Distributor's Link Magazine Summer 2022 / Vol 45 No 3
60 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S
60 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK STEEL KING INDUSTRIES INC. 2700 Chamber Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481 TEL 1-800-826-0203 EMAIL info@steelking.com WEB www.steelking.com WAREHOUSE SAFETY: PROTECTING PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY A range of essential industrial safety products can safeguard distribution centers from collision caused injuries, rack damage, and reduced productivity Warehouse and distribution center efficiency and productivity has risen tremendously in recent decades. However, the gains can be jeopardized by safety breakdowns that lead to personal injury, equipment and product damage. In facilities of any size, this includes costly vehicle impact to pallet racking, which can undermine necessary storage and product throughput. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each year in the United States, nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift-related incidents. Efficiencies have been gained from better floor plans that allow for quicker throughput, from innovative racking solutions, and from robotics and other automation. At the same time, distribution facility employees are more productive than ever. Nevertheless, without the proper industrial safety products and approaches, collisions involving personnel with forklifts, tow tractors, and other vehicles can be serious, potentially leading to grievous injury, loss of life, and litigation. Vehicle impact with facility equipment, structures, and controls can also have severe consequences. Racking, work platforms like mezzanines, and modular offices inside distribution warehouses also need to be protected with barriers to forklift traffic, such as guardrails, according to Jim Augustyniak, a regional sales manager at Steel King Industries, a designer and manufacturer of warehouse storage racks, pallet racks and material handling/safety products since 1970. “Badly damaged racking [from a vehicle collision] A WELL-DESIGNED AND PROPERLY INSTALLED ARRAY OF SAFETY PRODUCTS, INCLUDING GUARDRAIL, GATES, AND ACCESSORIES, CAN GREATLY REDUCE INCIDENTS AND PROTECT THE FACILITY’S PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT, AND PRODUCTIVITY loaded with inventory could potentially collapse without warning if not immediately unloaded, inspected, and repaired. A forklift could also go right through the wall of an inplant modular office inside a distribution warehouse,” says Augustyniak. BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 144
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