Common Signs of Pallet Rack Damage: When to Seek Repairs

From space optimization for improved organization of inventory to improving safety in the warehouse, pallets play an integral role in providing smooth and efficient operation of a business. As a necessary part of a warehouse routine, once pallet rack installation is completed, it is important to ensure the pallets remain in good condition.

Visual Signs of Damage: What to Look For

Damage to pallets may not always be obvious, which is why frequent inspections are necessary. Pallets can become damaged, lose their durability, and become unsafe due to a variety of reasons that make them defective.

Some of these reasons include the pallets coming into contact with obstacles, the products having varying weights distributed across the boards, weather conditions, and interaction with warehouse equipment.

When doing an initial safety check, these are things to look for.

Check for any splits in the wood.
Look for any decayed wood that can break under the pressure of the product’s weight.
Look for pallet boards that are broken or missing which put the pallets in an unstable condition.
Check the area around the fasteners of the pallet for damaged or decayed wood, or unstable knots.
Recheck pallets that have been previously repaired to ensure the repairs are still in good order.
The pallet rack is leaning or shows signs of bowing.

Impact Damage: How Forklift Operations Affect Pallet Racks

A common situation with damaged pallets is the interaction between the pallet and a forklift. The result can range from damage to the pallet only, or the damage can extend to the load it is carrying.

There are numerous ways a forklift can cause damage to a pallet.

The forklift’s tines are not correctly aligned when inserted into the pallet, resulting in a damaged product.
When moving a pallet from a rack, misaligned tines can result in pushing the entire pallet to the floor, or part of the load may be damaged or pushed off the rack.
During inclement weather, such as rain, snow, or ice, the stability of the tines is compromised, which can lead to unstable loads.
Pallet boards may become cracked when lifted.
Forklift operator error. This can be due to the operator moving too fast with the load and running into or ramming the pallet and its load into a wall.
The forklift operator misjudges the size of the pallet and the area where it is being placed, and the pallet is damaged.
Damage can also happen when the forklift tines carrying the pallet to be loaded or unloaded come into contact with doorways, causing the corners of the load to be damaged.
The load is not secured properly.

The Importance of Regular Inspections and Maintenance

With a pallet rack inspection, you can be confident your pallet system is in good working order. With a schedule set in place for an inspection by professionals,

Once pallet rack installation in Philadelphia is completed, it is important to maintain a schedule for regular inspection and maintenance.

Because of the many reasons a pallet’s integrity may be compromised, it is to your advantage to keep them safe. Inspections and maintenance help in several ways.

With frequent inspections, a damaged pallet can be replaced before it becomes a safety issue for workers and products.
Frequent inspections save money by avoiding damaged goods due to damaged pallets.
Pallets that are in good condition promote the safety of the employees who come in contact with them daily.
A well-maintained pallet loaded with goods is safe and capable of holding the weight of the product.
You want your company to always be in compliance with OSHA’s safety protocols.

When to Call in Professionals for Repairs

While pallet damage, such as an obvious broken or split board, can be detected, other issues may not be as obvious.

To ensure your pallets and pallet racks are in good standing and support safety, don’t take the chance that you have identified all the potential problems. To provide a safe environment for your employees and products, contact a professional company that provides a team of specialists experienced in what to look for and how to fix them.

Contact Our Professional Team

At Storage & Ergonomic Equipment Company, inspecting, identifying, and providing pallet rack repair service is one of our areas of expertise. Call us to schedule a free visit to your facility to discuss recommendations.