Choosing a rapid roller door for your warehouse is important because it is so closely tied to safety. If every opening posed a possible threat – to the safety of your staff, equipment, or goods, then you would struggle to comply with the strict OH&S standards that apply to you.
Make sure you have the following 3 areas of safety covered when it comes to the rapid roller doors in your warehouse:
1. Training of your staff.
Operators of vehicles such as forklifts need sufficient training in how they should approach rapid roller doors without collisions. It may sound simple, but all too often, forklift drivers miscalculate the speed at which the doors open and shut. The possibility of accidental damage is further amplified by the fact that automatic doors may close without warning. Not only is a lack of training bad for your equipment, your staff could get seriously injured. For example, in 2008 a West Australian worker who had little training and no qualifications had to have his leg amputated because of an accident involving a forklift colliding with a roller door.
2. Visibility of your doors.
It’s important for your doors to stand out – especially if yours is a high-traffic warehouse. PVC strip doors are seen to be a good option for doorways requiring full visibility; however, they are extremely susceptible to scratching, and they are not appropriate for large doorways, particularly those which have vehicles or forklifts going through. Rapid Roller Doors would be a much better option, because they are fitted with clear, scratch-resistant panels within the door structure itself. That way, vehicle operators will be able to see if there are any potential hazards or people in their path.
3. Ability to endure harsh environmental conditions.
Extreme weather conditions can cause damage to your doors over time. Are your doors robust enough to face the harsh winds that affect certain parts of Australia? For example, in Western Australia, winds can reach speeds of 150 km/hr, causing doors to buckle as result. You may need a more heavy-duty model if your warehouse is in such a high-wind area, so it’s important to check when you’re narrowing down your requirements for rapid roller doors. Also check whether your doors need sealing features if your operations need to be sensitive to temperature or moisture.
Remember that these kinds of considerations – training, visibility, and environmental conditions – may seem insignificant now, but keeping them in mind could save you a lot of money in the long run.
You need to properly evaluate your warehouse to determine whether you could benefit from installing rapid roller doors – and, if so, what kind of roller door would work best for your business.
To learn more about what you must consider in selecting roller doors for your warehouse, download our free guide:
