Inspections catch damage after it happens. Wickens Engineering explains why the safest storage is designed around how a site really works.
Racking takes knocks every shift, and most safety advice focuses on spotting the damage. But many problems start earlier, with off-the-shelf racking squeezed into the wrong space, overloaded, or sited where forklifts can’t avoid it. Good design won’t stop every knock, but it can lessen the impact on people, stock and day-to-day operations.
Design around the real load
Every Wickens racking system is designed and manufactured to order, around the customer’s actual products, forklifts and floor space.
That means beam levels, bay widths and safe working loads are right from day one, which matters most for long, heavy or awkward items such as steel coil, bar and sheet. Clear load notices then show what each level can carry.
The right storage removes the risk
Often the biggest safety gain comes from giving stock a proper home.
•Mezzanine floors add space without overloading racking or cluttering walkways, with handrails and edge protection designed in.
•Rack sheds bring covered, organised storage to outdoor yards, expanding storage capacity to prevent overloaded warehouses and keep aisles clear.
•Batt-Rack, Wickens’ purpose-built controlled battery storage system, gives lithium-ion batteries a dedicated home as volumes rise in vehicle recycling and logistics.
Keep people and vehicles apart
Most warehouse accidents happen where forklifts and pedestrians meet. Wickens’ safety barriers create protected walkways and crossing points, and shield aisle ends, loading bays and racking from impact.
Keep it safe in use
Racking counts as work equipment under PUWER 1998, and BS EN 15635 expects regular checks by trained staff plus an expert inspection at least every 12 months. Encourage no-blame damage reporting, and check with your supplier before changing any layout or load.
Start with the right conversation
The cheapest safety improvement is built in before the first pallet goes up. Planning new storage or short on space? Talk to a manufacturer who will design around your site. Safe storage starts on the drawing board. Wickens Engineering is a UK manufacturer of bespoke steel storage solutions, including racking systems, safety barriers, mezzanine floors, rack sheds and Batt-Rack controlled battery storage.
Find out more at wickens.co.uk.
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