Warehouse racking safety is vital for a business. You need the items to stay intact once placed on the shelves. Otherwise, any form of falling items can mean damage to the materials and other costly facilities to replace. One of the causes of the fall of items is due to deformed or bent racks.
To avoid rack deformations, you have to understand the causal factors. Some of these factors are;
- Storage of goods exceeding capacity
Every racking system has a weight capacity that it can hold. However, it’s common that some workers would place more weight on top of the shelf. The shelf will, in turn, break either immediately or afterwards, with devastating results.
To avoid storing goods exceeding capacity:
- Offer regular training for the employees.
- Let them understand the weight capacity of the shelves.
- Display the weight capacity on the visible area near the racks to avoid confusion or forgetfulness.
- Low quality steel
The quality of the racking material you use matters. With different companies offering racking facilities, you can never be sure of anything you use. Some companies compromise on quality to provide low-cost materials. While the thickness and size of the steel might remain the same, they reduce the quality.
The other way companies buy low-quality storage facilities is by opting for used racks. No matter how cheap they might be, they will likely be damaged and won’t serve you for long.
Low-quality storage materials will only serve you for a limited period. Within a few months, you will have to buy other ones or risk your business safety. The only way to ensure quality products is by purchasing from reputable suppliers. Companies like Boltless Rack Malaysia are known for their unwavering quality of boltless racks.
- Forklifts collision
Forklifts collision is the other common cause of rack deformation. Most of the warehouses use forklifts and other machines to place items on the higher racks. These machines are heavy, and colliding with the shelves repeatedly leads to damage.
If you are looking to avoid forklifts collision, then invest in proper operator training. Only let the qualified staff operate the forklifts. You also invest in regular training and install warning signs. The other option is to eliminate the forklifts and instead use automated loading machines.
- Lack of a detailed production process
Suppose you are looking for your storage facility to stay strong for an extended period. In that case, a detailed production process is non-negotiable. Failure to streamline your processes exposes your storage facility to imbalanced item placement. Your workers will not understand where to place the various items based on needs, weights, and even the items sold together.
For a sturdy shelf, ensure the right items are placed on the proper point. For example, place the heavier items on the shelving base with the lighter ones on top.
Bottom Line
Any form of damage or deformation to the racks requires immediate attention. You can either replace or repair the rack depending on the extent of the deformity. However, if the need for replacement is frequent, it will be costly for the business. Keep check of the racks’ deformation factors for a long-lasting racking system.
