Your storage system is an integral piece of your business. These warehouse safety tips will help your pallet rack last longer and be as productive as possible, while also creating a healthy work environment for your employees.

Pallet rack failures mainly come from forklift collision, misuse and overloading, a lack of knowledge or training, and improper install and maintenance. If your pallet rack collapses, it could be potentially deadly for your warehouse staff, and extremely costly in terms of clean-up and lost inventory.

Here are some ways you can protect your storage system and yourself.

  1. Know your pallet rack capacities, and post them clearly: Never exceed the listed capacities of your pallet rack, as that could cause a collapse. If you post the maximum capacities per pallet or beam level, your employees will know when loading and unloading exactly how much weight the system can safely take.
  2. Use pallet rack protectors: Even if your workers are highly trained, you will still encounter collisions when forklifts are involved. Post and upright protectors will shield your pallet rack from impacts.
  3. Inspect your rack regularly for damage: Checking your pallet rack on a regular basis could save you a lot of money later. If your pallet rack is damaged and you continue to load inventory on it, there is a possibility that the system will fail and you will damage or lose your items.
  4. Replace or repair damaged pallet rack: Going along with tip number three, if you find damage in your pallet rack system, you should immediately repair or replace that portion. It might seem like a hassle to unload and reload your inventory, but it is not as bad as having a full blown collapse. In some cases, your rack can be repaired without unloading it as well.
  5. Load and unload the pallets properly: Make sure you are placing the load squarely on the rack, and that your forklift operators have good safety training. Evenly distributed loads will help your beams last longer, and lowers the chance of pallets being knocked off or falling.

If you utilize these tips in your warehouse, it will be a much safer and more efficient place to work. Contact us if you have any questions or need information on pallet rack repair.