7 Pallet Racking Safety Tips

The purchase of a good pallet racking system represents a significant upgrade for your warehouse. But as with all things in a warehouse environment, safety should be the foremost priority when performing job duties. The following tips will keep you and your employees safe while getting the maximum benefit from your pallet racking system.

Proper Assembly

The first safety concern with your new pallet racking system is assuring the system is assembled properly. It is best to hire a professional to assemble your pallet racks. Do not trust this important function to inexperienced personnel. You should also read and use the instructions regarding the assembly and use of your pallet racks. This will mean learning about things like capacity recommendations and maintenance suggestions.

Appropriate Space and Light

Once your pallet racks are assembled they need to be positioned in a way that facilitates their safe usage. The space provided by the aisles in your warehouse is of utmost importance. Your aisles must provide the necessary space to properly pick and stock shelves. There should also be enough space for safe forklift travel.

Proper lighting is needed so that employees can see the products they need to stock and pick. A well-lit warehouse will also allow employees to detect any dangers to their safety that may exist.

Do Not Overload

The size and strength of your pallet racks may lead you to believe there is no weight they are unable to bear. Pushing the limits of a pallet rack too far can cause a significant danger to each of the workers in your warehouse. Do not ignore the situation if you see a pallet rack that you suspect may be overloaded.

You should also pay attention to how things are positioned on pallet racks. Storing items on a pallet rack in a smart and efficient manner will go along way at ensuring the rack can safely bear the weight it is designed to support.

Inspections

Frequent inspections of racking and other warehouse equipment will help you discover minor damages before they have the chance to become major ones. Schedule times for members of your crew to concentrate only on detecting problems with the racks. Have them search for minor issues like dents, missing safety pins, and beam deflection.

It is also a good idea to bring a professional in to look at your pallet racking system from time to time. You should look for a company with an established history for Queensland pallet racking.

Repair Damage

It will not bring much benefit to you if you do not repair the minor damage you discovered using the last tip. Fix any problems you find immediately. Delaying these repairs is a good way to forget they exist until a much larger problem presents itself. Remember, the goal is to repair minor problems before they grow into larger ones that can damage equipment or contribute to injuries to your workers.

Use Racks on level ground

The cement floor in your warehouse likely looks flat to you. But no matter how to level the surface may appear, your warehouse floor is not completely flat. It is important to find the most level surface area available in your warehouse to place pallet racks. Shim plates are available if you need a little extra help guaranteeing a flat surface. Make sure the shim plates you use are compatible with the base of your racks. A pallet rack that is positioned squarely on the floor is essential to proper weight distribution as well as the overall strength of your pallet racking system.

Proper Education

Your employees should be thoroughly educated on all aspects of safety pertaining to your pallet racking system. Your employees should know to look for signs of damage to your equipment and provide ongoing maintenance to the system. You should also ensure your employees know how to use all equipment properly to prevent damage and injury from negligence.

Your forklift operators should understand each rack's storage capabilities and understand how to properly load weight. All workers should be properly trained regarding when an accident should be reported and how that reporting should take place.

The Bottom Line

A good pallet racking system is essential to warehouse functions. However, it is just as important that everyone in your warehouse makes use of all available safety precautions when using pallet racks. Paying close attention to the seven safety tips above will go a long way at keeping you and your family safe.