How To Identify Areas Where Rack Guarding Is Needed?

When it comes to warehouse safety, one potential hazard that is often overlooked is the impact of a falling pallet. Pallets are often stacked high in warehouses, and if one falls, it causes serious damage to both people, stored items, and property. While it is not always possible to prevent a pallet from falling, some measures can be taken to lessen the damage caused by an impact.

While it is not always possible to prevent a pallet from falling, some measures can be taken to lessen the damage caused by an impact. One such measure is to install rack protectors around areas where pallets are stored. These guards can help to deflect a falling pallet away from people and property, minimizing the risk of injury or damage. There are several pallet rack guard types available in the market, including wire mesh guards, foam padding guards, and steel guards.

Whatever model you choose, it is critical to identify the areas that require warehouse rack protectors. This post lists a few areas that require warehouse rack protectors. 

How to Protect Your Racks with Pallet Racking Protectors

Some Important Types of Pallet Rack Guard

Choosing the right pallet rack protection is critical for protecting warehouse infrastructure and guaranteeing employee safety. Let’s go deeper into three common varieties of pallet rack guards and explain their distinguishing features:

Mesh Guarding

Mesh guards are elaborately woven wire mesh panels strategically placed along the perimeter of pallet racks. These panels act as a protective barrier, preventing products from cascading from racks and inflicting damage or harm.

Advantages

Visibility: The natural design of mesh guarding allows warehouse personnel to clearly detect and access merchandise without difficulty. Durability: Made from strong wire mesh materials, these guards provide long-term protection against impacts and collisions in the warehouse environment.

Durability: Made from strong wire mesh materials, these guards provide long-term protection against impacts and collisions in the warehouse environment.

Versatility: Mesh guards are adaptable to a variety of warehouse settings, including those with high traffic volumes and large load capacities, making them an effective choice for comprehensive asset security.

Foam Padding Guards

Foam cushioning guards are expertly designed to absorb kinetic energy and reduce damage in the case of a pallet fall. These guards are made out of a high-density foam core surrounded by a tough exterior casing made of vinyl or nylon.

Advantages

Impact Absorption: The inherent softness and cushioning features of foam padding guards excel at absorbing the force exerted by falling pallets, reducing the possibility of harm to stored objects and neighboring infrastructure.

Ease of Installation: Because of their lightweight composition, foam padding guards are easy to install, requiring only a few tools and labor. Customizability: Foam padding guards are highly customizable, adaptable to specific rack dimensions and configurations, offering specialized protection that meets warehouse requirements.

Customizability: Foam padding guards are highly customizable, adaptable to specific rack dimensions and configurations, offering specialized protection that meets warehouse requirements.

Steel Rack Guard

Steel rack guards are strong barriers made from solid steel materials. These barriers are carefully placed around pallet racks to provide strong protection against accidents and collisions.

Advantages

Maximum Strength: Steel rack guards are stalwart sentinels, capable of withstanding formidable impact pressures caused by falling pallets and other possible hazards.

Permanent Protection: Once placed, steel rack guards provide long-term fortification for warehouse infrastructure, reducing the chance of costly repairs or replacements and supporting operational continuity.

Enhanced Security: The impermeable design of steel guards serves as a strong barrier to unwanted access and tampering, strengthening overall warehouse security processes and protecting important assets.

Areas Requiring the Use of Rack Guarding

Several areas of the warehouse require the use of rack guarding. So, how critical is it to install protective guards on your pallets? The answer is that it depends on your business. If you regularly transport heavy or delicate materials, then guards are absolutely essential. The most common areas are the loading dock, the picking area, and the shipping area.

  • If you have a pallet rack that is located near any machinery or equipment, you must install protective guards. This is because if something were to fall off of the rack, it could seriously damage the machinery or equipment, and could even injure or kill someone who is working nearby.
  • Installing rack protectors is critical in areas where a high volume of vehicle traffic is present.
  • The loading dock area is one of the most dangerous areas in the warehouse. There are many potential hazards, including falling boxes and lifting equipment. By installing rack guards in this area, you can help to prevent pallet falling from happening.
  • The aisles between the racks are another area where accidents can happen. If boxes or other items are stored improperly on the racks, they can fall and injure someone walking underneath.
  • When it comes to safety, there is no such thing as being too careful. This is especially true in areas where there is a high volume of pedestrian traffic. Installing protective guards in these areas can help to protect people from injuries in the event of a slip and fall. When you consider the potential cost of a lawsuit or an insurance claim, the expense of installing protective guards looks a lot more reasonable.

Factors to Consider before Installing Pallet Rack Guards

Installing pallet rack guards may seem like a simple and straightforward task, but there are actually several factors you need to consider before going ahead with the installation. For instance, you need to take into account the:

  • Height of the racks
  • Weight of the loads
  • Type of pallets being used
  • The capacity of the pallet rack
  • The layout of the warehouse

Failure to properly consider all of these factors could result in the guards being installed incorrectly, which could lead to serious accidents or even injuries. So before you install pallet rack guards in your warehouse, make sure you take the time to do your research and plan everything out carefully.

Needless to say, investing in good quality warehouse rack protectors is a good idea. They can help to prevent damage to your warehouse racks while improving the efficiency of your warehouse operations. However, you need to be careful when choosing the racks for your warehouse. You must source them from trusted manufacturers like SPS Ideal Solutions. The company offers customized racking solutions for your industrial needs. You can get in touch with the experts on the content to know more. 

FAQs About Pallet Rack Protectors or Guard

What is the purpose of pallet rack protectors?

Pallet rack protectors serve a critical function in warehouse and industrial settings, providing a barrier between pallet racks and moving equipment like forklifts and pallet jacks. The primary purpose of pallet rack protectors is to prevent damage to the racks, enhancing safety for personnel and protecting stored inventory. By absorbing and distributing the force of impacts, these protectors minimize the risk of collisions and subsequent rack collapse, reducing the potential for accidents and injuries. Additionally, they contribute to cost savings by minimizing the need for repairs or replacements of damaged racks and inventory, thus ensuring the efficiency and integrity of warehouse operations over time.

Is it an OSHA violation to use pallet rack guard in pallet racking system?

Using pallet rack guards in a pallet racking system is generally not an OSHA violation; in fact, it’s often encouraged as a safety measure. These guards serve to enhance safety in warehouses by protecting pallet racks from damage caused by forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment. By reducing the risk of rack collapse and injury to personnel, these guards align with OSHA’s focus on workplace safety and hazard prevention.

What is the safety factor of wire mesh guards?

The safety factor of wire mesh guards, commonly used in pallet systems, is typically around 2 to 3 times the maximum expected load or impact. For example, if a guard is rated to withstand 5000 lbs of force, it likely has a safety factor ensuring it can endure up to 10,000 to 15,000 lbs of force before failure. This factor accounts for variations in load distribution and unexpected impacts, ensuring optimal safety in warehouse environments. Compliance with relevant safety standards, such as those accredited by OSHA, further ensures the guards’ reliability and effectiveness in protecting personnel and inventory.

What is the most common form of mesh guarding?

The most common form of mesh guarding used in warehouse and industrial settings is welded wire mesh panels. These panels consist of intersecting wires welded together to form a grid pattern, creating a sturdy and durable barrier. Welded wire mesh panels are versatile and widely used for various applications, including pallet rack guards, machine guarding, perimeter fencing, and more. They provide excellent visibility, airflow, and protection against impacts, making them a popular choice for safeguarding personnel, equipment, and inventory in diverse environments.

 

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