Pallet racking is excellent with limited space, as you can store your inventory vertically without worrying about overcrowding. Moreover, it prevents goods from getting damaged while making order fulfilment more efficient. You can learn the importance of training your employees in pallet racking safety and how to proceed.
Why should you train employees to use pallet racking safely?
Employees risk sustaining injuries without adequate safety training or regular pallet racking inspections. On the other hand, your workers can rest assured that their lives and health aren’t at risk when they receive the proper education and skills to handle pallet racks. And this can boost their morale and increase their productivity. Moreover, you’d comply with safety regulations that can prevent your warehouse from experiencing litigations.
What hazards can workers encounter when handling pallet racking?
Quality packing rackets can stand the test of time, as they are durable and corrosion-resistant. However, a failed racket system can have dire consequences, including damage to goods and severe injuries. Here are some hazards that workers should look out for.
- Improper installation: regardless of their quality, pallet racks will fail if installed improperly, putting your employees at risk and damaging your inventory.
- Overloading: pallet racks often come with a weight limit, which must be adhered to. That said, exceeding the load specification can cause them to collapse, causing substantial damage.
- Inaccurate load balancing: in addition to exceeding the weight limit, placing your goods unevenly on the racks can cause them to bend or flex.
What are the basics of pallet racking safety training for employees?
A well-rounded employee training on pallet racking safety should contain certain elements, including the following:
Safe unloading and loading of racks
Educating your workers about safety practices when loading and unloading racks is important. They should know how to place unit loads on beams to prevent them from falling. Likewise, demonstrate how they can remove inventory from racks without dislodging the beams. While at it, ensure they always load the racks from the bottom level upward and position each load symmetrically and uniformly. This way, the weight can be evenly shared across the racking system, preventing excessive beam deflection and system failure. Our experts at PRQ Australia recommend informing your workers about each racking system’s load capacity to avoid overloading. It’s worth noting that the standard weight limit for Australian stand pallet racks is 500kg to 1 800 kg. As a tip, avoid placing the most weight in the middle; instead, ensure that each side of the rack has equal kilograms to reap the full benefits.
Adherence to pallet racking load safety signs
You should also encourage your workers to adhere to load safety signs to ensure safety in your warehouse. Indeed, machine operators, storage hands, and materials-handling equipment drivers can benefit from these signs. This is because they can quickly determine what and how much inventory can be stored in a certain area. Moreover, these signs remind them how to place loads on rack beams to prevent structural strain and overloading. We recommend placing these signs at vantage points to ensure each worker can easily see them. While at it, screw the signs to your pallet racking systems at 2 metres above floor level to ensure its efficacy. The signs should also be 125mm long, 250mm high, and have a minimum of 25mm lettering, so keep this in mind. They must also define the highest weight limit for different levels, including the beams, shelves, and pallets.
Avoidance of forklift’s impact on racks
It’s worth noting that racks can sustain damage from forklifts. Depending on the collision’s severity, anchor bolts can loosen, columns can bend, column connections and beams can become disengaged, or your pallet racking systems can collapse. Furthermore, rack damages can be challenging to detect early, increasing injury risks. Therefore, teaching your workers how to navigate rack aisles gracefully is expedient. This way, they can avoid hitting your racks with the forks, loads, or the vehicle itself.
Reporting impact and damages immediately
As stated earlier, damages may be challenging to detect early. Therefore, encourage your employees to report any accidents with forklifts immediately. This can prompt you to conduct a thorough racking inspection and address damages swiftly. Working with professional inspectors will be crucial at this point. And our experts at PRQ Australia can ensure that your pallet racking system is in good condition.
How we can help you
At PRQ Australia, we are dedicated to ensuring your workers are safe when handling pallet racking systems. Our services range from safe installation to quality inspections to ensure that your racks meet Australian safety standards.
