Tips to Prevent a Warehouse Shelving Rack Collapse

Efficient operations should be the most prominent goal of a warehouse manager – and with good reason. Efficiency means more productivity, which ultimately means more revenue for your business. To optimize efficiency, warehouses must be well-organized. Warehouse shelving racks are a key component of any warehouse infrastructure and contribute greatly to a warehouse’s overall organization. Because these systems are closely connected, the collapse of one shelving unit or rack could result in the collapse of an entire row. This could pose major safety issues for your warehouse staff and may damage valuable equipment. Instead of accepting the risk of a potentially dangerous situation, take the following precautions in your warehouse to keep your staff safe, and save both time and money.

Have Adequate Aisle Space

Although it is important to maximize the space you have in your warehouse, it is equally as important to allow enough space for maneuvering machinery. In order to avoid unwanted accidents, it is best to have adequate aisle space. You can determine what “adequate” space means for your warehouse by considering the height, spacing, and accessibility of your warehouse shelving racks.

Despite many businesses choosing to keep the recommended aisle widths to a minimum, many of them fail to consider the high amounts of traffic during operational hours or even the lack of experience a forklift driver may have. Besides creating a safer environment for everyone in the warehouse, more aisle space can help increase driver productivity because they are able to move about more quickly and efficiently.

Pay Attention to Load Weights

Putting a load that is too heavy on a shelving unit that cannot support it is sure to result in a collapse, so be sure that your shelves are capable of bearing such a load. Being mindful of the pallet’s center of gravity is also important to prevent shelves from pulling backwards or forwards. In addition, when organizing your loads, it is best practice to put the heaviest loads in the lower bays and the lighter ones towards the top.

Conduct Inspections Regularly

Conducting regular racking and shelving inspections is imperative when it comes to preventing accidents. The goal is to identify any units that require maintenance or repair, which can be done by hiring a qualified professional for the inspection, and tasking employees with reporting any damaged or dented shelving units. This helps to prevent the damage from worsening and becoming a safety hazard.

Remove Clutter

Cluttered aisles can cause accidents by increasing the likelihood that a forklift will hit a pallet rack. Clearing clutter and having drivers steer clear of it can help to circumvent a dangerous situation. Adding bright lighting to increase driver visibility is also helpful in preventing accidents, especially in particularly hazardous areas of the warehouse.

Train Your Employees

Training your employees in the latest safety practices and procedures is essential in running a warehouse. Speed limits should be posted throughout the warehouse, especially in accident-prone areas like pedestrian crosses, corners, etc. Sometimes it is necessary to bring in experts to train your staff, so do not hesitate to reach out to a professional that can help to properly educate your employees.

As stated before, your priorities should lie in maintaining a safe and efficient environment in your warehouse. If you are seeking warehouse solutions, contact us at Darr Equipment today.