Neglecting racking safety can have severe consequences, including:
- Increased risk of injuries and fatalities: A racking collapse can result in falling pallets, heavy materials, or structural components, posing a serious risk to employees.
- Operational downtime: Damaged racking can lead to work stoppages, disrupting warehouse operations and affecting supply chain efficiency.
- Financial losses: Repairing or replacing damaged racking, lost inventory, and potential lawsuits from workplace injuries can be costly.
- Regulatory non-compliance: Many workplace safety authorities (e.g., OSHA, MOM in Singapore, HSE in the UK) have strict racking safety guidelines. Failure to comply can lead to fines, legal actions, or even warehouse shutdowns.
- Reputational damage: Poor safety practices can harm a company’s reputation and lead to difficulties in attracting business partners and customers.
