3 Tips To Prevent Forklift And Pallet Rack Accidents
The pallet racks in your warehouse probably play a major role in the storage of all of your important construction equipment, production supplies and stock. You probably also rely on your forklifts to transport large, heavy loads. Between the two, however, there is a good chance that you might have problems, such as forklift accidents.
Although it can be impossible to prevent your employees from crashing into your pallet racks with your forklifts, it's important to prevent it as much as possible. Otherwise, you could risk expensive damage to your forklifts, your expensive pallet racks and the items that you store on them. Luckily, implementing these things can help you avoid dealing with these accidents.
1. Widen Your Aisles
One of the first and most effective things that you can do to prevent these accidents is to widen your aisles. Although it might be tempting to crowd your racks as close to one another as possible so that you can create more storage space, doing so can make it difficult for drivers to maneuver your forklifts around. A better alternative is to invest in taller racks so that you can store just as many things without crowding your floor space as much.
2. Keep it Clean
It's very important to keep the floors in your warehouse -- particularly those in-between your pallet racks -- as clean as possible. Ensure that items are picked up as soon as possible and that nothing is stored on the floor. Otherwise, forklift operators who are attempting to maneuver their forklifts around all of the things on the floor might accidentally hit the pallet racks.
3. Install Guard Rails
If you don't already have guard rails in place on the corners of your pallet racks, you are missing out on a chance to protect them. Guard rails work as "bumpers" that help prevent forklift operators from hitting your racks. They are also usually brightly-colored, which can make tight corners a little easier to see. This can help prevent forklift operators from hitting the corners of your racks in the first place and can minimize damage in the event that there is an accident.
Forklift and pallet rack accidents can be dangerous for everyone who is working on the warehouse floor. Plus, they can result in expensive damage that can cost your company money. Luckily, if you follow these three tips, you can help prevent these accidents from happening.