Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

Secure Inventory Storage and Retention: Optimizing Warehouse Layouts for Structural Flow

28 May 2026 · 1 min

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1:11

The speaker explains the federal records management process, emphasizing that every official document is governed by a NARA‑approved records schedule that dictates how long it must be retained. Records fall into two categories: temporary records, which are kept for a set period (e.g., three or seven years) before they may be destroyed, and permanent records, which possess historical value and must eventually be transferred to the National Archives. Workers are not expected to memorize every schedule; instead, they must know where to locate their agency’s file plan or consult the designated records officer before disposing of any document. The segment underscores that unauthorized destruction of federal records is a serious legal offense.

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So, you have a paper record, and you're protecting its contents. What happens next? You can't keep it forever just in case, and you can't throw it away because you're done with it. Every federal record is governed by a records schedule. This is a mandatory instruction approved by NARA that tells you how long a record must be kept. Some records are temporary and are kept for a specific period, say 3 years or 7 years, before they can be destroyed. Others are designated as permanent because of their historical value and must eventually be transferred to the National Archives. It is not your job to memorize every schedule. It is your job to know where to find your agency's specific file plan or to consult your designated records officer before destroying any official document. Unauthorized destruction of federal records is a serious offense.