Warehouse managers are often criticised for not keeping an eagle eye on the cost of running their facilities.

To address this, many of them focus on getting more lucrative contracts in, and neglecting the ‘basics’ that actually keep the warehouse running.

For example, staffing has become almost an after thought in many warehouses especially in the run-up to peak.

With staffing outsourced, people of questionable levels of competence are allowed on the shop floor.

With the HSE urging local employers to review whether they can do more to protect their workforce, it is important that safety moves to the forefront of manager’s minds.

Trips, slips and the subsequent falls, account for one-third of major workplace injuries. 95% of these result in broken bones. The major causes of this are tripping over debris or slips on spillages.

Avoiding these involves using:

• Enforcing basic housekeeping practices

• Keeping flooring dry and well maintained

• Ensure stock does not project out of the shelves and into aisles

• Emptying of bins and removal of all loose debris daily

• Safe storage of empty pallets and palletised material

• Packing debris removed as soon as it’s generated

Sounds simple, right? Yet there were 7, 742 reported incidents of slips and trips last year. (Remember that it’s estimated that around half of non-fatal injuries aren’t reported.)

Managers assume their facilities are spotless and not prone to cause accidents and most times, they are wrong.

The superficial ‘once-over’ carried out weekly just doesn’t cut it. How often do you carry out a dust test? How often to do you actually walking among the aisles? While most of the warehouse floor may be visible, there are hidden areas that can cause accidents.

The preferred storage method can have an impact on frequency of accidents. Common storage options include:

1. Building a mezzanine is a widely used but costly storage method. First, it requires planning permission; then you have to have at least 15 feet of vertical space available. While it opens up a wide range of use, it’s expensive for small businesses.

2. Using the pallet storage method consumes a large portion of floor space as the pallets have to be well spaced. It can also be hazardous and cause a trip hazard if the freight is bulky enough to overlap the edges.

3. Pallet racking comes in many configurations; tunnel racking, selective racking, double deep; all these can be used depending on the size, bulk and length of freight to be handled.

4. Shelving is the recommended first step in warehouse storage. As shelves also come in many configurations, they can carry a wide range of materials. Storage bins, archive boxes, modular drawers can all be stored on modified shelves. Depending on the size of the facility and freight to be handled, shelving usually presents the best bang for your buck. They come in mobile, adjustable or fixed configurations. They can also be free-standing or wall-fixed.

But considering the current going rate for shelving (over £100 for a 3-level industrial shelf), buying new can present a significant outlay. Used racking bridges the gap between high cost and a quality shelf; it IS possible to get a used or refurbished one for half the price. To buy quality used shelving to keep your warehouse safe, first assess the following:

1. Know your requirements. Examine your inventory and estimate the type of shelving you’ll need. This assessment should include examining your existing space and taking measurements.

2. Next, what’s your budget? This will determine if you can buy new, used or refurbished.

3. We advise you to go local. Buying off the Internet has it’s downsides. For one, you may be handling stolen goods. You can avoid this by looking up dealers around you and visiting them to see the material in stock. Sellers can claim that they have the exact specifications or lengths you need and urge you to pay. Consequences of doing this blindly range from falling victim of credit card fraud to receiving defective material that looks nothing like the pictures you were shown.

Running a profitable and safe warehouse doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg.

Some types of equipment can be bought in a used condition, and they’ll still do the job. Shelving refurbished by professionals will help keep your warehouse neat, without costing a mint.

At Monarch Shelving, we can find the right shelving system for you.

It doesn’t matter if you are outfitting a small distribution centre or a massive warehouse, contact us today.