While pallet rack design
and the correct installation of storage racks
are critical, ensuring pallet rack safety goes
beyond these two factors to include responsible
pallet rack handling practices and maintenance.
Since the most common causes of pallet
rack structural failures are due to storage rack
abuse or excessive load weights, the training of
warehouse personnel regarding proper lift truck
operation and acceptable storage rack capacities
would best ensure pallet rack safety.
Routine pallet rack
safety inspections for rack damage or improper
load placement should be conducted.
The pallet rack components
most vulnerable to lift truck related abuse are
the corners and ends of the pallet rack aisles.
In addition to responsible lift truck
operation, the installation of storage rack
protective devices would promote pallet rack
safety and lessen the likelihood of storage rack
damage caused by lift truck impact.
Storage
rack protective accessories which increase
pallet rack safety include end of aisle guards
(positioned 1-2 feet in front of pallet rack
ends) and double column uprights reinforced with
sturdy inserts which increase pallet rack
collision resistance.
Anchored column protectors, available in
a variety of sizes and materials, deflect
potential impact from storage rack posts and are
another means of ensuring pallet rack safety.
OPTIONS TO
HELP PROTECT PALLET RACK
Straddle Protectors Column
Protectors
Heavy Duty Bracing
Pallet Rack Repair
During routine
pallet rack safety inspections,
storage rack anchors should be
checked to ensure that the pallet
racks are securely bolted to the
floor.
Pallet rack accidents occur
when storage racks are improperly
bolted to the floor or when
unsecured boltless pallet rack beams
become dislodged.
All storage
rack systems should be engineered
according to load weight capacity.
Storage racks inadequately
designed will not meet pallet rack
safety standards.
When pallet rack capacity
constraints are exceeded due to
improper loading, the pallet rack
will sustain damage.
Even if the weight capacity
is appropriate for the pallet rack,
failing to place the load squarely
on the pallet rack decking will
cause the load to fall through the
front or back of the rack, or (in a
double deep situation) push another
pallet off of the adjacent rack.
These pallet rack safety
issues can be alleviated by properly
training warehouse personnel and
installing pallet rack guards and
netting.
When damaged
pallet rack is identified during
routine pallet rack safety
inspection, it should be unloaded
immediately and the pallet rack
should not be used until the damaged
pallet rack section is
professionally repaired or replaced.
Since the pallets themselves
are part of the product support
structure, the pallet rack safety
inspection should also include
pallets.
The pallet rack safety
quality standards for storage racks
should also apply to pallets.
Pallets should be
appropriately sized for the assigned
loads.
To further ensure pallet rack
safety, never use damaged or broken
pallets.
An
uncontrollable and unpredictable
regional factor in pallet rack
safety is earthquakes.
While their occurrence is not
preventable, there are pallet rack
safety measures that can be
implemented.
Pallet rack safety
guidelines for
geographical
regions vulnerable to seismic
activity are delineated in
Seismic Considerations for
Steel Storage Racks.
Make
sure that an RMI certified engineer
checks the seismic design of the
pallet rack system.
Pallet rack is often abused by forklifts and pallets.
This presents a dangerous operational situation. Racking that is damaged should
be reported at once and replaced. Loads should be removed immediately and
the area roped off until the replacement rack is installed or the current upright
is repaired. Even minor damage should be inspected by a qualified rack engineer
to determine its safety.
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Column
Protectors
Heavy Duty Bracing 
Pallet Rack Repair