface, or even a very slick floor. Certain footwear may also make it easier to slip. 

Fortunately, by being aware of your surroundings, you can reduce the risk of slipping and falling. While it can still happen, you can avoid a lot of situations where you could slip and fall simply by watching where you walk and paying attention to potential hazards. 

What Can You Do to Reduce the Risk of Accidents While Moving Appliances?

What can you do if you want to avoid injuries while removing appliances? While there will always be a small chance that an accident will occur, there are some things you can address. Here are some of the top causes of slip and fall accidents during the fall and what you can do to address them.

Clean Your Porch, Sidewalk, and Drive Before Moving Heavy Items

Before you load up the appliance on a dolly or call a friend over to help you lift it, you need to do some cleaning. Wet leaves can create a slipping hazard, so be sure you sweep them all off the sidewalk. In fact, if it’s damp at all, you will want to take it slow and be incredibly cautious, so you don’t get hurt. If possible, avoid moving anything heavy while the sidewalk is wet because you can slip more easily. This is especially true if you must go down a few stairs to get off your porch. You could easily slip, fall, and end up with the appliance on top of you.

Even if it hasn’t been raining, be sure to take a look at the route you’re going to be using to move the appliance out. Move any pots, planters, kid’s toys, bikes, etc., that are near the path out of the way. While you may plan to perfectly follow your sidewalk or other paths, always leave space on either side just in case you end up veering to one side or the other while removing appliances.

If you end up with several large bags of leaves, don’t worry about throwing them in the trash. Junk King St. Paul can pick them up when we come to help with removing appliances, furniture, and other junk. Set them aside and let us know that you’ve got a few trash bags to go with your other items.

Small Branches, Twigs, and Rocks Can Also be a Hazard

Two-wheeled dollies can be incredibly helpful when moving bulky appliances such as refrigerators. Once the appliance is on the dolly, you must tip it slightly and roll it away. You do have to make certain the dolly doesn’t slip out of your hands or get unbalanced. If it does, the appliance could fall off or, worse, fall back onto you. 

Another concern with dollies that you may not think about involves the wheels. If a small branch happens to get stuck in the wheel, it can cause you to lose control. Rocks and even small pebbles can also be an issue. You need to be careful when you’re rolling a dolly over the grass, rocky area, or uneven pavement. Look over the route you plan on taking first and remove anything that could cause the wheels to get stuck. 

Even if you’re not using a dolly, you should check for any tripping hazards before moving stuff. This includes inside the house. You don’t want to stop on a toy or other item and fall before you even make it to the front door. 

Have Your Children and Pets Stay Out of the Way

Whether inside or outside, you need to ensure your pets and your children don’t get in the way. You may need to shut your pets in another room while you’re moving the appliance and have someone watch any young children. This is true outdoors as well. While you may trust that your kids or pets won’t interfere, you never know for certain what could happen. Your dog might see another animal and take off running, bumping into you and causing you to drop whatever you’re moving. Always take precautions. 

If possible, it can be helpful to have someone who isn’t involved with removing appliances from your home serve as an observer. They can help ensure you’re lined up with the door and ready to step up or down when you reach the stairs. They can also stop any kids or animals from getting too close to you. 

Leave the Heavy Lifting to the Professionals

The easiest way to deal with getting rid of large appliances during the fall, or any time of the year, is to call on Junk King St. Paul. Our team knows how to safely remove junk during all types of weather. We will aid with removing appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, washing machines, dryers, and more. We’re a one-stop junk hauling service, which means we take much more. Furniture, electronics, hot tubs, mattresses, yard waste…the list goes on and on. The only thing we cannot deal with is hazardous waste. For our safety, we have to leave that to those who are trained in hazardous waste disposal. 

Why Use Junk King St. Paul?

In addition to hauling off multiple types of junk, there are a few reasons you should turn to us for bulk waste disposal needs. First, we do it all. All you have to do is show us what junk you want us to haul away. We will maneuver it out of your home, down the sidewalk, and into our truck. You don’t need to get it out to the curb or even move it to the front door. 

You also don’t have to have a truck, dolly, or any other equipment. You’re not going to the landfill, meaning there’s no need to figure out where your local landfill is or pay the dumping fees. Everything is as easy as it can be when you work with Junk King.

We provide a free, no-obligation estimate for every job. It’s very easy to get one of these quotes, too. You can call us, text us information, use our online pricing tool, or require an in-person estimate. With so many different options, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs and schedule. Our quotes include all costs and fees, too, so you’ll never get hit with a huge bill with tons of hidden charges at the end. 

Finally, another great reason to partner with Junk King is that we donate and recycle as much as we can. If it’s still useful, we’ll get it to an organization that will pass it on to those in need. If it’s recyclable, it goes to one of our local recycling partners. In the end, as much as 60 to 70 percent of every truckload is redirected away from the landfill. 

Call Junk King Today For Help!

Don’t risk removing appliances and large, heavy junk from your home alone. Let Junk King’s team of experts do all the hard work instead. Call us today at 1-888-888-JUNK or text us at 1-737-888-5865.