How to Maintain and Repair Your Pallet Racking Systems

Pallet racking is one of the most space and cost-efficient ways to store and organise stock in your warehouse. Strong, durable, and customisable, this type of storage system can be installed to support a variety of different operations and fulfilment systems and allows easy visibility of all of your inventory.

But, if you are going to get the most value out of your pallet racks installation in Melbourne, you need to make sure that you properly maintain and inspect your warehouse shelving.

This will ensure that each pallet racking shelf remains up to legal Australian standards and that your staff is safe and secure in warehouse areas.

Below we will talk you through the essential tips and guidelines you need to know about to minimise the risk of accidents and ensure your racking shelves are safe and secure.

Regular Inspection and Maintenance of Pallet Racking

The Importance of Regular Inspections

Each pallet racking shelf needs to be inspected regularly to make sure that there has been no damage that could result in collapse or falling. Heavy load bearing and regular loading and unloading by forklifts can cause bumps, bending, and warping.

If damage is left unnoticed and unrepaired, your pallet rack installation could end up collapsing, putting your staff in danger, ruining your inventory, and placing yourself in legal hot water when it comes to health and safety regulations.

How Often To Inspect Your Pallet Racks

The Australian Steel Institute Code of Practice and Australian Standard AS4084-2012 requires that your pallet racking storage solutions are checked once every 12 months as a minimum.

What to Look For During a Pallet Racking Inspection

There are various issues to check for when inspecting your pallet racks installation. Each pallet racking shelf is made up of several different components which will need to be assessed to ensure structural integrity. These include:

• Check if your pallet racks have been reconfigured over time.
• Make sure that the ground and mezzanine floors that storage shelves sit on are even.
• Are any of the shelves leaning? Do they look out of alignment with the shelves around them?
• Are there any signs of corrosion or rust that may indicate a weakening of the metal?
• Make sure that each pallet racking shelf is not overloaded. You need to know the manufacturer’s weight recommendation and ensure this is clearly displayed for warehouse staff who are loading and unloading.
• Check for dings, twists, and bumps on the pallet racks beams, bases, and framework. Measure gaps that look out of alignment and use a straight-edge tool to check for possible warping.

Regular checks of your pallet racking will help you to spot issues quickly and ensure that you catch and repair costly issues as soon as possible before they become bigger problems.

Repairs and Replacements of your Pallet Racks Installation.

Once you have identified issues with your pallet racking, you need to take immediate action to repair or replace the damaged elements. Different elements will require different solutions. Possible repairs can include:

• The replacement of bent, warped, and damaged beams.
• Replacing uprights with cracks, corrosion, and rust.
• Identifying and replacing bolts and fasteners which are missing.
• Repairing issues that lead to sagging, uneven, or bent shelves.

The quicker that issues are identified and dealt with the better. Failing to notice or repair issues with your pallet racks could leave you open to legal repercussions and place your warehouse staff in danger.

So, once you have identified damage on a pallet racking shelf, how do you go about fixing them?

DIY vs. Professional Repairs of Pallet Racks.

Arranging proper repairs of your pallet racking system is just as important as identifying damage. Ineffective repairs and rushed jobs can mean that issues are not properly dealt with and that health and safety dangers remain or are even increased.

Should You Repair Your Racking System Yourself or Hire a Professional?

DIY pallet racking repairs could include the replacement and tightening of fasteners and bolts. This is an important task for maintaining the structural integrity of a pallet rack shelf and will help to avoid the warping and bending of other components.

Cleaning and removal of mould, dirt, and debris can also be handled in-house. This important task will help to avoid corrosion and damage of metal which will prove more costly later down the line.

However, if you are dealing with larger issues that affect the structural integrity of the storage system, then turning to a professional pallet racking installation and repair service is essential.

Complex repairs require time and expertise which your regular warehouse staff will not have. A professional repair will ensure that your shelves are safe, secure and that their lifespan is increased as much as possible.

How to Find a Pallet Racking Repair Company in Australia

When looking for a pallet rack repair service, you should make sure to contact experienced experts who specialise in pallet racking systems. This will ensure that you get the highest standard of service, that important issues are not overlooked, and everything is completed to legal Australian standards.

Make sure to check online reviews, look for a company that is a specialist in the field, and ask for previous customer testimonials.

Whether you choose to handle smaller issues yourself or need to hire a professional service – attention to detail is always essential.

Safety Tips for Your Warehouse Pallet Racks.

Safety Precautions to Take During Maintenance and Repairs

Pallet racking checks and repairs can involve heavy weights, tipping of inventory, and removal of large amounts of inventory. All of this means that you need to think about the health and safety of your staff during every aspect of repairs and maintenance.

Here are some things to consider when approaching maintenance of a pallet racks installation:

• Make sure that your staff is properly protected with high-visibility clothing, protective helmets, and supportive elements to prevent injury or danger.
• All equipment used during the inspection such as ladders, torches, and helmets need to regularly be checked to make sure they are safe.
• Ensure that all of your household staff is aware that checks or repairs are taking place and that they need to be careful and aware when entering the area.
• All of your warehouse staff should be trained and updated on how to safely handle heavy loads.
• Ensure that your pallet racks systems are adequately supported during repairs to make sure that the area remains safe and secure.

Maintaining the health and safety of your warehouse area is essential and that includes when repairs and maintenance are ongoing. Ensure that all of your staff are aware of how to behave during this important process.

Conclusion

Regular inspection, maintenance, and repairs of your pallet rack shelves are essential if you want to ensure the health and safety of your warehouse. You need to check your storage system at least once and year and take quick action if you notice damage or decline.

Smaller repairs can be handled in-house, but larger structural issues should be left to the professionals. You need to make sure that all elements of the shelving system are safe, secure, and repaired correctly to ensure that your staff is not in danger and that inventory isn’t damaged.

For more information about selecting pallet racking in Melbourne, contact Multiple Storage Solutions today. Our friendly and experienced experts are available to help you with every aspect of pallet racking repairs, maintenance, and installations.