Choosing the Right Employee Lockers
Blake Bearden | 13 June 2017
Distribution and manufacturing centers need to be careful to choose the right locker for the job. They store the items we need for work, a change of clothes, give us space for personal items, and allow us to feel at home with a personal space of our own. Just a pair of steel toes and a hard hat could fill an entire space, leaving no space for a child’s latest kindergarten art work. So what options are out there for employee lockers, and does it really matter which ones we choose? There are many options, and yes, it does.
What Size?
Assuming you have the available space in your warehouse, it’s important to get lockers big enough for any work gear along with extra space for personal items. And it’s not just about the total space available, the orientation of the space can make all the difference to the locker’s usability. With a double wide locker, now I have the space for a gym bag or a lunch cooler, items that are difficult to fit in a standard width locker. Personally, I’d rather have a 2 tier locker that is double wide than a 1 tier that is standard width. There is just that much more you can do with the space. Generally, an individual locker can range in size between:
- Width: 6.5” to 48”
- Depth: 12” to 24”
- Height: 12” to 84”
Ventilated?
Is your locker room air conditioned? Do your employees work in a hot environment and sweat? Could they ever store any cleaners in the lockers? These are some good reasons to consider a ventilated locker. Vents will help air out your dirty laundry and keep a fresher smell on the inside.
Heavy Duty?
What gauge steel do you want? You get what you pay for. A thicker steel locker will hold up against the test of time and be more secure for the property inside. If the lockers are going to be used regularly or contain valuables, a heavier duty build might be a good choice.
Customized?
Maybe you need something a little more specialized for the task? Don’t worry because there are several ways to customize and build to suit. You could add:
- Shelves
- Coat rack
- Wood Construction
- Partitions
- Drawers
- Antimicrobial
- Seating/Bench – I can’t easily put on shoes while standing, can you?
- Bases – It’s a locker room, its gross enough. Bases will keep dirt from building up underneath
- Slope Top – No unsightly clutter and much less dust and debris
Conclusion
Lockers are a great resource to an employee, and having a little piece of home while at work will greatly increase morale. It’s important to choose a locker style that optimizes the space inside and gives individuals room for both work and personal items. When thinking about a locker to choose, just consider which of the below lockers you would rather come face to face with every morning?
Blake Bearden is a regional director with Bastian Solutions and works out of the greater Los Angeles area office. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in human factors engineering and has an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Blake has experience with automation across a range of industries including 3PL, retail distribution, manufacturing, food and beverage, and e-commerce and omni-channel fulfillment.
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