There is nothing worse than an impending disaster within your warehouse or distribution centre due to an unsafe racking system. It can be extremely costly in life and business operations when something like a pallet racking system is no longer considered safe for use.

What exactly causes such a reliable system to become such a danger to every part of the business? Furthermore, how can it be prevented?

Let us take a look at some of the common causes associated with pallet racking failure and strategise around ensuring the safety and proper management of your system.

Update That Training

Warehouse storage equipment is essential to operations for businesses storing large quantities of materials. When it is not maintained, it becomes a hazard.

Employees who have inadequate training on using and maintaining industrial storage racks are more likely to be the reason why they ultimately fail and cause catastrophe. The human element must be fully trained and aware of the risks before allowing them anywhere near or around pallet racks.

If you do not regularly inspect and maintain your warehouse racking, the damage and dangers to those around them become much more serious. Racking can become unsafe when signs of wear and tear are ignored, and repairs are pushed off to a later date.

Overloading

The weight of the load on your pallets is also a key contributor to failure – mainly down to ignoring the required weight and overloading them.

The best way to avoid this is by installing a pallet rack safety system, designed to keep your racks upright and table, even when they are fully loaded – and not exceeding the industry standard weight limits of your designed system.

It is also imperative that you immediately replace any missing or damaged safety clips, keeping your system stable and preventing any beams from becoming dislodged during use. Improper fitting or replacement parts will eventually result in complications that can be devastating.

Moving parts of a pallet racking system can wear out over time, especially when exposed to the environment or chemical products. Rust from these specific exposures can lead to rust which results in costly repair – and even costlier injury to staff and damage to stock.

Improper Installation

When a racking system has had an improper installation, it is a ticking timebomb. That is why it is imperative you only use professionals for securing your pallet racking system the first time.

Contact the team at Monarch Shelving today to ensure your business is fully protected again an unsafe racking system.