All pallet racking systems are typically designed and installed by experts in warehouse storage equipment but, once installed and in everyday use, ensuring the system is safe and free from damage is a job that needs to be taken on by yourself through inspection and maintenance.

Too many times in warehouse operations damage is often seen and ignored, and typically goes unreported. This poses a significant risk on its continued carrying capacity and potential full failure – resulting in a full system collapse causing hundreds of thousands in damage and potential injury or fatality to your employees.

It sounds like a worst-case scenario, but it happens more times than you think.

Competence

You have all seen those Youtube videos where a full collapse of a warehouse set-up has happened from a forklift collision – well, that is possibly due to a weakened infrastructure that could have been avoided by having a dedicated and competent person responsible for inspecting racking safety.

In an ideal world, every warehouse with racking systems installed will have a weekly visual inspection by an individual who can identify and determine any faults or risks. These inspections require a proper recording to cover everyone and identify and rectify problems before they lead to catastrophe.

How to Do a Racking Inspection

Racking systems are typically manufactured from lightweight materials and, as a result, have a limit to how much abuse they can withstand. Forklift drivers and their skill level have a great bearing on the amount of damage that can likely be caused to pallet racking – with any damage caused to reduce the load capacity and make its overall strength weaker by comparison.

To ensure your system retains its serviceable standard and remain safe, it needs a regular inspection to take into account the frequency and method of operation as well as the dimensions of the area used, along with the equipment and personnel involved.

Procedure

As soon as any safety problem or damage is witnessed or identified by any employee, it should be immediately reported via a system you should have in place for reporting damage and defects.

All employees within the working area should receive training, information and instructions on the safe operation of your racking system, including on parts affecting their safety and the safety of others within the area.

Inspection and maintenance to the structure and its condition should be performed weekly or at regular intervals based on a risk assessment. In all cases, a formal written record will need to be conducted complete with any observations or proposals for action to be taken to keep the system in a safe condition.

For more information on pallet racking systems and industrial storage racks, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.