Keep Your Site Safe Before, During and After Rack Installation

Contributed by: RMI- Rack Manufacturers Institute of MHI

A rack installation project is a construction site. That’s the message reputable rack manufacturers want to convey, first and foremost, with safety front and center in their minds. “These days, most facilities are doing their best to maximize their vertical space,” says Ryan Pyle, National Sales Director at Hannibal Industries. “That means racking that often extends very high. If you have a fall from 30 feet in the air during installation, that’s not a good outcome.”

Everyone in a facility has to be aware and on board with the right protocols to successfully carry out a safe project. “The number one priority is safety,” says Ryan Bartlett, President and CEO at United Material Handling. “This applies to the installers, the site employees, contractors and anyone on the floor.”

With that in mind, it is essential that when you undertake a rack installation project, you follow specific recommendations to keep everyone involved safe. The best way to accomplish that is to break your project into specific segments: before, during and after installation.

Before

While every stage of a rack installation is critical, it’s the steps you take in advance of the project that lay the foundation for safety. Yet, says Pyle, “This is often the most overlooked stage of the project. You must have minimum standards in place before you even begin.”

Your best starting point is selecting a reputable manufacturing company, a partner who can help you cross all the Ts and dot all the Is. “Make sure they are a member of the Rack Manufacturer’s Institute (RMI),” says Bartlett. “They will have guidelines and be committed to following those guidelines.”

Always check references, too. Ask to see examples of projects on a scale similar to yours and check references. “Ask how the company handles hiccups when they arise, because they always do,” recommends Pyle. “Also look into how much tonnage they produce in a month and whether or not they have more than one facility as a backup. Do your research—everyone thinks a rack is a rack, but there’s a wide variety and you want to make sure what you’re buying is safe and will stand the test of time.”

A big part of the pre-installation stage involves applying for, and acquiring, the proper permits. This can involve a building inspection, as well as a fire inspection. Depending on where you are in the country, you want to ensure that the rack you are purchasing will meet not just static capacity, but seismic capacity as well.

Once you’ve made it through the permitting process and approvals, it’s time to move on to a visual survey of your site. “Remember that if we’re coming into your building, we’re bringing in massive bundles of steel and setting up a construction site,” says John Krummell, President and CEO of Advanced Storage Products. “Make sure there is safe access to bring all the materials and equipment in.”

Have a walk through with the key players and look at the floor to ensure it is free of cracks, that it is strong enough for the weight of the incoming racking and that it’s level. Look for any electrical or other lines that might be a tripping hazard, too.

During

Once the installation project is underway, there are plenty of safety boxes to check. “Make sure that everyone has proper PPE, including goggles, hard hats, steel-toe boots and vests,” says Pyle. “Also make sure anyone using equipment is certified to do so, and that the equipment is in good working order.”

Because much of the job might involve heights, installers need to be safely tethered inside and, on the racks, too. “OSHA is very specific about what’s allowable when it comes to fall protection,” says Krummell. “The key factor is that if someone is in an elevated position, they must be tied off. Sometimes this means a double lanyard, so make sure you are in compliance here.”

Krummell also emphasizes the importance of the work following a systematic timeline. “It’s easy to get into trouble by performing steps out of order,” he warns. “You need to finish what you start before moving onto the next step. Have an inspection that follows a checklist to ensure everything is carefully installed.”

And while it’s tempting to rush a project, that’s a big red flag. “People often want to throw more installers at a project and get the job finished faster, but that’s a mistake and a risk,” says Pyle.

After

As the project reaches completion, there are still a few critical steps to ensure safety. Immediately post installation, you need a complete inspection, preferably by the design engineer or another qualified professional. Then schedule follow-up inspections at regular intervals, as recommended by your manufacturer or distributor partner.

“Also make sure all your employees are trained to operate in and around your new racking,” says Pyle. “This will not only make the environment safe, but help your rack last longer, too.”

If conditions change in your facility—you are storing different commodities, for instance—make sure your racking is up to code for handling that. This is a situation that can change quickly and regularly, and it’s an easy issue to fall through the cracks.

Much is riding on your new racking, including employee health. Afford your installation project the high priority it deserves. Says Bartlett: “Find a partner that covers safety before all else.”

To find out more about RMI visit https://www.mhi.org/rmi