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Things will always become broken or damaged in the warehouse, either through general wear and tear or human error somewhere along the chain. Where a small number of these damages are, sadly, unavoidable, a vast amount of it can be prevented.This is something every warehouse owner should give a second thought to, because product damages can cost you a lot of money.
In this article, we’ll be explaining exactly how you’ll be able to avoid unnecessary damages in and around the warehouse, helping you to save a considerable amount of money and increase profits in the process. Think of all the improvements you could make with the cash you pocket in the process.
Check your pallets
You should walk around the pallets you’re shipping out and also the ones you’ve received and keep an eye out for broken, damaged, faulty or missing:
- Planks
- Stringers
- Nails
- Support blocks
If you spot any of the aforementioned things, it could pose a risk to the load on your pallet. In addition to that, faulty pallets can also make loading and unloading stock increasingly more difficult, which can then jeopardise the safety of your employees.
You also need to make sure that the products within the pallet are stacked correctly because that in itself could cause the entire pallet to tip over, again endangering employees and causing damage to products.
Load and wrap the pallets you’re sending out, properly
Ensure the items on the pallets are stacked correctly, as previously mentioned. As well as this, it should subsequently be wrapped tightly to prevent products from falling off or toppling over. To ensure it’s done as effectively as possible, it should be executed professionally, by hand, or by implementing an automatic stretch wrapper.
Upgrade the lighting throughout your warehouse
Upgrading your lighting will not only be more cost-effective and energy-efficient, but it’ll also light up all of your pallets and stock to the point where you can see every single detail. From cracked slats and rotting wood to missing support blocks and damaged nails, it’ll be almost impossible to miss with the right lighting.
Not only will it ensure that pallet damages can be seen more easily, but it’ll also help employees to package, pick and handle items in a safe and controlled manner, meaning minimal human error. You might also find that your workers are more productive when working in well-lit, bright conditions.
Keep your premises clean and tidy
Aisles that are cluttered not only encourage product damage throughout your warehouse, but it can also put your employees at risk of slips, trips and falls. Forklifts will also have trouble navigating around the aisles, especially if they’re of a limited width. Even the most skilled forklift drivers and the most state-of-the-art VNA forklifts would have trouble avoiding items that are left lying around on the floor.
Review the weight of your loads
It’s important that you’re aware of how much your loads weigh. This is paramount so that you don’t overload racking, shelves and other pieces of storage equipment. It’s also beneficial to put the heavier items on the bottom of your shelving and the lighter ones nearer the top to avoid toppling the entire thing. Also, if shelves are overloaded, it could cause some of the levels to collapse, leading to further damage.
Implement the right safety equipment
Look to cover your racking in netting in order to prevent items from falling off, particularly from a height. This will help to protect your stock, your equipment and, more importantly, your workers.
Other safety measures you can implement include visibility mirrors and even pallet rack column protectors. They’re all affordable measures that are easy to add throughout your warehouse.
Operate the forklifts with absolute safety and efficiency in mind
Make sure you have fully-trained, highly-skilled forklift operators at the helm of your operations. Ensuring they have adequate training will give absolute peace of mind that they’ll be safe and efficient when behind the wheel.
By taking corners slowly and going at steady speeds, you’ll prevent loads from falling off the forks. Although, they should already make sure that pallets are loaded safely onto forks from the offset.
Here at Multy Lift, we’re proud to be able to provide our customers with strong, robust, powerful material handling equipment that’ll stand the test of time. Our expert team of specialists strive to ensure our clients are presented with durable machines, including new and used diesel, LPG and electric forklifts, that’ll enhance the productivity and efficiency of your warehouse operations. If you’d like more information about the vehicles we’re pleased to supply, whether you wish to purchase or hire your equipment, get in touch with a member of our professional team today – we’re always happy to help.
