Forklifts are the #1 Cause of Pallet Rack Damage. Let’s eliminate it.

Manufacturing, warehouse and distribution centers are the most unpredictable environments. Forklifts are constantly moving in aisleways and turning corners quickly. Sometimes…or many times they bump into pallet racks and the impact by the forklift causes damage. Not all damage is caused by forklift impacts, pallet rack damage can also be initiated by improperly placing the pallet onto the rack. If done incorrectly, pallet rack damage will become a reality.

Pallet Rack Damage

It’s important for pallet racks to maintain their original structural shape. Pallet rack manufacturers calculate how much weight, or load capacity, the structure can manage if the racks are completely full. Every time the pallet rack is bumped, scratched, or impacted in any way, the movement and damage change the shape of the structure, therefore, the load capacity is reduced. This can be done all at one time with a forceful impact, or it can accumulate with smaller impacts over time. Either way, the integrity of the racking system is no longer intact and the structure is no longer safe.

6 Causes of Pallet Rack Damage

Pallet rack damage can be caused in a variety of ways

#4

Workers changing the rack components

#5

Lack of forklift operator training

#6

Using the wrong equipment to load and unload from the rack.

Take Forklifts Out of the Top 6

If you were able to take forklift damage out of the top 6, the biggest reason for pallet rack damage, your repair expenses would go down significantly. Right? Well, what if SIERA.AI can?Blue lights, beeping noises, corner guards will not stop an accident from occurring. Nor will it stop the forklift from bumping or impacting another part of the racking system. What does stop it? The S3 Slow to a Safe Stop. Not only will it prevent damage done to the racking system, but also any product, worker, pedestrian, and another forklift or material handling equipment.

The forklift operator is driving down an aisle and is looking in various directions preparing to load or unload the pallet situated on the forks. As with all human beings, the operator can’t look in all directions at the same time to ensure safety. The forklift driver doesn’t realize he’s getting close to the racking system. The S3 has pre-defined settings that you determined and set (or change when necessary). When the operator moves from the green zone to the yellow zone, the S3 Slow to a Safe Stop will provide visual cues and warning sounds. If the operator does not act accordingly, and moves from the yellow warning zone to the red zone, the S3 Slow to a Safe Stop overrides the driver and automatically slows down and comes to a complete stop.