Oakland International Completes Racking Safety System Rollout

Supply chain solutions specialist, Oakland International, has completed a key investment in a unique warehouse racking safety system which removes the risk of racking collapse across its UK and Ireland business operations.

Oakland International General Manager, Jamie Robinson, commented: “We wanted a solution which would provide the safest possible working environment for our team members and also protect the business from the potential risks associated with a full-scale rack collapse.”

Rack Collapse Prevention’s (RCP) Rhino racking safety system protects the complete rack following leg impact damage and stops any potential domino effect happening within a storage facility. RCP utilises a unique patented safety system which is suspended from a building’s steel structure, which is then attached to each individual racking support leg. In the case of a building’s structure not being suitable, then a secondary steel structure is installed which then supports the suspension system.

Taking the decision to install RCP’s racking safety system throughout their Redditch, Corby and Dublin operations, the business is more than satisfied with the results.

Installing RCP ranged from one week to three weeks depending on the size of the building, with Oakland’s storage facilities reaching heights of twelve to seventeen meters and racking run lengths anywhere from sixty meters and covering a total of seventy runs across all three sites.

RCP’s Managing Director, Craig Attwell, commented: “Oakland International understood the potential risks posed from racking collapse, to its staff and to its business security. Despite every effort and systems put in place, accidents will and do happen.

“Safety should always be paramount and any and all measures that reduce the potential risks associated with warehouse racking should be taken but regrettably many precautions against rack collapse appear to be led by cost rather than by good practice. RCP has valued partnering with Oakland International on this project.”

Oakland International is a BRC AA accredited business, a double Queen’s Award for Enterprise recipient for International Trade and Sustainable Development and is a specialist contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and brand development support provider for ambient, chilled and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK, Ireland and via their partner in Spain.