Flooring is the most abused element of your warehouse in Colorado. It needs to take on the massive weights of high stacking, heavy forklifts, delivery trucks, and loaded pallets. Warehouse flooring accumulates countless scratches, tire marks, stains from chemical spillage, and other damages caused by the heavy foot traffic in the day to day operation.
The quality of concrete flooring determines the productivity of your employees and secures safety in the workplace. At the same time, it facilitates a positive impression from existing and potential clients of your company during business tours.
Failure to repair
Despite the daily use and abuse that warehouse floors receive, business owners ignore small defects until they turn to severe damages that require costly repairs. Some of the reasons for this failure are lack of time, inadequate maintenance staff, and lack of budget. Other warehouse owners do not include floor repair in their corporate priorities because they do not have the knowledge, or they can not tolerate the noise and mess involved in repairs.
The Consequences of bad warehouse floors
1. Damaged machinery
Rough patches on the floor or missing chunks provide an uneven terrain for forklifts and other machinery. Cushion tire forklifts can not withstand the impact created by irregular surfaces and would result in early chipping and quick deterioration.
2. Damaged products
Floors in bad conditions are also a hazard to the goods you’re moving. Increased vibration can damage some products that are fragile and cause the liquid to spill.
3. Reduced employee productivity
Bad floors do not only cause fatigue to machinery; they are also a significant stressor for operators. Maneuvering a truck on a cracked floor is extremely difficult and slows down the operation.
4. Increased safety risk
Defective flooring encourages accidents such as falls, slips, trips, rack collapses, falling products, and machinery accidents that result in serious injuries.
5. Poor sanitation
Proper workplace housekeeping is a requirement in the warehouse industry. Cracks on the floor become a haven for debris, dust, and dirt from deteriorating goods. Cracked floors are also a gathering place for spilled chemicals and moisture, which causes ugly stains and invites mold growth. Deep cracks on the concrete also provide an access point for destructive rodents and insects.
Preventing floor damage
1. Ensure floor flatness
While occasional cracks are inevitable, a flat warehouse floor can better handle the weight of massive logistic operations.
2. Do timely small fixes
While small cracks seem to be not a cause for alarm, you should always act on damages no matter how little they are. Remember that the tiniest crack, when ignored, will cause permanent floor damage.
3. Train staff on the proper use of machinery
One of the causes of floor damage is the misuse of warehouse equipment. Make sure that your workers are knowledgeable about appropriate machinery operation.
4. Sweep regularly
Loose metal parts, debris, dust, or sand can cause cracks on the floor when moved over by heavy machinery. There should be a regular sweeping schedule to make sure that spills, pallet chips, and debris are removed.
Warehouse floor maintenance should be an owner’s priority to secure safety, avoid expensive repairs, and prevent operation downtime.
