SHIELD AGAINST FORKLIFT DAMAGE WITH PALLET RACK GUARDS
Boost Worker & Warehouse Safety with this Easy Fix
The beautiful Carolinas region bustle with tourist activity, particularly in the summer months. A lot can go wrong if we don’t prepare for the influx. Similarly, your warehouse may experience a seasonal uptick or perhaps an all-year-round activity increase that needs to be addressed before something goes wrong. One of the most common incidents, yet easiest to prevent, is pallet rack damage from forklift strikes. The addition of pallet rack guards can protect your rack from damage that could shut it down for use and, in extreme cases, even risk collapse.
Pallet rack guards are warehouse safety accessories designed to shield your rack from accidental forklift strikes. While the options were limited years ago, today, many rack guarding options make it easy to pair your rack system needs with a custom-fit, durable rack guard solution.
How do you protect your pallet rack? How much damage is too much damage? The Apex Carolinas team is here to answer your questions.
TYPES OF PALLET RACK GUARDS
The conventional pallet rack protection accessories are: end row guards, column guarding, guard anchoring, heavy-duty horizontal struts, and highway guardrails and bollards. Each safety product is uniquely designed to protect the most frequently struck areas. Since every configuration and warehouse layout is unique, you will want to consider the following risk elements to determine where your rack system is most vulnerable.
- Aisle width
- Upright configuration
- Forklift type
1.End Row Guards
Heavy-duty steel guards protect the front column by wrapping around it and then continue down the length of the upright at the end of a pallet rack row. Often, these guards are painted bright yellow to ensure they’re easily visible to forklift operators.
General specifications:
- Standard range 12” high rounded around upright
- Available in heavy-duty (.375”) and medium-duty (.25″) thickness
- Shields 3” or 4” wide x 42”- 48” deep uprights for single rows and longer for guarding back-to-back rows
There are two styles: formed and round. Formed end row guards are made of 10 gauge steel and are available up to 12 feet in length. They are affixed with a base plate connection in front of a pallet rack upright. Round-end row guards have rounded ends that wrap the upright and then extend. They are available in single-sided (left or right) or double-sided.
 Floor-Mounted End Row Guard |
 End Row Guards |
2.Column Guarding
Column guards (a.k.a. post protectors) are available in various sizes, shapes, and materials –including steel, molded plastic, and rubber.
Steel guards can take several shapes: angled (v-nose), rounded (often combined with end-of-aisle), and bull-nose. V- and bull-nose styles protrude several inches in front of the rack column; thus, it’s essential to anticipate extra pallet rack clearance space.
Non-steel options include rubber with steel inserts and formed plastic. These newer styles are easier to install and replace while offering excellent rack protection.
Column guards sit flush to the front or wrap the post and range in height from 6”- 48”.
Mounting options:
Guards can be mounted to the floor, column, or baseplate just above the base of the column to shield an upright at its most critical potential collision point.
- Bolting onto the column — A caution with this design is that the strike force will transfer to the column, possibly causing damage.
- Wrap onto the column – Rubber guards with steel inserts attach directly to the column. The benefits of these guards include adding them anytime and quickly replacing them if damaged. Unlike steel guards bolted to the column, these newer designs disperse the forces better to protect the rack and the forklift from damage.
- Floor-mounted – Column guards are self-supporting and attached to the floor in front and or behind the column. They anchor to the floor via a baseplate.
 Post Protector |
 Floor-Mounted Column Guard |
3. Guard Anchoring
Bull Nose Anchor
Anchor type will vary based on the protector. Check with the manufacturer for required anchor specifications if you’re unsure. The guards can be bolted to the warehouse floor or secured directly to the column. Note: anchoring the guard to the floor transfers forces down and away from the rack system, which can cause floor damage.
Heavy-Duty Horizontal Strut
4. Heavy-Duty Horizontal Strut
A heavy-duty horizontal strut, or rub rail, protects the rack frame from bending or twisting when struck. While not a separate guard, it can be an effective safety feature. Heavy-duty horizontal struts affix to the bottom of the pallet rack frame, as shown in the photo to the right.
5. Highway Guardrail & Bollards
Highway guardrail is a versatile safety feature that protects pallet racking, structural platforms, utility features, conveyors, in-plant offices, and or personnel workplaces from forklift and pedestrian traffic. Just like a guardrail on a highway, they keep the vehicles and or people out of areas that are unsafe for them to function.
They are available in various shapes and materials and a range of standard sizes.
Bollards are tall pillar-type features that shield areas from forklift and other warehouse vehicle traffic while allowing pedestrians to pass through. They are made from durable plastic or steel and can be temporarily affixed or permanently mounted.
Accident Prevention, Protection & Repairs — Call Apex Carolinas
Not every accident is preventable, but the best line of defense is to prepare. Installing pallet rack protection is cost-effective and easy to do. Additionally, ensure that your forklift operators are adequately trained and OSHA certified to handle the equipment and manage the specific rack system design.
You can also download the free Apex Rack Repair App to help you evaluate any rack damage swiftly and comprehensively. The App walks you through a rack evaluation and lets you take pictures of the damage. Once complete, just upload your findings to the Apex rack repair PROs, and we’ll evaluate the severity and provide repair instructions if needed. It really is as simple as it sounds.
Contact us today to schedule an on-site visit or Zoom call to get the ball rolling.
We make it easy for our North Carolina and South Carolina customers –just One Call Does it All with Apex.
