A Guide to Essential Warehouse Supplies and Equipment

Warehousing is a big business in the US. This billion dollar industry employs hundreds of thousands of people. You will notice many differences in difference warehouses. There are different sizes, spaces, functionalities and the number of people employed. Whatever size or function a warehouse has, it shares one characteristic with all the rest and that is that certain equipment is essential for effective operations. Here is a list of the essential warehouse supplies and equipment that you would need.

There are many hazards in warehouses, and the potential for harm is high. In a warehouse you will have heavy equipment, moving vehicles, and inventory stored in high places and so on. Safety precautions should be taken in line with regulations.

Warehouses need fire extinguishers. When machinery is at work, the chances of fire is always there. It is important to prepare fire safety protocol and evacuation procedures. A supply of fire extinguishers is necessary for your warehouse.

It is important that all employees have personal protective equipment (PPE). This is a great means of reducing the chances of accidents. Typical examples are high visibility clothing, hard hats, eye goggles, ear muffs, and steel toe-capped boots.

It is also important to have safety barriers that come in different shapes and sizes. They are required to protect warehouse employees and visitors from various hazards in the environment. Safety barriers help prevent collisions, regulated access to dangerous places, and it helps people take safe walking routes.

Storage equipment is necessary for a warehouse. Here are some storage equipment commonly used.

Pallet racks are shelving options for products stored on pallets. They are frame-like units with no base to the shelving itself. Check out this guide if you want to know more about the best pallet racks.

Cantilever racks store materials that won’t fit on a standard pallet rack. They are designed for long items like wooden beams, metal bars, etc. If an item is bulky, then it can be stored in a cantilever rack. Cantilever racks can also be used for oversized, irregularly shaped items.

Downward sloping flow racks have roller tracks fixed along the base. Inventory is placed on the higher end and gravity pulls it to the exit aisle at the lower end. Preparations of orders are made faster with this. They are ideal for warehouses with large picking volumes.

Another important storage units are industrial shelving which are just like ordinary shelves. These are heavy duty and are able to carry larger loads.

It is improtnat for a warehouse to have lifting equipment. Below are some of the important lifting tools.

Pallet jacks are necessary for transporting pallet-stored items without the use of a forklife.

Forklift trucks are important to easily transport heavy pallet-stored goods. They minimize the chance of both injury and damage to goods.

Non-pallet items can easily be transported with hand trucks.