At Advanced Handling & Storage, we are the pallet racking people. Therefore we know that when a pallet racking system collapses it can result in serious injury, loss of stock, and potentially result in your business grinding to a halt.

Most of the time, pallet racking collapses are preventable and usually only happen due to poor installation or quality of the racking, improper maintenance, or insufficient staff training. 

There are many risks associated with collapsed racking, so in today’s post, we are going to cover what might cause your storage system to collapse and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Why pallet racking collapses 

Overloading

Overloading is a common mistake made with pallet racking. Adding too much stock beyond your racking limits could cause structural problems which might end up in an entire system collapse. 

That’s why it’s important to abide by the manufacturer’s weight limits. It is essential that your warehouse workers and forklift operatives know these limits by displaying load notice signs around your warehouse.

We also highly recommend using pallet racking that is right for your stock. For example, if you are required to store long or awkwardly-sized items then cantilever racking is best suited.

Poor installation

If your racking system hasn’t been installed properly in the first place, this could cause major problems. By using an accredited company like Advanced Handling & Storage, you can rest assured that the job will be done properly by abiding by the manufacturer’s specifications.

We also recommend avoiding doing any DIY when installing pallet racking and to leave it up to the professionals. It is also not advisable to integrate products from different manufacturers into the same system. This could potentially cause problems long-term. 

Bad warehouse layout or design

The poor design or layout of a warehouse can end up being a downfall. It is important to ensure aisles between your pallet racking system are wide enough for operating machinery, such as forklifts, to fit through with no obstructiosn.

As you add new parts to your system, your warehouse may start to become more hazardous as your operations grow. To avoid layout or design problems, always make sure installation is carried out by a professional. 

Negligence 

Sometimes, even with the best safety measures in place, a pallet racking system collapse can still occur because of staff negligence. 

You could consider racking safety awareness training to help improve your warehouse workers awareness of safety measures and dangered associated with poorly maintained racking. 

Increased supervision and ensuring staff don’t climb the racking when picking products are also preventative measures.

How to prevent pallet racking collapses

At Advanced Handling & Storage, to prevent pallet racking collapses, we recommend routine visual inspections to spotany potential damage early. This service is something we are able to offer, if you need more information please feel free to get in touch. 

All safety inspections will be carried out by a SEMA approved racking inspector who will provide a full damage report.

We also recommend that any damage to your warehouse racking, whether noticed by you or staff, should be reported immediately. You should avoid using the storage system until it is fully repaired.

Finally, always operate and maintain your pallet racking system with guidelines from the manufacturer.

Contact us on 0800 345 7088 to discuss your storage needs, or email [email protected]. 

With us, support continues after the sale, and we strive to form strong customer relationships, providing you with dedicated advisors you can contact for any advice.