A shelving purchase is often seen as a one time deal with organisations buying steel shelving (and other storage) on the understanding that it will last forever. While steel shelving and storage solutions are inherently very robust, like other materials, over time and due to continued use and environmental conditions, these systems can wear or become damaged.
Periodic shelving inspection (and the inspection of other storage systems) ensures that issues can be captured early and corrective measures taken to prevent failure or accidents. Below are several reasons why you should be periodically checking your shelving systems.
Key reasons to undertake a regular shelving inspection.
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Preventing Accidents:
Damaged, weakened or overloaded shelving risks collapse, causing injuries or worse. Ensuring that shelving is in good order and not being overloaded can keep your teams, or visitors safe.
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Protecting Items:
Damaged or corroded shelving can cause damage to the items they hold. Ensuring your shelves are maintained reduces the risk of damage to these stored items.
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Compliance with Regulations and Insurance:
Within workplaces an annual shelving inspection may be required under health and safety regulations. Failing to ensure your shelving is in check, could affect company insurance. You can find the UK rules and recommendations on the HSE Website here.
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Prolonging Shelf Life:
Regular shelving inspection can catch wear and tear and other issues early. Doing so can allow preventative action before the need for costly repairs or replacements.
Key points to cover with your shelving inspection (or other storage).
When you are undertaking inspections of your storage or shelving then some of the key areas to check are as follows:
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Weight Limits:
Ensure that your shelves are not overloaded beyond their maximum capacity (talk to your supplier if you don’t know what that is). Even seemingly sturdy steel shelving systems can fail if overloaded. *Always check the manufacturer’s guidelines.
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Structural Integrity:
Check for any signs of damage to the structure of the shelving such as bent beams or shelves, damaged or cracked supports, or corrosion. Pay extra attention to welded joints and bolts for signs of stress or wear.
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Fixings:
Check that bolts, screws and other fixings are secure. For wall-mounted shelving, ensure that brackets are still firmly attached to the wall, with shelving units with wall fixings, ensure that are still firmly attached to prevent tipping.
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Level and Alignment:
Ensure that units and shelving are level and aligned. Spotting uneven shelves could indicate structural issues or uneven loading. Operating like this can put more stress on storage units which in turn could lead to collapse.
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Surface Condition:
As with structural integrity, inspect the surface of your units and shelves for cracks, splits, or warping (especially for wooden or plastic shelves). Check for corrosion or sharp edges which could injure or damage the contents.
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Support Legs and Bases:
Ensure that all the supporting legs are stable and undamaged. Any adjustable legs need to be correctly set (to ensure a level unit) and locked in place.
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Load Distribution:
Check that items are evenly distributed across your shelves. Concentrating too much weight in one area can weaken the structure over time.
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Environmental Factors:
Ensure that your chosen shelving is suitable for the environment in which it is installed. Be sure that they are compatible. Moisture, temperature fluctuations or exposure to chemicals for example, can degrade your storage systems.
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Safety Features:
If the shelving includes safety features such as anti-tip brackets, guardrails, or locks, ensure they are functional and properly installed.
Keep Safe – Fix Issues.
The above list is not comprehensive and the safety of your storage solutions, and the safety of your shelves is not something to overlook. Taking just a few minutes to undertake a shelving inspection or general check of your storage systems can save money, prevent accidents and give you peace of mind.
If you do discover issues, then ensure that you fix them. Your supplier will be able to supply parts, or advise of the next steps. In the case of Rackline solutions, we can visit your site and undertake checks and implement any remedial work required.
Find Out More.
If you have any worries or concerns about the above, then get in touch. Our teams offer a comprehensive set of maintenance plans and individual racking and shelving inspection services. If you would like to talk to one of our team about your options, please email: now@rackline.com, drop us a call to: 01782 770144, or fill in the form below.