Keep Your DC Running Safely and Smoothly with Safety Gates

Ladder gates help keep workers safe on elevated areas. Image courtesy of Steel King Industries, Inc.

The proper selection and use of safety gates protects personnel and equipment.

By: John Clark, Contributor

Easy and safe access to product and equipment is a fundamental need of distribution centers and other material handling facilities. Safety gates – designed and manufactured in a variety of configurations, provide that access.

“With the constant movement of product in a distribution center, and the need to reach equipment, ease of access is essential for top productivity, but that access needs to be controlled to protect personnel and, in some cases, to make sure access to equipment is limited,” according to James Augustyniak, Midwest Regional Sales Manager for Steel King Industries.

Gates are especially important on mezzanines and platforms for fall protection, but they also play a role in safety at the ground level, Augustyniak noted.

PIVOT GATES

Pivot gates are the most common type of safety protection used on distribution center platforms where forklifts are placing pallet loads, but there are several other styles that can be part of a protection system – either on the floor or at a mezzanine level, most notably swing gates for access control.

Both of the above two types are generally manually controlled, but automated gates are an option in some instances.

Pivot gates, sometimes called pallet gates, pallet access gates or mezzanine gates, maintain a barrier on mezzanines when pallet loads are being placed or retrieved. These usually have a simple design, allowing the user to easily create an area for a pallet load to be placed while maintaining fall protection for personnel.

“When the front gate is opened, the back gate pivots down, creating a quarantined area where the load can be placed or retrieved,” said Chris Pahls, Product Manager at Steel King’s NexCaliber platform division.

Look for pivot gates that include a bearing at the pivot point which supports a smooth open-and-close process. Not all pivot gates on the market have a pivot-point bearing.

An option offered by some manufacturers allows a forklift driver to automatically pivot the gate. Once the load is placed or retrieved, the gate can be pivoted to align with adjacent guard rail. A pivot gate should always be in the “closed” position when not in use.

Swing gates open to allow access to work platforms and can be closed to protect workers from fall risks. Image courtesy of Steel King Industries, Inc.

SWING GATES

Swing gates are used at any level for safety and access control. As the name implies, these gates swing open. Manual gates are self-closing via springs which can be adjusted for tension control, especially when springs start to lose tension after years of frequent service. These gates are sometimes called pedestrian or forklift crossing gates, being part of an overall safety system that keeps personnel separated from forklift traffic. A lockable swing gate can also be used to limit access to equipment.

While manual swing gates are the most common type, automated versions are available, some with motion sensors. Swing gates are generally part of a guard rail system, but they can be installed independent of the railing. When installed, one of a swing gates’ two posts can be taller to accommodate warning or notification messaging.

A sufficient number of swing gates should be installed so personnel are not tempted to climb over guard railings, Augustyniak advises. Choose a gate that allows the swing to be reversed by unbolting the gate and switching it from the left to the right post, or vice versa.

LADDER GATES & LOADING DOCK GATES

Ladder gates, which OSHA requires to be placed at the top of a ladder, are designed to prevent falls down the ladder or a staircase. These gates always swing open inward toward a platform surface.

Loading dock gates are used to create a safe environment where product is being brought into or shipped out of the facility. A variety of styles are available, including swing, swivel, sliding, vertical lift, and folding – in manual or automated versions. Because of exterior climate conditions, these gates can be galvanized to protect their steel from corrosion.

SELECTION CRITERIA

When working with a gate provider, be it a manufacturer, distributor or online retailer, there are several factors to discuss to ensure you get the right safety gates for your facility and its material handling needs. Gates are commonly part of a guard rail design when a distribution center is being outfitted with racking, but gates can be retrofitted into existing guard rail. When that is done, installation is easier when the guard rail has the same post centers.

Gate design and style is driven by the type of materials being handled. Pahls notes that not all product is on standard 40×48-inch pallets, so a buyer needs to work with a provider that can design a system that will accommodate non-standard loads. “It’s very important to know about the product that will go on the platform – the width, height an depth,” Pahls says.

Compliance with OSHA guidelines and IBC codes is essential. While safety gates are not always required at some operating points, Pahls notes that OSHA requires the use of body harness systems with lanyards and connectors, for fall protection if gates are not used. OSHA fall protection guidelines also come into play when swing gates or slide gates are propped open.

Ruggedness and durability are important to alleviate maintenance needs and to withstand forklift impacts. Augustyniak notes that Steel King’s swing gates are designed to accept the same level of impact as does its heavy-duty guard rail, using 11-gauge steel with three layers of ribbing. Pahls advises use of pivot gates that can be attached to a platform’s deck without support from adjacent guard railing, and which has a steel skid plate to protect the decking material. Gates with powder paint coating will keep their appearance longer. Yellow – the common “caution” color, is most commonly used, but Augustyniak notes it’s not required, with some manufacturers offering other colors such as bright orange.

Gates should be easy to operate and maintain. While automation might make a gate easy to use, those type of gates will have more parts and, thus, will require more maintenance. The ability to easily switch the hinge side of a swing gate is also an ease-of-maintenance issue. “Ease of operation cannot be understated as a factor in choosing safety gates,” according to Pahls. “You want gates that are easy to operate, are durable amid heavy use, and also are reliable long-term use.”

When planning a material handling facility, make sure safety gates are part of the design process. You can keep your operation running smoothly and safely with the proper selection and use of safety gates, and the proper installation and maintenance of that equipment. WMHS

Steel King Industries, Inc., is a leading manufacturer and integrator of material handling products and systems that improve operational efficiency in a variety of environments including manufacturing, assembly, distribution centers, storage facilities, and warehouses. Its NexCaliber division provides steel support structures, work platforms and related accessories. John Clark is the company’s Director of Marketing. https://www.steelking.com/