The Tray™ Issue #50 – Ensure Compliance and Safety: Why Regular Racking System Inspections are Crucial
At Shelving + Rack Systems Inc., we prioritize not only the efficiency of your operations but also the safety of your workplace. As a responsible provider of storage solutions, we understand the critical importance of compliance with industry regulations and safety standards. One of the most effective ways to ensure compliance and maintain safety within your facility is through regular racking system inspections.
Racking systems are integral to the smooth functioning of warehouses, distribution centers, and other industrial facilities. However, without proper maintenance and inspections, these systems can pose significant risks to both personnel and inventory. To mitigate these risks and ensure compliance with regulations such as those outlined by the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) and other safety standards, regular inspections are essential.
1. Compliance Assurance: Regular inspections help ensure that your racking systems comply with industry standards and regulations, reducing the risk of fines and penalties.
2. Safety Enhancement: Inspections identify potential hazards and structural weaknesses, allowing for timely repairs and improvements to enhance workplace safety.
3. Risk Reduction: By identifying and addressing issues promptly, inspections help minimize the risk of accidents, injuries, and property damage.
4. Optimal Performance: Well-maintained racking systems operate more efficiently, leading to increased productivity and throughput in your facility.
5. Prolonged Lifespan: Timely inspections and maintenance extend the lifespan of your racking systems, maximizing your return on investment.
6. Insurance Requirements: Many insurance providers require regular inspections as a condition of coverage, ensuring that your facility is adequately protected.
7. Legal Compliance: Compliance with regulations such as OSHA standards is essential for avoiding legal liabilities and ensuring a safe working environment.
8. Inventory Protection: Properly maintained racking systems reduce the risk of inventory damage or loss due to structural failures or collapses.
9. Reputation Management: Demonstrating a commitment to safety through regular inspections enhances your company’s reputation and builds trust with stakeholders.
10. Peace of Mind: Regular inspections provide peace of mind for management, knowing that their racking systems are in compliance and safe for employees to use.
We believe that safety should always be the highest priority in a warehouse setting. Creating a secure environment involves implementing preventive measures, adhering to safety standards, and adopting innovative technologies.
Read Our Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist, and Schedule Your Rack Safety Inspection Today.
Pallet racking is a storage system that holds palletized inventory, packaged products, or large and bulky materials. It is a staple in the warehousing, storage, and distribution industries, providing businesses with a space-efficient, organized, and safe method for housing items.
Pallet racking is available in several materials, styles, and configurations, catering to various product types, sizes, and load capacities.
A standard racking system consists of several racks or shelves arranged in a specific pattern. Each rack is joined by upright frames and beams and has several levels, or tiers, where the pallets can be stored.
Different pallet racking systems are available on the market today. Most racks are made from durable steel and can provide up to two decades of reliable use with careful maintenance. However, the load capacity of each unit depends on the configuration, size, and type of steel. Some pallet racks are designed for high-load volumes and dense storage, while others are more expansive and facilitate easy product access.
At Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc., we carry a broad selection of warehouse storage equipment, including pallet storage racks. We also stock accessories and replacement parts so you can build a pallet racking system that fits the specific storage needs of your facility.
Selective pallet racking is one of the most popular storage systems in the United States. It is versatile, reliable, and easy to use. With selective pallet racking, each pallet is stored on its own individual shelf. This allows quick and easy access to any pallet without moving other pallets out of the way.
Cantilever pallet racking is a heavy-duty storage solution designed for housing materials that are difficult to support with traditional warehouse shelving. They are used predominantly for large, heavy, or bulky goods, like lumber, steel piping, sheet metal, and building supplies.
A pallet flow racking system is a storage rack that stores small cartons or pallets loaded with products. The pallets are placed on the racks and are gravity fed through the system along inclined rails to designated picking areas. This can speed up operations significantly in distribution centers or 3PLs with urgent turnaround times.
Pallet flow racks, also known as carton or gravity flow systems, typically form part of a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory management system. They are used to store various products, including boxes, totes, containers, and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).
Drive-in racking is a storage system that allows forklifts to drive directly into the rack, eliminating the need for aisles. To load or unload a pallet, the forklift drives into the rack and pushes the pallet onto rails that are mounted on the back of the uprights. The pallets can be stored several units deep, and one row of racks can be positioned directly in front of another for maximum storage density.
This racking type stores large quantities of homogenous or similar-sized products. It is effective in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory management system that handles non-perishable goods.
In contrast to a traditional aisle pallet rack configuration, push back racks are installed on a sloped shelf. This allows you to store two or more pallets side-by-side, which improves storage density by reducing the amount of aisle space needed.
Push back racks can be configured at multiple levels, enabling vertical integration. This further increases storage capacity.
Because push back racks maximize the use of available space, they are an ideal solution for businesses that need to increase their storage capacity without expanding their facility. While they can be expensive compared to other racking styles, they are a cost-effective alternative to building on your space.
Designed and built to rival the strongest heavy-duty racking solutions on the market. Ideal for storing short, long or awkwardly-shaped items, from steel sheets and poles to drywall and lumber, our cantilever racking is easy to install and space efficient, optimizing the productivity and profitability of your work environment.
Ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, our cantilever racking is remarkably adaptable to take on the challenge of any storage situation. Install a cantilever roof system to shield your outdoor racking and protect your inventory from the elements. If floor space is limited, maximize your storage capacity with our very narrow aisle cantilever racking. The optimized design works with side loader fork trucks to keep your picking area running smoothly.
Read Our Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist, and Schedule Your Rack Safety Inspection Today.
Structural cantilever racking is what you need for handling medium- to extra heavy-duty loads. Ideal for storing short, long or awkwardly-shaped items, our cantilever racking features a special arm system designed for easy front loading without obstruction.
Structural steel components guarantee superior strength. Punched holes run the full height of each column upright, providing excellent adaptability and versatility for all of your storage requirements. Built for the toughest industrial applications, all connections use high-strength structural grade bolts.
Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) Cantilever Racking is designed for use with side loader fork trucks, our VNA cantilever racking maximizes storage capacity for a highly efficient use of floor space. The narrow design means our VNA cantilever racking uses as little as half the standard aisle width of standard racking solutions.
Your storage capacity doubles and wasted space is eliminated. This is ideal for high-density storage areas or where there is a need for expansion within an existing facility.
Create a four-season covered storage unit with L-shed or T-shed cantilever racking. Ideal for protecting stored materials from harsh weather conditions, the angled roof design allows rain to flow down easily and shields against snow, ice and sun damage. Powder-coated structural steel components and heavy-duty treated wood joists provide superior strength and durability. Lost or damaged material due to severe weather is significantly reduced, saving you costly replacement expenses.
Wire cages are essentially enclosed storage units created from a selection of individual panels and doors. They come in boxes or pre-assembled, depending on the manufacturer. Like partitions, wire cages have a wide array of applications. They can be used as:
The slotted holes and wire gaps ensure unobstructed views of inventory. They also facilitate air circulation, preventing dust and moisture accumulation. Many wire cages have a bright yellow paint finish, helping forklift operators avoid accidental collisions.
WireCrafters wire partitions are ideal for the construction of tool cribs. With a designated, secure area to store tools and equipment, you no longer worry about who has what tool, or where tools have been misplaced. Many companies have found using wire partitions to organize their tool rooms has paid dividends in return.
When a maintenance person needs a tool to work on equipment in the plant, they go to the tool crib and sign out the tool they need. Many tool cribs also have a service window so the plant personnel do not have to enter into the actual tool crib.
Driver access cages protect your company as well as visitors, vendors, and other warehouse or building personnel. Truck drivers, delivery people and other non-employees who enter your facility can be an insurance risk.
Driver Access Cages, or Man Traps, are typically constructed as three sided cages that adjoin an outside wall with an entry door. These driver access cages are made of our Style 840 Wire Partition System. Heavy 10 gauge wire woven into a 2″ x 1″ rectangular mesh is strong enough for any industrial security cage requirement.
DEA drug cages approved secured storage feature self-closing and self-locking doors, and wire mesh walls and ceiling panels constructed of a 2″ x 1″ 10 gauge wire. 2″ square steel support posts are spaced no more than 10′ apart, with welded-on base plates for lagging to the floor. The walls of the drug storage cages have a minimum of 1 1/2″ horizontal reinforcement at least every 5′.
Data center cage Style 840 Woven Wire partition system can be used to economically separate and secure customer specific server or network equipment. Divide entire hosting facilities with the easily reconfigurable Style 840 Server Enclosure System.
Server Cages are constructed of wire mesh partition panels made from 10 gauge wire, woven into a 2″ x 1″ rectangular mesh design. This wire mesh is then framed in a 1 1/4″ x 1 1/4″ x 1/8″ hot rolled angle frame. Depending on the size of the wire partition panels, we also weld a flat stiffener bar to the wire mesh and angle frame.
At Shelving + Rack Systems Inc., our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to helping you maintain the integrity and safety of your racking systems. From comprehensive inspections to timely repairs and upgrades, we are here to support your safety and compliance needs. Contact us by calling 800-589-RACK (855-969-4164), or 855-969-4164.
Read Our Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist, and Schedule Your Rack Safety Inspection Today.
