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  • September 5, 2022

Warehouse Racking Safety Guidelines

Warehouse Racking Safety Guidelines

Accidents can happen at any time in warehouses due to the constant movement of goods and equipment. Pallet racking in particular, especially when overcrowded, can be a source of accidents. If staff are not careful, other warehouse equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks can potentially cause accidents. For industrial shelving safety, there are some strict standards and best practices to follow. Here's all you need to know about materials handling and rack system safety. 


All Employees Should Be Trained

Employees should be re-trained at least once a year, or more frequently if there has been an increase in accidents. Instead of retraining individual employees, aim to retrain a group of people simultaneously. If one person has forgotten their training, chances are that others have as well. 


Load Limits for Racks and Pallets

The load restrictions of pallet racking systems must be rigorously adhered to. Supervisors should inspect racks regularly to ensure that front-line personnel hasn't made any mistakes. Keep in mind that any damage to a beam or upright might drastically restrict the weight limit of the rack. The storage rack must be unloaded entirely as soon as any damage occurs until a racking professional can assess the damage. 


Pallet Rack that is straight and plump

A properly constructed industrial shelving should not readily get out of plumb. A forklift accident or other incident is usually the cause of a leaning rack. A rack that is overloaded or loaded unevenly may begin to lean in some instances.


Concerns about forklifts

One of the most prominent causes of industrial shelving accidents is forklifts.  storage rack should be enclosed by bright yellow barriers as much as possible to prevent forklift damage. Forklifts should be able to enter and exit the aisle without coming too close to the uprights. Also, keep an eye out for forklifts that are off-balance or overloaded, as these can collide with racking. 


Pallet Racks for Sale

If purchased from a trustworthy dealer, used pallet racks can be entirely safe. Steel racking is built to last a lifetime, and warehouses may simply outgrow their existing racking. This is particularly true as some larger businesses adopt high-tech automated processes.

Secondhand pallet racks do not have any inherent safety hazards, but a dealer must inspect and repair used racking thoroughly.



Drive-Through Racks

Instead of loading pallets from the outside, drive-in racks allow forklifts to drive into them. Forklift operators must be thoroughly trained and held to high safety standards for drive-in racks to be safe. Supervisors and managers must evaluate drive-in racks more thoroughly and do surprise walk-throughs regularly. 


Automated Systems

The most secure storage rack alternatives are those that eliminate human mistakes. Pallet racking and picking systems that are automated can reduce labor expenses while also preventing workplace hazards. While these systems still have load limits and must be kept plumb, they are less prone to structural issues, which are usually the result of wear and tear over time. 


Conclusion

Racking systems are becoming increasingly important in warehouse management, and 13SQFT.COM can help you in maintaining and implementing a safe pallet rack system for any facility or budget. 

Team 13SQFT

POSTED BY
Team 13SQFT

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