Preventing Accidents With Pallet Racking

The workplace can be the scene for a horrible warehouse accident due to negligence and poor working conditions – sometimes it is also down to improper use of space and storage of stock.

Some steps can be taken to ensure that the utmost safety measures are enforced and security for everyone is in place, and those around your racking system are key to workplace safety.

What follows are some examples of the common problems and how the right pallet racking and warehouse storage equipment can prevent them from happening.

Employee Overreach

When employees reach for heavy objects out of their arm range, the spine is at risk from overstretching, twisting and bending. The back is also fragile towards straightening when balancing those objects.

It is recommended that heavier objects be stored at waist height or within the reach of lifting equipment such as pull trucks or forklifts. By having it at waist height, the employees will not have to stretch or bend many times throughout the day to pick the item. Keep the area tidy and organised also, so when carrying heavier objects without the use of a truck, there are zero risks of trips and falls.

Be sure to install any ladders or steps if the object is elevated above the waistline.

Falling Stock

One of the biggest risks comes in the form of improperly stored stock that can fall and critically injure an employee. Sometimes a stock can be shaped irregularly which leads to storage that is not particularly suitable – leading to damage to employee health and stock as well.

You will need to be sure that your industrial storage racks are built to sustain the stock at all times, and have enough room to handle irregular shaped products. By evaluating stock and how it should be stored, it could mean the difference between vertical storage systems and sheet or plate racking systems. Discuss with your supplier regarding your stock requirements and the system that suits the safety requirements.

Other Falls and Trips

The walkways and ends of racking aisles are at just as much risk of a warehouse accident as the aisles themselves. People slipping and tripping over objects or dropped stock is a real hazard.

All walkways and aisles should be free from packaging, boxes and pallets that can cause serious injury if undetected. These should be removed and put into waste or storage as soon as they are empty, unpacked or damaged. If a pallet is left at the end of an aisle it poses risks to picking trucks and forklift operation, as well as any workers on foot stepping around the aisles.

If you require updating your pallet racking or commercial shelving to a more suitable safety requirement, contact the team at Monarch Shelving today.