You must understand that storage racking system inspection is necessary to determine if there have been any damage occurrences. Storage racks bear a heavy asset load. Hence, valuing the load capacity is crucial to ensure a safe environment for employees and people associated with the warehouse.
Now, the question is how to inspect the racking components to ensure optimum security.
Let us talk in this article about the strategies and tips for performing inspections. Furthermore, explore the things that need to be attended to and highlighted.
Pallet Racking Audit Explained
If you’re looking to audit the condition of your pallet racking, you’ll need to conduct a thorough evaluation. In this case, the system will be inspected for any damage that may pose a safety risk. It is possible to avoid investing in potential damages or losses by performing regular racking inspections. Thus, saving money and many lives.
How to Inspect Existing Storage Racking Systems
Build a Consistent Inspection Approach
A variety of rows are sure to come up for evaluation. So, to ensure that you don’t forget any rows or racks to assess, building a pattern is always the first thing to do. For instance, if you begin from the ground and notice anchors and baseplates. The next step is to look upwards, following the columns, and focusing on the braces. Lastly, from one row to the next, repeat these steps.
Consider Divide and Conquer Strategy
You can separate your warehouse into sections if the pallet racks are numerous to inspect or if your warehouse is large enough. This is because large warehouse racks can take a lot of time to inspect.
Furthermore, Preparing an inspection schedule can help you focus on specific items during an inspection.
Depending on the inspection needs, you may also need a rotating inspection schedule to make sure employees understand pallet racking safety. Only a small percentage of material handling professionals can identify rack hazards. As a result, now is the time to make them aware of the situation.
Make Use of Right Tools
If you want to have the most efficient inspection, you need to have the right tools and equipment. These tools can include:
- Plum bob for verifying verticality of uprights
- Camera to click the issues when they are located
- A safety vest is essential so you can carry the small and handy equipment easily
Leverage Gathered Data
Now that you are done with knowing the requirements, inspection just begins. Fully optimizing the information gathered during the inspection requires sorting and creating reports on its state. As a result, you’ll be able to take action.
An ideal solution comes from the integrated platform. It enables you to identify issues in real-time, flag them, report them and track their progress.
These may include:
- Where are the rack issues found
- Attributes priorities to the issues
- Track the progress or status of the repairs
Pallet Racking Inspection Guide
A professional can inspect your pallet racking system annually, but you should still be on the lookout for signs of damage between audits.
Below are the areas to check the potential hassles associated with pallet racking.
General
- Inspect for Scraped Paint: Scraped paint is one common indication that can cause a collision. So, look for any such signs before the damage happens.
- Rust or Corrosion Detection: Metal corrosion or rusting that rack metal has weakened and needs to be changed.
- Inspect Rack Levels: Unaligned racks depict the damage and possible reduced load capacity.
Uprights
- Check Any Damage Signs: Any major or minor damage can lower that specific rack’s load capacity. Hence, repairing or replacing the damaged uprights becomes essential.
- Review Column Protectors: See if any column protector is damaged and if you find damage, get it replaced immediately.
- Ensure Floor Fixings are Safe: Replace the missing or broken floor fixings to maintain the pallet racking system’s structural integrity.
Beams
- Identify Overloading: Racking collapse can happen as a result of overloading. Hence, make sure the racks are loaded according to their capacity.
- Find any Deflections: While beams naturally deflect beneath a load, beams should always be uniformed.
- Check for General Losses: Check if there are any severely damaged structural beams. The damage may consist of such as dents or dents. Replace any beams that are structurally compromised.
Then double-check for missing or misplaced parts like screws and other fasteners.
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Wrapping Up
Pallet rack inspection is ultimately driven by safety concerns. Hiring storage racking inspection professionals could be a viable solution. Their knowledge will assist you in determining the extent of the damage, current regulations, and what needs to be changed. This will help you decide how to address the damages and whether or not components should be repaired or replaced.
If you want to keep your employees safe and avoid business losses, you should invest in rack inspection professionals.
