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RACK LOAD SIGNS

Safety, Tips /

The attached sign was observed on an existing mobile racking system which has been in operation for several years. It covers most of the requirements and appears fine until more closely inspected… The rack bays hold 3 pallets not 2 pallets, as per the signage. While the racking in this store was well maintained, rack loading signs form the basis of rack safety and should be accurate.  If rack suppliers install such signage incorrectly, rack safety training is more critical than we initially imagined. Load notices provide essential information for the user to safely use the storage system. A typical load notice for pallet racking is shown below. If you need help to understand them or verify the information, contact Barri Leon Malherbe: Accredited Rack Inspector 021 552 9190 training@barpro.co.za / rackadmin@barpro.co.za

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DISCOVERIES OF BARPRO’S RACK INSPECTOR DURING INSPECTIONS

Pallet Racking, Repairs and Maintenance, Safety /

Top pallet racking faults – Maintenance & Safety Henceforth our newsletter will feature racking faults discovered by Barpro’s Rack Inspector on his travels throughout Southern Africa. The aim is to promote greater awareness and safety amongst our subscribers. This month we are highlighting the consequences of improper maintenance of racking structures. FAULT A rack inspection was conducted within a freezer store recently and our Inspector came across a frame that was cut. It could either have been cut during or after installation. There was still a load on top of the rack. CONSEQUENCES This type of action may shorten the longevity of the racking superstructure or even worse cause a rack collapse. It illustrates the importance of having a firm grasp on the racking system in use.  This enables you to identify the necessary remedial action. This should include a rack safety training course (such as the one we offer) which will teach all operators from the forklift drivers through to management and maintenance about the safety of the structure. Your staff will then be equipped to safely utilise racking systems. RECOMMENDATION This issue poses a substantial risk and warrants immediate intervention. In these circumstances the racks must be offloaded immediately and demarcated to prevent any further damage to the racking structures. It is important that everyone from the forklift operators, warehouse staff and management are taught about the maintenance and safety of the racking structure. Such training is of the utmost importance as it reduces the risk of serious injury or loss of life and prevents operations from being compromised. For more information on Rack safety training and inspections please contact Barpro’s Rack Inspector.

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PONGOLA COLD STORE

Barpro Installations /

‘Pongola cold storage was founded by Klasie Postma on Klasie Havenga Street, Pongola in 2000 to supply frozen and other food products to retailers, restaurants and resorts in Northern Zululand.’ With an area that extended as far as Volksrust in the West, by 2016 more frozen storage space was required and Postma built a new store equipped with Storax mobile racking. The racking is three pallets high, and the store had a capacity of almost 500 pallets upon its completion in 2017.  It is the largest freezer store in Zululand. During our recent visit, Mr Postma showed us his new Hybrid refrigeration system, which saves him R60,000 per month in electricity. A generator is used to supply power during load shedding. The freezer store is ice free, a difficult achievement in the area’s humid environment. The five mobiles are well maintained and looked as though they had recently been installed. His store manager and reach truck driver Sipho Ndwandwe looks after the freezer store and ensures that it is kept spotless.  Postma remarked that “we have been using the mobiles now for 7 years without a problem. They have transformed our business and are so easy to use.” Postma’s Dispatch Manager Naas Minaar is still happily wearing the Delf jacket he had received when the freezer store had been commissioned.   Delf freezer wear products are not only the best products on the market, but also have long useful lives Mr Postma and his team must be congratulated for creating and maintaining such an efficient cold storage operation.   From left to right:  Klasie Postma, Sipho Ndwandwe & James Cunningham Postma’s Dispatch Manager Naas Minaar

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