The Spine of the team
September 1st 2011 Supplier of safety netting for materials handling applications, Rack Nets has
unveiled Spine Netting, a safety system for protecting pickers from items falling
from higher racks
Protecting pickers in a busy warehouse where materials
handling equipment are also present, often moving full
pallets, has long been a concern. But collision is not the
only danger.While pickers are working an aisle, an adjacent aisle
often has trucks shifting pallet loads and if these are misloaded
on to racking, loads can fall through to land in the picking aisle.
Rack Nets has noted many near misses and one instance when
an employee was struck by an outer causing substantial injuries.
The firm concerned was faced with employee downtime, unease
among other employees and a bill upwards of £20,000.
Tim Judge, owner of Rack Nets explains: "The company was
very robust on health and safety so naturally they sought to
alleviate the problem.We spoke to them and it was agreed that
Spine Netting would provide a solution."
Polypropylene-based Spine Netting goes down the flue of the
rack - the space between back of the two racks. The netting is
kept in place and at the correct tension by a system of wires and
brackets. This means that a load falling backwards through a rack
will be held and not fall into the aisle behind. The firm also
supplies rack netting (pictured).
Rack Nets tested the system at its own premises and passed the
data to the National Physical Laboratory www.npl.co.uk in
London, which verified the design would hold a one tonne pallet
at 6 metres high without the net bursting.
Ease of installation was also credited as a key plus for the
Spine Netting system. It requires considerable tailoring to get
around obstructions. The flue is typically only 150mm wide.
Under SEMA guidance, this 150mm space is further used as
pallets typically overhang by 50mm, to boost pallet stability on
the racking. As the net is flexible and on a cable system, it can
moved around obstacles.
Judge explains: "There is little space in the flue of the racking
and often plenty of obstructions, including sprinkler systems and
columns. The advantage of Spine Netting is we were able to work
it around the obstacles without causing major downtime to the
facility. They had an operation we couldn't compromise. The
impact on the site was about 5% of stock in a rolling empty
section."
Rack Nets installed Spine Netting in the warehouse,
comprising 12 runs of racking in 22 days. As well as this
installation, Rack Nets has seen interest in the product from
major 3PLs and retailers who are seeking to be proactive in
eliminating this danger.
"It gave personnel in the warehouse more confidence. The
company was able to sit staff down, explain what they were going
to do and achieve it."
An alternative to Spine Netting would have been is a rigid
steel-mesh panel, but this approach has disadvantages, argues
Judge.
"Steel mesh has its place, but where space is limited it is
difficult to build a steel mesh barrier without major disruption.
Also, these barriers tend to be thicker, potentially compromising
SEMA clearances. In addition, if a pallet overreaches it could
dent the steel mesh, whereas there is a certain amount of flex
with the Spine Netting," he says.
Rackets adds that price-wise the netting solution is around
20% cheaper than steel, as well as being significantly cheaper to
install and deliver.
Rack Nets says the Spine Netting may have other added
benefits with the netting preventing staff from moving from aisle
to aisle through the racking, and potentially colliding with fastmoving,
relatively quiet materials handling equipment.
Judge also sees new build opportunities.
"We will look at new build but we are excited about retrofit in
particular and with the ease of the product's installation, there is
a compelling argument here.
"We sell exclusive to the trade, our route to market is through
distributors and manufacturers and integrators.We want to say -
this is on the radar, put it in as part of your presentation, it could
just tip the order your way.
"We want to demonstrate we are being a bit more creative.
There are similar solutions out there, but this is purposedesigned
for the storage and materials handling market and
we've giving it a bit more thought, and using design nous to
make it a more robust solution."
You can see a video of Tim Judge and Tony Gresty explaining
the Rack Nets product portfolio on Rack Nets'website at
www.Rack
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