Rack – Racks.Supply

Pedestrian Safety by Chuck Leon

A good pedestrian safety program in a warehouse involves a combination of engineering controls, administrative measures, and employee education to minimize risks and ensure the safety of everyone.

Here are the key elements:

1. Clear Traffic Flow Design

Designated Walkways: Use barriers, railings, or painted lines to create marked pedestrian pathways that are physically separated from forklift and vehicle traffic.
Crosswalks: Use well-marked crosswalks at intersections between pedestrian paths and vehicle lanes.
One-Way Traffic: Implement one-way traffic routes for forklifts and vehicles to reduce collision risks.

2. Adequate Signage and Visual Aids

Warning Signs: Place signs to indicate high-risk areas, such as loading docks or blind corners.
Floor Markings: Use colour-coded floor markings to indicate pedestrian zones, vehicle routes, and restricted areas.
Mirrors: Install convex mirrors at blind corners and intersections.

3. Barriers and Physical Controls

Guardrails and Bollards: Use physical barriers to prevent pedestrians from entering vehicle traffic zones.
Pedestrian Gates: Install gates at high-traffic crossings to control pedestrian access.
Automatic Warning Systems: Use motion sensors or alarms that activate when vehicles approach pedestrian areas.

4. Training and Awareness

Safety Training: Provide comprehensive training for all employees on pedestrian safety practices and warehouse traffic rules.
Forklift Operator Training: Train operators to be vigilant about pedestrians and to follow proper driving practices.
Refresher Courses: Conduct regular safety refreshers and toolbox talks to keep safety top of mind.

5. Visibility and Lighting

High-Visibility Clothing: Require all employees to wear reflective or high-visibility vests.
Adequate Lighting: Ensure all pedestrian and traffic areas are well-lit to reduce accidents caused by poor visibility.

6. Technology Integration

Proximity Warning Systems: Use wearable devices or vehicle-mounted systems that alert pedestrians and operators when they are too close.
Cameras and Sensors: Deploy camera systems to monitor high-risk areas and alert staff of potential hazards.
Automated Vehicles: Consider using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) with built-in pedestrian detection.

7. Administrative Controls

Traffic Management Policies: Develop and enforce policies for speed limits, right-of-way rules, and loading dock safety.
Scheduled Inspections: Regularly inspect safety equipment, markings, and lighting.
Incident Reporting and Analysis: Establish a system for reporting near-misses and incidents and analyze trends to implement corrective actions.

8. Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Exits: Clearly mark and maintain accessible emergency exits for pedestrians.
Evacuation Drills: Conduct periodic drills to ensure employees know how to evacuate safely.
First Aid Stations: Ensure first aid stations are available and accessible in case of an incident.

9. Continuous Improvement

Regular Audits: Perform routine safety audits to identify and address potential risks.
Employee Feedback: Encourage workers to provide input on unsafe conditions or improvements to the pedestrian safety program.
Updates to Procedures: Adapt and update safety procedures based on new technologies, regulations, or incident analyses.

It is important to know what your local regulatory requirements are in each province as that is what you are responsible for, so for more information don’t hesitate to reach out to us or speak with your local regulators for more information.

Chuck A. Leon CRSP P.MM Director of Training Development and Safety

RNW Rack Network Inc.

The Racking Compliance Cycle – basic elements

Warehouse pallet rack is equipment that is exposed to lift truck and pallet movement that has the potential to damage it. Because of its fragility, it is imperative that warehouse pallet rack be maintained in good condition suitable for its capacity/storing needs. The life cycle of racking and longevity of such is determined by how the racking is maintained or cared for. The life cycle of pallet rack begins sometimes before purchase, by ensuring the proper permits and environment are in place to install racking safely. Once the rack is installed in its desired position/configuration, it would then need the proper Capacity Documentation (sometimes referred to as PSR / Pre-Start Health and Safety Review, or PSHR) to ensure the racking is loaded safely. Once all documentation and the pallet rack is in place and anchored, its maintenance cycle begins. Due to racking’s close proximity with material handling equipment, and due to sometimes unavoidable error, racking may fall victim to collision with lift trucks or their lifting apparatus (Masts, forks etc.) causing deformation or damage in the structure. Small nudges and damages that occur accumulate over time, and although may seem small to a user, may decrease the original set capacity limits, and over time if not addressed or repaired, can cause failure or collapse in a racking system or structure. This is what garners the beginning of the racking compliance cycle, which has been created to combat the natural life cycle of a racking system, and ultimately preventing failure or collapse. This begins with an Annual Expert Rack Inspection, this would allow a trained expert to provide a Detailed Inspection Report, for your facility outlining the exact locations of damages and their severity, and the most appropriate and safe remedy or fix to those damages (whether that be in adding repair parts to reinforce damaged members, or replacing the entirety of that component of the racking system). This report is reviewed by a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) to ensure its efficacy, and accuracy – and provided a seal or stamp of its completion. Once received, the racking user can initiate a repair/replacement plan to ensure the reinforcement and revival of capacity through restoring the racking’s strength and condition. After committing to a plan of reinforcement or repair, it is crucial to find certified technicians to ensure that the modifications if made to the pallet racking are Professional Engineer certified and will be accepted by current guidelines and standards for your region. Inspections by Canada’s leading engineering firm RNW Rack NetWork has a process that makes it easy to maintain and inspect your racks.

The inspections identify exactly what need to be done to restore damaged rack, and a quote for repair can be prepaired based on the inspection. Both the Inspection and the Rack Repair reports should be sealed by a Professional Engineer. Specific terms and guidelines are available to users in each region and can be dependent on such due to seismic zones (this can affect capacity and requirements for pallet rack). Rack Training is an effective tool to combat the natural life cycle of racking, limiting damage, and ensuring compliance within the cycle of Rack Inspection, Capacity Documentation / PSR Revision, & Repair or replace. Having knowledgeable operators within any facility is imperative to maintaining a facility that encounters less damage. Rack Training is offered in our store and is offered once every two months publicly, as well we offer private in-depth training remotely and on-site / in-person!

Below is an schematic of the CertiRack process for ensureing your racks are well maintained and safe.