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Pallet rack maintenance is critical to conduct on a regular basis. Your heavy-duty shelving is made to last and endure daily wear and tear, but there comes a time when you may need to repair or replace these pallet racks. Having your industrial pallet racks in good shape determines how safe your warehouse space is. If these heavy-duty storage racks are damaged, there is a chance for accidents and injuries if these were to give out.

                Below, we have outlined what you should be looking for in your racking. Being aware of your warehouse pallet racking condition on a daily basis is important. If you suspect anything, a pallet rack inspection will save you time and money down the road. Take the time to see what you should be on the lookout for.

                What You Should Look For: Key Signs of Wear and Tear in Your Warehouse Pallet Racking

• Bent or damaged uprights and beams: A common sign that your pallet racking may be susceptible to further damage is when the uprights and beams are bent. This could be due to forklift impact or loading your racking beyond its limitations, causing bending of the uprights and beams.
• Rust or corrosion on the racking: Over time, your rack may rust or corrode. This weakens the steel, making it more vulnerable to failure.
• Loose or missing hardware: Hardware is installed for a reason, make sure it’s all still in the pallet rack! This could include beam safety clips, nuts and bolts on the uprights (if you have bolted braced uprights), nuts and bolts on the beam endplate connections (if it is structural racking), or missing nuts on your concrete wedge anchors.
• Visible rack leaning or instability: If a rack is overloaded or has an uneven load distribution, this can cause the rack to be instable, causing leaning.
• Twisted beams or uprights: Overloading racks or not having a level distribution can cause beams and uprights to bend or twist. A twisted upright column affects the structural capacity and can lead to a serious safety situation for your employees.
• Floor anchors pulling out: If floor anchors are coming out or missing, the stability of the rack is at risk. Anchors hold the steel racking in place, so these need to be securely in the ground.
• Damaged uprights: Uprights are the backbone to the structural integrity of pallet racks when this is damaged, your industrial pallet racks may become unstable.

Why This Needs to Be Fixed

Safety Hazards

                Your pallet racks hold your inventory and your tools – the items necessary for keeping your business in operation. If your pallet rack has damage or is close to falling, it could compromise the items it holds – damaging these necessary tools that you need. In addition to damaged items, if this rack were to fall unexpectedly, warehouse workers could be in danger of being hit by a falling rack. To save money and keep your workers safe, it’s necessary that your pallet racking is in good condition.

OSHA Compliance

                In addition to safety hazards, there are certain standards that must be maintained to meet OSHA compliance. OSHA requires employers to provide a workplace free from hazards. Your pallet racking must include proper installation, adequate load capacity, and regular inspections to prevent accidents. Find the latest rules for storage here.

Increased Costs Due to Rack Failure

                As mentioned above, if your rack fails, the items on the rack could become damaged and unable to use. There is then the cost of replacing these items and also replacing the industrial pallet rack. Having to replace these structures, order new items, and install it can put your production to a halt, taking your valuable time before operations can be up and running again.

When to Repair vs When to Replace

Depending on your situation, your damaged pallet racking may just need repairs. If those damages are too far gone, it’ll need to be replaced. Repairs can be made to minor damages.

Replacements are needed when you’re seeing a lot of damage that is affecting the structural integrity of your pallet racking. The rack may be bending, uprights are twisted, there may be major rusting or corrosion. When this happens, it may become necessary to replace your warehouse pallet racks instead of repairing them.

Tips for Preventative Maintenance

While damage and replacements for pallet racking are not always avoidable, it can help to have preventative maintenance in place. These are some things that you can do to keep on top of your pallet rack health.

Regular Inspections: Being able to identify signs of damage early on can save you from making repairs vs replacements. On a daily basis, your employees should be looking for any signs of damage to the racking, and in addition, consider a professional inspection at a minimum of once per year.

Secure Connections: On a regular basis, make sure that all anchors, bolts, safety clips are still in place. If there are any missing, make sure to replace these in a timely manner.

Load Capacity Limits: It’s important to make sure that you are not overloading the pallets. This can cause bending and twisting of the pallet racks, compromising the structural integrity.

Even Distribution: Ensure there is an even distribution on the pallet racks when loading items on the racks or when unloading. An uneven distribution can cause bending over time.

Compliance with Standards: If you’re in a seismic zone or have local building codes, it’s important to make sure that your pallet racking storage is complying with regulations that will keep your facility safe.

Professional Inspections: It’s a good idea to get your pallet rack inspected by a professional at a minimum of once per year so that they can catch things you may not. This can save a lot of time and money down the road.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Keeping a clean space in your facility is always important. By ensuring there is no debris accumulating around your racking, hazards can be prevented.

Rack Protection: Add rack protection to prevent damage. This can include Column Protectors and End of Aisle Rack Guards to help prevent forklift impact on your racking.

Schedule a Rack Inspection

Ensuring that you warehouse pallet racks are in good condition is essential to keeping your facility up and running. By knowing the health of this heavy-duty shelving, you can more formally assess if repairs or replacements are needed, instead of waiting until the rack fails to fix this. Being on top of your heavy-duty storage racks also keeps your warehouse workers safe.

Schedule a rack inspection today if you’re not sure on whether you need to repair your racking or replace it. Even if you just want to check to see if your racking is still in good shape, a professional rack inspection is worthwhile. Give us a call at 1-866-692-3638 or contact us here.