Fancy getting slammed with a claim?

How does having to cough up £9,000 sound?

Or even £4,000? The average range for paying an injured employee is £4,500. Can you really afford to pay that out out of your profits, in this tough economic environment?

Most warehouse accidents are due to slips, poor manual handling, collision with vehicles around the site and moving or falling objects. With the constant barrage of “No Win , No Fee” TV ads, by lawyers, employees are suing their employers a lot more. While some are genuine incidents, there have been reported cases of totally fraudulent claims.

Employers with poor safety records find themselves having to pay out huge sums as settlements.

How then can you prevent this happening in your facility? First, ensure that you use high quality racking from Monarch Shelving. You can also invest in helpful accessories that will increase the lifespan of your pallet racks and reduce the number of accidents.

They are:

1. Row Spacers:

These are used in warehouses where the racking is installed back to back. It provides a higher level of stability and rigidity in the structure. Spacers are available in different widths ad sizes and are fitted at intervals on back to back uprights. This helps to maintain an equal distance between uprights throughout the entire rack, providing strength and steadiness.

2. Rack Labels and Signs:

Efficiency is impaired if drivers have to spend time looking for racks to load and unload. Clearly labelled racks allow forklift drivers & pallet movers swiftly identify pallets and move loads around. You can choose from a range of options including vinyl labels, magnetic labels or bar codes.

Another important sign that your racking system must have is load signs. Each rack has a specified maximum weight that it can bear. It is crucial that you know what weight your pallet can bear. Ensure that rack load signs are placed at the ends of each rack. This allows forklift drivers know what load the system can bear.

3. Pallet Racking Decking:

This protective accessory is made out of wire mesh, steel or timber. It is primarily used to provide a more uniform support for pallet loads that arrive on non-standard pallets. It also helps reduce clutter on the warehouse floor as it allows the storage of open and split case items.

Wire decking has been proven to reduce damage from fire as it allows water, from the sprinkler, to easily pass through to reach the source of a fire.

4. Anti Collapse Mesh:

These light, yet strong steel mesh or nets are placed in racks where a walkway or loading bay runs along its rear. They are used to protect workers from falling objects that may have been dislodged from the front. Being a mesh or net structure, they do not impact on the effectiveness of sprinklers in the event of a fire outbreak.

5. Rack Protection:

Pallet racks are subject to a lot of bumps and knocks from forklifts, especially when they make tight turns, close to the ends of the aisles. Erecting a custom guard rail prevents these knocks from occurring & denting the racking system. Another often rammed portion is the base of the uprights. The columns of the racks are the most frequently bashed parts of your pallet racking upright. Wrap them in steel protectors to increase their life span and protect workers from a collapsing pallet rack.

Bonus ‘Accessory’:

Many firms purchase and install their warehouse equipment and expect it to last forever. Forklifts and pump trucks get regular maintenance checks, but what of the rest of the equipment? Under Health and Safety Legislation, pallet racking inspections are required to be carried out a minimum of once every year.

One more incentive for carrying out a regular check is that regular rack inspections will help reduce insurance premiums.

These are five vital but often overlooked accessories for your pallet racking system. Whether you use Dexion, Redirack, Apex or Link 51, these can make your warehouse a safer place to work.

Don’t lose money; Protect your staff; Protect your business. At Monarch Shelving, we stock these accessories and many more. Contact us today and let us help you improve on your safety record.

Worse, some companies have a name and shame policy. If your employees feel you are putting their lives in danger, they are allowed to blow the whistle. Do the right thing. Protect your employees and your business. Buy the required accessories to keep your Warehouse environment safe. Also remember to schedule a regular maintenance. No matter how small or big your Warehouse is, all it takes to shut you down is one accident, that could have been prevented.

An increase in the rate of accidents as described by this report shows that the motto, we all scream, ‘SAFETY FIRST’, is sadly ignored.