Take a Closer Look at Pallet Rack Inspection

The Who, What, and Why of Pallet Rack Inspection

Pallet storage racking is a major component of most warehouses and distribution centers. When you layer in a busy work environment and moving vehicles inside tightly configured spaces, expect at least occasional vehicle vs. rack contact. However, rack strikes aren’t the only thing that can compromise the stability of a storage rack system. Poor installation and overloading are also serious concerns. Regular rack inspections are the best way to safeguard your whole operation from costly downtime, productivity loss, worker injuries, and compensation costs.

How Healthy is Your Pallet Rack? 

Pallet rack inspection is like a person getting an annual physical in an attempt to head off potential problems with swift preventative maintenance. The reality is that much like ignoring recurrent physical injury, ignoring rack damage can ultimately cost you more than the original structure in business losses.

Risky Business – Potential Cost of Rack Failure

• Worker injury, loss of life
• Inventory damage
• Business disruption
• Inventory loss
• Equipment repair/replacement 
• Worker’s Comp/Litigation

Rack Inspection – Up, Down & All-Around

Pallet rack inspection requires a trained expert to physically walk up and down your system aisles. The inspector will look up to the top, down to the end, to the back, and at each component for damage. Most damage occurs in the lower portion of a rack system, but a trained inspector will understand that front column damage can easily translate to strut, anchor, and baseplate damage as well. Your rack inspector should complete the evaluation and capture precise damage area details to facilitate repairs or address safety issues efficiently. 

The tools of a rack inspector are often a flashlight, clipboard or tablet, tape measure, and of course, safety clothing. 

Pallet Rack Inspection Areas 

Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News – We’ve Got a Rack Repair for You

The real risk of pallet rack damage is to the integrity of the rack. If it has been struck or was installed incorrectly, the load-carrying capacity will likely be diminished. In addition, repeat damage areas are concerning for system integrity and productivity loss… clearly, something isn’t working right if the same rack area is repeatedly struck.

Where damage is significant enough to require repair, your inspector should discuss the need to unload the rack (if necessary) and the proper way to mark off the area from warehouse activity. It is also important to ask about repair kit options.

A pallet rack repair kit is a customized solution manufactured to the exact specifications of your pallet rack system. The repair kit will return your rack system to its designed load capacity and system integrity. Simply replacing components with parts that look similar to your rack is not a proper approach to rack repair. The replacement parts may not have the same load-bearing capacity or the same connection interface and can leave your system vulnerable all over again.

Inspection Rx – Call the Warehouse Optimizers Team

Warehouse Optimizers, Inc. (WOI) has been designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing storage racking systems for over 20 years. Our team of experts is trained to evaluate your rack system’s condition and carefully detail any compromising areas that we find. We can also facilitate repair kits and install them for you with minimal disruption to your operation. 

With our 5-Step Total Satisfaction Experience™, WOI guarantees that we will 1. Listen to your needs, 2. Execute your project with particular attention to your unique application, 3. Stick to project timelines, 4. Ensure a safe environment, and 5. Finally, pay close attention to the appearance of the finished product. The WOI team will walk you through each stage of the process and provide expert customer service to deliver outstanding results and peace of mind.

Contact a member of our team today, and let’s chat or Zoom. Call (865) 540-4004 for a prompt response. We proudly serve customers throughout the Southeast, including KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA.