5 Steps to an Effective Warehouse Maintenance Plan | Apex Safety Spotlight
Developing a Warehouse Maintenance Plan
Executing an ongoing warehouse maintenance plan is necessary to achieve safe warehouse operations and abiding by OSHA guidelines for operating a safe workplace. A maintenance plan includes realistic measurements and expectations that regularly attend to systems, vehicles, and functions within your facility. Your maintenance plan will consist of inspecting, cleaning, and servicing every segment of your operation on a regular schedule to ensure that broken or inefficient elements are unable to severely risk the safety of your personnel and/or your productivity.
Take a top-down approach to your warehouse maintenance plan so that each member of your team has a stake in your facility’s success.
Elements of a Warehouse Maintenance Plan
- Vehicles
- Batteries & Chargers
- Pallet Racking
- Dock & Door Safety
- Aisleways and pedestrian areas
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- Vehicles– daily inspection is different from regular maintenance, yet both are critical to keeping your forklifts and warehouse vehicles operating at full capacity. OSHA guidelines require daily inspection of the vehicle before it is put into use. Operators should have a multi-point inspection sheet covering critical safety features to confirm that the forklift, truck, personnel carrier, etc., is in prime condition. From forks to tires, check each component and address issues immediately.
- Batteries & Chargers– regular maintenance of batteries & chargers extend the life of your equipment. Train workers on the steps to safely change out and charge forklift batteries and what to look for during a regular inspection. Charge most electric forklift batteries when the remaining capacity is below 40%. As a guideline, follow the 8-8-8 Rule: 8 hours of operation, 8 hours of charging, and 8 hours of cooling. To learn more, look at our blog: Top 10 FAQs for Forklift Batteries & Chargers.
- Pallet Racking – conduct thorough pallet rack audits at least annually; however, regular inspection and immediate attention to areas of vehicle strikes or other damage are vital to maintaining safety in your storage area. Look for bent, broken, loose uprights, beams, and misaligned pallet loads. Be sure operators confirm load capacity before loading the system and keep aisles clear of debris that can cause injuries. The Apex Rack Repair App is a free downloadable tool that can help record all types of pallet racking components. It’s a user-friendly way to log and keep track of damage to your pallet racking. On top of that, you will automatically receive quotes on the repair/replacement components needed at your facility. While internal inspections are an important aspect of pallet rack maintenance, it’s also recommended to have a third-party inspector’s trained eye come in for an inspection at least once a year. Click here to learn more about the Apex PROs certified, professional rack audit, and repair services.
- Dock & Door Safety – moving vehicles and the fall risk for both individuals and vehicles at the dock door make the warehouse dock one of the most dangerous areas of your facility. OSHA requires guardrails, safety netting, and fall protection for areas with at least a 4′ drop. Still, visual barriers and protections are a smart, cost-effective solution for safe operations across the area.
5. Aisleways & Pedestrian Areas– focus attention on eliminating cluttered thoroughfares and blind spots with clearly established pedestrian and vehicle thoroughfares. Regular inspection of these areas ensures smooth operations. Safety gates, guardrails, posted signage and floor markings, and lighting are all tools that improve workplace protection. Be sure workers have easy access to PPE where appropriate and social distancing in work and breakroom areas.
Prevent Danger Before It Strikes
Incentivize your team to be part of the solution. Show them that you place a high value on their safety and train them to care for machines and equipment integral to performing their jobs. Offer safety rewards for meeting established safety goals. The time and money spent keeping your team safe are paid back with productivity and the avoidance of costly fines and penalties from OSHA inspections.
Apex Rack Repair App – The Best Tool for the Job
Warehouse safety is a daily activity. Having a plan to implement is effective, and so is having a tool to help you determine if pallet rack damage is severe enough to cause a safety concern. That tool is the Apex Rack Repair App.
The Apex Rack Repair App is a free app downloadable from the App Store. The app guides users through pallet rack inspection and captures all the relevant system specs for any damage found during the audit. Through pictures and specs captured right in the Apex Rack Repair App, users upload the complete inspection for a professional review by the Apex PROs. If repairs are required, the Apex team will provide a non-biased, professional repair kit solution to precisely match your system needs.
If you’d rather turn over regular rack inspection to the professionals, the Apex PROs are here for you. Our rack inspection team is trained and certified in all areas of pallet rack inspection, and they will capture areas of warehouse safety concerns as well. Customers receive a thorough report after the audit and a fast turnaround on repair kit solutions if required.
Download the Apex Rack Repair App today!
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