Workplace Wire Shelving Safety
You can never be too cautious when it comes to safety, especially in the workplace. Many businesses that purchase wire shelving products use them for storing marginally large or heavy stock including machinery, computers, file storage, etc. Below are a few important tips for maintaining a safe workspace and ensuring your wire storage does not create additional risks or accidents in the workplace.
Wire Shelf Units
Most industrial grade shelving unit specifications support up to 800-pound capacity. Following the tips below will reduce your safety concerns:
- Distribute the weight evenly. Placing all of your items in bulk in the center of the shelving units is not recommended. This can compromise the truss supports and cause a collapse of the shelf.
- Store your heavier items on lower shelves. This will create a lower center of gravity.
- Wire shelving units are great for areas where sprinkler heads are located. The open shelving concept allows water to flow freely to extinguish the fire within the shelves and reduces any fire hazards.
- Using mounting brackets will help prevent units from tipping. They can be drilled into a wall with the proper screws and fit 1″ poles.
- Take a few extra moments to adjust the leveling feet on your shelving unit. Uneven post heights can contribute to the unit tipping. If you need replacement leveling feet, look under the “Wire Shelving Accessories” section on our website.
Wall Shelving
While units are great for freeing up floor space and maximizing vertical space, overhead shelving greatly maximizes many workspaces.
Often, we see desks or other loitering areas underneath a wall shelf, to ensure those areas remain safe, review the following:
- We recommend a maximum load of 250 pounds on wall shelves.
- Use a stud finder to secure your shelving unit to something strong.
- Use the proper screws and anchors. There are different screws and anchors for different wall types, including sheet rock screws, cement screws, wood screws, etc. Choosing the wrong screw or anchor can compromise your wall unit. Stop by your local hardware store to see what is best for your application.
Mobile Shelving Units
These allow for easy transportation of your unit locally. A few safety tips below should be followed:
- Choose the correct wheel/caster. There is a variety of options for you to choose from. If you are unsure if you have the correct caster please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
- Add wood or rubber wedges to assure your unit does not roll when unattended.
- Use snap on ledges and attach them to the sides and backs of your mobile units. This will prevent objects from falling off and onto your head or feet.
- Push handles increase your mobile shelving units maneuverability. They can be applied at any height for your convenience. Simply attach it to the poles at 1″ increments
- If you are afraid of your mobile shelving unit tipping over, you can use metal straps to secure the unit to the wall. Metal straps can be found at your local hardware store. Make sure you ask about the total load capacity of the metal straps you select. Using a strap that is too light may not help you much.
We offer a wide variety of Safety Accessories to limit accidents and keep you safe from shelving mishaps. It is important to take some preventive measures ahead of time to reduce the risk of injuries and to preserve the integrity of your wire shelving units. We hope you find these tips useful.
Do you have additional safety tips that you practice? Please comment and share the safety measures you take in the workplace.