How
safe are your
storage racks?
BY VICTORIA KICKHAM, SENIOR EDITOR
RACKS AND STORAGE SYSTEMS
Material Handling
IN THE NEVER-ENDING QUEST TO BOOST PRODUCtivity in the warehouse and DC, it’s becoming even more
important to focus on the care and maintenance of a crucial
piece of equipment: industrial storage racks. Experts agree
that storage rack safety is gaining more attention industry-wide these days, and they say it’s vital to develop a proper
maintenance and inspection program. After all, weak or
damaged racks can contribute to collapse, risking worker
safety and causing product damage. Keeping storage racks
in prime condition should be a top priority, experts advise.
“I believe [storage rack safety] is becoming more and
more important to operators of the warehouse,” says Dan
Clapp, director of engineering for New Jersey-based stor-
age rack manufacturer Frazier Industrial Co. and a 25-year
member of the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI), a trade
group that promotes the safe design and use of storage
racks and other structural systems. “Storage racks are what
I call very high-performance structures. A storage rack will
typically have one pound of steel supporting 10 pounds of
product. We ask the material to do a whole lot of work,
[so] the monitoring and the repair is vitally important to
the structure.”
To stay on top of the issue, Clapp and others recommend
that warehouse and DC managers pay close attention to
their facility’s layout and daily use requirements, adhere
to a regular inspection schedule, and take quick action to
repair or replace weak or damaged storage racks.
DESIGNED FOR SAFETY
The best storage rack systems are configured to allow
enough room for workers and lift trucks to move about the
facility and access products safely and easily. Clapp recommends that companies work closely with their rack supplier
or systems integrator when designing a facility or adding
storage racks—and that they resist the urge to get “every last
inch” of storage space out of the facility. Providing a little
extra clearance around pallets and in the aisles can make it
easier for workers to access products and reduces the risk of
accidents, he explains.
“I suggest they consider opening up the clearances,” he
says, comparing warehouse aisles with roads and highways:
wider lanes are easier to navigate than a narrow maze of
pathways. “Develop a layout on the basis of clearances
required around the loads—and be generous with the clear-
ances. You will gain a tremendous amount of productivity
that way.”
Damage to storage racks is almost always related to mis-
use and abuse, and forklifts are most often the culprits, adds
Thoughtful planning, regular inspections, and prompt repairs will help keep
warehouse storage racks safe and standing firm.
How
safe are your
storage racks?
