Pallet Rack Inspection: Important Things to Look Out For When Inspecting Your System (Charlie O'Brien)

If you utilize a pallet rack storage system in your warehouse, it is extremely important to ensure the system is safe, both for the welfare of the goods you are storing and the well-being of your company's employees who work around the system every day. Whether you have a brand new storage system that was recently installed or the pallet racking you currently utilize has been in your facility for years, it is wise to take the same approach when inspecting the system - and, of course, to conduct those inspections on a routine basis. While there are many things that you should be on the lookout for, there are a few vital details that you should consciously be aware of at all times, as they can cause some serious problems.

Never Exceed Load Capacity

Every pallet rack system includes load capacities set forth by the specific manufacturer of the racking. These weight capacity guidelines are not recommendations - they are requirements. When you exceed the load capacity of a system by either placing too much weight on an individual pallet stored in one bay, or by placing too much weight on the overall system, it can lead to the entire system becoming structurally unstable. When a pallet racking system's structural stability is compromised, the goods you are storing on the system are put in jeopardy, as are the employees who are tasked with loading and unloading pallets on a daily basis. It is always best to be prudent when working with any form of material handling equipment, particularly pallet rack systems where goods are stored high above the facility floor. Ensure that all employees strictly adhere to the load specifications outlined by the pallet racking manufacturer when loading goods into the system.

Maintain a Keen Eye for Physical Damage

One of the easiest things to keep an eye out for that can cause potential problems for a pallet racking system is physical damage. Harm to a racking system can occur in a wide variety of ways, though a common incident to transpire is a forklift coming into contact with uprights of the system. When this scenario unfolds, the destruction can oftentimes be easily noticeable, with either dents or cracks forming on an upright after the collision. Of course, when damage like that is sustained, it is important to take immediately take measures to rectify the situation, either through repairs or replacement parts. Without doing so, the overall system's structurally stability can become compromised.

Another common form of damage that occurs to pallet racking that won't be as noticeable is rust and corrosion that can form on metal components. While these issues arise much more prevalently with older systems as opposed to newer, it's important to remember that these defects can spring up at any time, and can pose an equal threat to the safety of employees and stored goods. Be certain that if you notice rust or corrosion on any portion of the pallet racking that you take appropriate measures to correct the issue at once.

Inspect Connections

Whether the pallet racking system's connections are welded or held in place by other means, such as safety locks, it is important to ensure that all connections remain secure. This not only goes for the connections with uprights and beams being firm, but also for footplates fastened to the warehouse floor.

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