Most tapes arrive in sealed cartridges so that the tape will remain in a clean environment.
Opening the cartridge allows dirt and airborne particles to enter and then become a source of contamination. Only the tape drive should open the cartridge; not an operator. Inside the cartridge, the tape is under correct tension. If the cartridge is dropped, this tension will be relaxed. Inserting a dropped cartridge into a tape drive can cause incorrect loading and result in a jam. This will ruin the tape and can cause physical damage if the cartridge is not removed properly.
To store the tapes properly, put them in their protective containers and store them on their ends. The storage area must be clean, dry, at room temperature, and away from any magnetic fields.