Paper shredders are a mixed bag. They can be
reassuring because when you use one to get rid of private documents, you
can safely assume that you're protecting yourself from identity theft.Thus, it's important to stay safe
when using a shredder. Here are some ways you can do so:
Paper shredders are a mixed bag. They can be
reassuring because when you use one to get rid of private documents, you
can safely assume that you're protecting yourself from identity theft.
However, these machines can also be incredibly dangerous thanks to their
sharp blades and powerful motors. Thus, it's important to stay safe
when using a shredder. Here are some ways you can do so:
If this is your first time using a shredder, make
sure you check out the machine's instruction manual. Not only will this
help you become familiar with the proper way to operate the device,
you'll become familiar with all of its various parts. There is often
safety information in the manual as well, so take a look at it.
When
you begin shredding, you don't need to force the paper into the feed
opening. Just gently insert it and the machine will begin shredding it.
This will prevent an injury from occurring and it will reduce wear and
tear on the device.
Never put any foreign
objects in the feed opening. Your shredder was meant to shred paper
only. (Unless you purchased a device that's capable of destroying
multimedia items such as CD's, DAT tape, floppy disks, etc.) If you have
long hair, make sure it's pulled back when shredding. Likewise, if
you're wearing a tie or dangling jewelry (i.e. a necklace), keep it away
from the feed opening so your day doesn't head south.
There
are a lot of paper shredders on the market that have safety features
such as an interlock to prevent unauthorized use. A lot of the machines
manufactured by Fellowes have what's known as SafeSense, a feature that
causes the shredder to shut down automatically if it detects any limbs
near the feed opening. That even includes non-human body parts such as a
paw or tail. It never hurts to select device with good safety features,
so find out if the machine you're interested in has any before you
purchase it.
If your machine doesn't shut
off automatically when the waste bin is full, make sure you cut the
power when you're disposing of your shreds. This prevents the cutting
mechanism from going into gear which can obviously be quite dangerous.
When
you're done destroying your documents, it's a good idea to unplug the
device. (This will prevent people from tripping over the electrical
cord.) Also, you may want to think about storing your shredder in a
closet or some other safe place, especially if there are kids in your
home or workplace.
Finally, be sure to
exercise caution and use common sense when you shred your documents. No
matter how many safety features a shredder has, the potential for
accidents still exists, so be as careful as possible and don't take any
risks.
Following these tips will enable you to have the safest possible
shredding experience. Try them out the next time you use your paper
shredder so you can stay safe while also protecting your identity.
Jeff McRitchie is the Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to book binding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment.
More than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of
locations on the Internet. If you're looking for information about paper shredders his articles are a great place to start.
