Mistakes to Avoid to Keep Your Warehouse Racks in Top Condition

Warehouse racks are easily susceptible to damage and may cause serious accidents. In this blog, we will explore all the measures you need to take to avoid any unwanted situations in your warehouse.

A lot of work and effort goes into running a warehouse. You need proper coordination with logistics to ensure seamless operations. The most critical aspect of running warehouse management entails keeping your racking up to date and in premium condition. It means that you must inspect the racking regularly, pinpoint damaged areas, and take precautionary measures to prevent any unwanted situations that may cause harm.

When it comes to racking safety at your warehouse, there are some dos and don’ts that greatly impact your racking systems. Today, we will discuss several things you should avoid doing to keep your racking safe, secure, and in top condition. Following these tips will help ensure a longer lifetime for your assets.

Mistakes to avoid for keeping your Warehouse Racks  in good condition

1.    Not paying attention to regular racking Inspections

Like everything else, your warehouse needs the best of everything. Monthly rack checks by qualified staff are recommended, as is a detailed yearly checkup from an expert every other year to keep your warehouse racks in optimum condition.

Rack failure can have serious repercussions, ranging from equipment and inventory damage to death. An inspector looks for damage and clearances that might lead to fire danger or other issues with load capacity markings. The inspector verifies loads are accurately posted on every item to avoid overload.

2.    Failing to choose an Appropriate Racking System for Your Products

Using inappropriate racking systems for your products can cause harm and instability. It is critical to note that fixing a racking system is not suggested unless conducted by a qualified welder and supervised. Many standards must be met in order for the process of homemade welding to be completed securely and with low-risk concerns, making approval extremely challenging.

3.    Keeping Your Aisles stuffed

This is critical for the racks safety and efficiency. When you have warehouse racking systems, floor markings with colored tape are an excellent method to keep paths clean and prevent workers from approaching a dangerous area accidentally.

They can also aid production in congested warehouses by designating distinct waiting zones so that part lineups remain ordered, reducing floor turnover times.

If you intend to transfer anything using a forklift, you must consider the aisle widths. A conventional pallet rack can only hold a piece of equipment if its dimensions meet the standard requirements to minimize mishaps when loading or unloading items from these racks.

4.    Falling Objects

High storage racking system stacking is a popular material practice in warehouses. As the racks rise in height, they are more likely to collapse, causing injuries or worse.

To address these hazards and ensure the maximum safety of racks, employees require safe racking systems that protect both those on top and any other items kept nearby. However, with so many alternatives available, it may be difficult to identify what works best for your specific needs. Therefore, hiring an expert is always a great idea to get the best recommendations.

5.    Ignoring Employees’ training

Training your employees is crucial to everyone’s safety, and its importance cannot be overlooked. Companies aiming to maximize their efficiency and workers’ productivity must ensure proper training. Otherwise, a lack of knowledge will result in employees making mistakes that could be fatal.

The easiest way of introducing warehouse rack safety standards is by providing a safety handbook. A readily available handbook will keep safety guidelines at the forefront of the workers’ minds and give them an easy reference point. These policies will secure not only the employees but you as well with claims or responsibilities in case an accident occurs.

Another reason why training is so important is that inspections of your racking systems can be a time-consuming and difficult task. There is no need for you to invest this much effort when workers who have been taught to perform these inspections independently are self-sufficient and may work independently without worrying about whether or not safety requirements are fulfilled.

6.    Overloading the Racking

When you analyze what happens when stock is overloaded on pallet racking systems, it is easy to understand how rapidly they can be damaged or, in the worst cases, break. The most common accidents occur when the pallet racking systems bear a weight exceeding their capacity. As a result, it collapses, and everything it was supporting falls down, wreaking havoc.

7.    Impulsively Buying Used Racking

Used racking systems are significantly less expensive than new systems. They are also quite easy to get since many warehouses and distribution centers sell secondhand pallet racking when they upgrade to new systems. Having said that, buying old racking on the spur of the moment is a typical error.

A secondhand racking system may appear to be in fine condition on the surface, but it may have several underlying issues. Over time, these faults might result in large repair expenditures, canceling out the early savings you experienced with used racking. If you decide to go with used racking, make sure to properly check the used racking pallet before purchasing.

Purchasing a new pallet racking gives you the freedom to find systems compatible with your warehouse requirement. Hence, you don’t have to worry about failing components or additional repair costs in the future.

Bottom Line

While racking systems can be an excellent method to arrange your warehouse, you must be mindful of the mistakes that can cause harm to you and your employees. You risk damaging your items or injuring your workers if you are not cautious. At Midwest Distribution, we offer a plethora of options to ensure you get the best of your warehouse racks. Our team of experts can assist you in designing, installing, and maintaining a racking system that matches your demands while keeping your employees safe. Get in touch today, and our team will gladly be of assistance.