As part of our extensive range of warehouse services, racking inspections are an integral part of supporting our clients in the maintenance of productive and safe working environments.

We sometimes encounter situations where clients have introduced alternative solutions in the belief that they will achieve the same results when it comes to protecting their racking. The use of nuts and bolts instead of locking pins is quite a common scenario and on the face of it, would appear to do the same job. However, this significantly underestimates the way in which a locking pin is designed to work and its role in minimising damage to an upright. For instance, if struck by a forklift, a locking pin will allow the beam to dislodge from an upright thus preventing significant damage and reducing the potential to trigger a collapse across a whole bay. A nut and bolt connection will prevent this movement and can place an entire warehouse at risk should the failure become progressive.

Whilst this is true in most cases, there are some exceptions to the rule. For example, the risk of not bolting the front beam of a live storage system is deemed by many to be greater than that of bolting, given that the force that stops pallets from running down the inclined rollers is substantial. The easiest and safest way to establish best practice for your company’s racking system is to engage a SEMA accredited inspector.

If you’re looking to arrange your annual storage inspection or would like advice on safety protocols for your business, then contact our friendly, SEMA accredited professional team to discuss your requirements on 01384 256969 or email sales@teepee.co.uk