En
- En
- 中文

Spieth, Space solutions
More Than 18 Years Manufacturing & Exporting

Home/News/Product News/How can I reduce item drops in a mezzanine racking system?

NEWS

How can I reduce item drops in a mezzanine racking system?

Time:2/11/2022

317

Mezzanine systems can provide an cost-effective way to expand the vertical cube of a facility. This kind of sprawl can drive growth and reduce the need for additional locations (especially in this new normal of high-ceiling commercial real estate).

Worker safety is critical while checking out mezzanine installations, or even when running with existing versions. One aspect of safety that requires special attention is the risk of falling objects from the mezzanine. To help mitigate these risks, there are multiple protection methods available, but which one is best for your mezzanine?

Mezzanine System Security Options

With the increasing use of mezzanines among those looking to expand vertical space in their facilities, there are more and more safety enhancements available. By having a variety of options to help protect your employees from falling mezzanine items, you need to make sure you choose the right product for your application. Combining certain safety options can ensure a greater base of protection in the event of falling objects.

The main causes of falling objects

Before we take a look at the solution, let's review the possible causes of items falling from the mezzanine area. One of the main components is exactly what you decide to store and access on the mezzanine, and how you store it. If you are placing items stacked this high on the rails of the mezzanine, then this practice needs to be reviewed by security before it can be reassigned. Such dangerous stacking on the mezzanine will certainly increase the chances of dropping an item (or multiple items).

The way items/products are stored plays an important role, but the movement and mobility allowed in the mezzanine is also important. Aisle width, maneuverability around storage methods and worker training are all important factors that need to be reviewed to form a good plan to help protect workers on the floor.

Protected Solutions

Mezzanine railings therefore allow for worker safety by adding multiple protection options in addition to the quality safety training and storage best practices described above. When considering which safety products are best suited for mezzanine applications, you must remain vigilant:.

Guardrails

An obvious choice to begin mezzanine protection is to install guardrails as a first line of defense. Not to be confused with adding handrails to the structure (although we'll discuss handrails later), adding guardrails to the mezzanine can protect the two employees below from falling objects and also prevent those working on the second level protection from falling themselves.

Attaching safety nets to your guardrails will provide additional security for workers below. When your inventory is stored near ledges, there may be too much space between your guardrails to adequately prevent these items from falling. To minimize risk, it's important to install netting solutions in your warehouse that are designed specifically for the application.

guardrails-and-stair-protection

Skirting Boards

Though absolutely necessary as a line of defense along the mezzanine railing, adding skirting boards should also be a high priority consideration. Not only are workers below in danger of large objects (or people!) falling on them, but also small pieces that can easily roll under the railing. By installing a skirting board, you can increase the overall high level of protection.

A kick plate is simply a long, strong steel plate that runs up along the edge of the plywood surface. Typically about 4 inches in vertical height, the kickstand provides adequate protection for dropped or mishandled items that reach the mezzanine floor. Available in 2, 4 or 8 inch sections, it is easy to mix and match for compatibility and completely covers the entire surface of the mezzanine.

Stair Protection

In order to access areas of the mezzanine that require guardrails and treads, your employees will need to move up the stairs. These stairs should have their own protection solution to protect workers or items from falling on the way up! It's important to make sure your stair steps follow certain height and loading guidelines, but we want to focus on the right railings for what you want.

The modular stair railing option exists to provide a simple solution. You can configure the balustrade handrail to match your length and height requirements, while still allowing for any future expansion needed. To meet stair railing standards, make sure the installation is between 34" and 38" from the top of each tread. Just like the top rail, you can also apply safety netting along the stairs to provide additional protection.

Completely preventing laminated items from falling will be a combination of some or all of the options discussed. If you only need to start with one, feel free to choose the method that best suits your application. Each provides a unique way to prevent items from falling off the mezzanine, and together they create a barrier for all types of items (or people).