You may think that your warehouse runs smoothly and that everything is as it should be, but that can change if pallet racks take damage during storage or transport. And this damage can end up hurting your business. Handling materials with care and following routine maintenance practices will help you keep your pallet racks in good shape while avoiding safety violations in your warehouse. Accomplish better management of your warehouse and distribution centers with these different ways to prevent pallet rack damage.
Maintenance and Inspection
Maintenance and inspection should be your highest priorities when you have pallet racks in your warehouse. Extreme weight or inaccurate piling can compromise your system’s structural integrity, but regularly checking for these problems will keep them in check and promote safer warehouse practices. Alignment is another issue that you need to focus on. You should hire personnel to take care of this task to ensure consistently safe pallet rack usage.
Improve Lighting
Proper visibility can provide a safer environment and help you avoid the risk of damage or injuries. With proper lighting, workers have a better view when operating machinery and navigating your storage system.
Aisle Clearing
Remove anything from the path or aisle that hinders the forklift’s movement. There should be enough space for the forklift driver to maneuver. Leaving out products or equipment leads to cluttered aisles, increasing the risk of accidents and putting your workers and products at risk.
Proper Distancing
The pallet racks should have proper distancing. Exact measurements will vary depending on your specific workflow and needs, but keep in mind that workers and machinery must be able to safely navigate the storage system. Implementing proper distancing allows workers to transport products safely and efficiently with less risk of accidents.
Don’t Overload
Knowing the dos and don’ts of warehouse pallet racking systems is a critical part of owning one. The pallet racks can tolerate only a certain weight, and there should be a proper stacking technique. Make sure heavier loads are at the bottom and lighter loads are at the top to keep both your products and racking system safe. Keep the pallets well-aligned, and confirm that your staff knows how to check and obey best practices regarding weight capacity and load tolerances.
Knowing the different ways to prevent pallet rack damage improves safety and efficiency in your warehouse. Pallet racks can last for more than a decade if you know the proper upkeep, making your investment go further and helping your storage system continue to serve you as your business grows.
