Once you start implementing earthquake preparedness measures, you start thinking “if a major earthquake hit, it would have been a disaster,” and it gets a bit scary. Things that normally wouldn’t fall end up falling or tipping over. And that’s why “the heavier the object, the higher the risk,”
Perfection is difficult, but “earthquake preparedness that avoids the worst-case scenario” really increases your peace of mind when you set a deadline and follow through.
Today’s Handy Tips & Shop Owner Column
Theme: Why am I posting so extensively about “earthquake preparedness” at Decoboco Factory right now?
The terror of earthquakes in a motorcycle shop: Liter bikes weighing over 200kg domino into each other, heavy iron racks collapse and strike rare collector bikes, and there’s the risk of spilled gasoline igniting.
Professional commitment: Because we’re responsible for precious vehicles entrusted to us by customers and for the lives of our team, we’re urgently implementing flawless preparations without making excuses about “unforeseen circumstances.”
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If you take no precautions and suffer damage in a major earthquake, “the regret will be enormous,” I think. If you experience damage without taking precautions, consider how many months it would take to return to normal—earthquake preparedness is truly urgent.
If you prepare, things will definitely move in a positive direction and your peace of mind will increase significantly.
Anti-vibration gel absorbs the shaking
I used anti-vibration gel mats on a small refrigerator and oven. I was a bit dismissive at first, but “when you shake it, the difference is dramatic.” I definitely realized it’s a worthwhile item to have.
If you’re worried, use “Earth Lock” when buying a rotary hammer drill
Tall shelves get Earth Locked. Our shelves all have locking casters so we can rearrange quickly. When I shook them hard, I thought… this would definitely tip over.
I drove anchors into the floor and secured them with tie belts under tension. This time, I took the approach that it just needs to not tip forward.
I use rubber bands on cases to keep them from falling forward and make them easy to access.
I also wall-mounted this favorite gap-filling display shelf to dead space. Just imagine “if a shelf like this tipped over, it would be a disaster.” I’m genuinely glad I did it this time.
Machine tools are seriously dangerous! Securing them is absolutely urgent
I was only securing the drill press and bench vise at one point… but that’s definitely risky. If a major earthquake hit, they would definitely fall off the table. Just thinking about it is scary.
I’ve secured the belt sander and metal saw as well. If they fell and the power cord got cut, causing a fire? That thought was terrifying.
The compressor tank is tall, so it would definitely roll… I’ve also secured the Intercomp spring tester properly.
The more I implement these measures, the more I realize “I wasn’t doing any earthquake preparedness at all,” and I feel genuinely remorseful.
Currently, the argon gas I’ve roughly wall-mounted will be “Earth Locked.” When you shake things by hand, you can pretty much imagine what will happen.
A 7000L gas cylinder would definitely tip over…
I considered drilling eye bolts into the wall and securing it, but basically “drywall” won’t work where the studs are, limiting placement flexibility. So instead, I purchased a 2-bottle gas cylinder stand KIKAIYA and decided to lock it to the floor instead.
When you imagine, think, search, and arrange things for earthquake preparedness, time flies. After implementing this, I realized “keeping it as simple as possible is best.” And ultimately, “Earth Lock” is the gold standard.
Pay attention to items stored at high positions.
The customer helmets we’re storing are on a shelf. There are always so many, so I’m a bit worried—actually quite worried. When I look at them, “they would definitely fall,”
I wanted to come up with something more clever… but honestly, I’m getting tired, “and I don’t want to spend too much,” so I just made sure things won’t fall using what I had on hand—like making fried rice from whatever’s in the fridge.
When you have a tall shelf, you naturally end up loading it with stuff. Originally, I had even more on it. Through this earthquake preparedness effort, I kept only light items and moved heavy ones down to distribute the load. Since I couldn’t do anything about the mounting method, this time I used cargo straps to secure items to the shelf.
I initially bought 5 meters, but 3 meters was enough. The more you think about it, the more everything seems worrisome, but you can’t prevent everything completely. Earthquake preparedness that just avoids the worst-case scenario is truly urgent, I’ve come to feel.
Lately, the world seems strange to me. I’m increasingly feeling the real need to prepare by reducing risks as much as possible. We’re almost done with phase one.
A Matter of Urgency: Why I am Obsessed with Earthquake Prep in My Motorcycle Shop.
Topic: The vital responsibility of a professional shop owner to protect client vehicles and lives. Details: Over the past few days, I’ve posted extensively about installing heavy-duty drywall anchors, rotary hammer drilling, and anti-vibration gels. Why the sudden urgency? Because the horrific photos and memories of earthquake-damaged motorcycle shops from past disasters are burned into my mind. When a major earthquake hits a motorcycle shop, 200kg+ bikes domino into each other, heavy iron tool racks collapse on top of rare vintage machines, and spilled fuel risks triggering catastrophic fires. Verdict: To my clients who trust me with their irreplaceable bikes, saying “the earthquake was unexpectedly large” is an excuse I refuse to ever make. Securing our infrastructure down to the last bolt isn’t optional—it’s an urgent duty. A safe workspace is the absolute foundation of high-quality mechanics!
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