Warehouses are vital to the success of a wide range of businesses around the country, and they also provide employment to thousands of individuals. Pallet rack systems are ubiquitous in warehouses, but disregarding their safety is all too easy; this can result in catastrophic damage and injuries. Here are some of the best tips for maintaining your pallet racking system.
Employ Forklift Operator Training
Pallet racks can fail and cause damage for a variety of causes, but untrained forklift operators are common problems. Operating machinery can be difficult, since it typically necessitates tight moves that can result in collisions with nearby racks. OSHA mandates that all forklift operators be trained in order to maintain warehouse safety.
Optimize Your Warehouse Layout
Warehouse aisles must be wide enough to allow any necessary machinery to pass through safely. Restricting aisles so that the warehouse can hold more inventory may be tempting, but this can cause serious problems when equipment collides with pallets and pallet racking systems.
Use Guardrails, Rack Guards, Column Protectors, and Bollards
Even the most seasoned forklift operators make mistakes and miscalculate turns from time to time. To ensure maximum safety and protect pallet racks, use bright yellow guardrails, end-of-rack guards, column protectors, and bollards.
Anchor Your Pallet Racks
For increased stability, tying your pallet racks to the floor is a good idea. This way, the pallet rack system will not collapse or fail as a result of an inadvertent collision. The seismic hazard zone in which you’re located determines the appropriate anchoring of a pallet rack system.
Don’t Overload Your Storage Racks
Busy warehouses may try to store as many items as possible on storage racks to free up floor space. This is an understandable temptation, but if your pallet racks aren’t up to the task, it could result in disastrous consequences. Congested pallet racks may threaten the integrity and stability of a system.
Maintaining your pallet racking system might be difficult, but we hope our ideas have been helpful. Use these methods to keep your warehouse pallet racking system in good working order and your warehouse goods safe!
