Getting Organized? First Consider the Perils of DIY Shredding by Pete Lorenco

One of the craziest figures in film is Travis Bickle, the title character in the Scorsese classic Taxi Driver. But did you know that despite his tragic insanity, the lunatic cabbie had some moments of practical thinking? Proof: In his apartment is a sign that reads, One of these days, I'm gonna get organiz-ized!

Wait did you say that day's arrived for you? Congratulations! But beware: Though we know your version of cleaning up won't include sporting a mohawk and stockpiling weapons, perils await.

If your first step is to fire up your little shredder and finally destroy those stacks of papers gathering dust, consider some of DIY shredding's obvious and lesser-known dangers:

Peril #1: It can be a health hazard. Bisphenol-A (BPA) has gotten a bad rap recently for showing up in human tissue, probably via water bottles and other food containers. But did you know that BPA also coats the electronic cash register receipts you handle every day? Yes, the same paper you're quite possibly feeding into your shredders daily.

A 2011 paper in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found BPA in 94 percent of receipt paper. When handled, BPA can be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream in about two hours. BPA has been shown to affect the endocrine system. Other research raises concerns about BPA's potential disruption of the reproductive system.

Another worry: the paper dust that your employees breathe in every time they shred. Paper dust has been linked to respiratory problems and can trigger adult-onset asthma, according to a Finnish study of office workers published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Peril #2: Sloppy shredding can be a fire hazard. You've been meaning to get around to shredding for a while, which is why the Mount Everest of old paper lives in your file room. Apart from the obvious security issues of leaving shred-worthy documents around, you should also be concerned about the potential fire hazard of DIY shredding with your own equipment.

If you have a stack of documents gathering dust, make sure it's not near an electrical outlet. A spark could cause a conflagration. Shredders can overheat and short-circuit, and paper that's already shredded is actually more combustible than non-shredded paper, thanks to all that very flammable airborne paper dust.

Peril #3: It can cause an injury to you or your employees. One of the biggest hazards that shredders present to you and your employees is personal injury. OSHA keeps a record of shredding accidents, ranging from minor (finger lacerations) to gruesome (hand amputations).

If you're short on square footage, consider the desk, meeting or events space those piles of paper currently occupy. Not to mention the fact that if your employees are in the habit of leaving sensitive documents around instead of shredding them immediately, you're risking costly and reputation-damaging security breaches.

Partnering with a trusted vendor eliminates all the perils of DIY shredding once and for all. Teaming up can help you get those papers offsite and into a secure location. Or, if you opt for curbside shredding, you'll do so with a secured, well-maintained vehicle. Either way, you can work in a more organized, quiet and healthy workplace, which will keep your nerves intact. Unlike the tortured Travis.

LINK:	http://blogs.ironmountain.com/2014/service-lines/small-business/gettin...
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