Industrial Shelving Safety

The use of industrial shelving is an indispensable component of many businesses. Factories, warehouses, and many other types of workplaces all employ shelving to store and organize their goods and products. These storage solutions are usually designed to safely hold heavy items, and they often reach great heights, requiring robust safety measures surrounding their proper use to be in place.

The foundation of safe commercial shelving begins with proper installation and continues with consistent maintenance. The proper set-up of shelving is an absolute requirement, and the height-to-depth ratio must be taken into account. The items that will be stored, whether heavy or delicate, must also be considered. The following safety tips can help avoid accidents!

Manufacturer Guidelines – It’s important to follow manufacturer guidelines when assembling commercial shelving. Every component must be put in its proper place, and the instructions must be followed carefully, taking any warnings and limitations into account.
Regular Inspections – These will ensure the safety and longevity of industrial storage shelves are maintained throughout their use. Inspections help to identify any potential structural degradation or wear and tear before they can cause any safety hazards. The routine maintenance of shelving is critical for sectors in which very heavy, hazardous, or fragile materials are being stored.
Properly Secured – The stability of steel storage racks as a critical aspect of shelving safety is sometimes overlooked in busy industrial environments, which can lead to costly accidents that might even endanger human life! It’s vital to ensure that all shelving rack systems are securely fastened to the floor in the way their manufacturer guidelines require. This securement creates stability and prevents any tipping hazards that result from uneven loads. When workers and machinery are moving around during a busy workday, all it takes is a nudge to compromise an improperly secured storage unit’s stability. Proper floor anchorage is required for safety reasons as well as to protect the stored inventory from damage.
Heavy Items Go Low – While it sounds like plain common sense, this safety measure is too often overlooked as workers rush to accomplish their tasks in a fast-paced work environment. Always place the heaviest items on the bottom when loading industrial storage shelves. Having a lower centre of gravity reduces the risks of a shelving unit tipping over. Following this simple rule will protect workers from having heavy items fall on them, and ensure the shelving’s structural integrity is preserved.
Light Items Go High – Following the above logic, placing the lighter items on higher and top shelves will prevent overloading that can put undue stress on the system’s overall structural integrity, which can lead to buckling and eventually collapse! By placing light items on higher shelves you are also making it less likely that heavier items will be stacked on top of them leading to them being crushed and broken.
Follow The Weight Limits – All industrial shelving is rated with weight limits, and following them is an essential safety rule. Overloading the weight capacities is a clear path to disaster, and must be studiously avoided.