I have damaged uprights, what should I do?

If you’ve identified damaged uprights in your warehouse, the first step is to treat the situation as a safety issue, not just a maintenance task. A pallet rack upright is a structural element; when it gets hit, bent, or twisted, it can lose part of its load capacity and compromise the stability of the entire bay or aisle. 

Here’s what you should do right away: 

1. Tag and isolate the damaged area. 
   Clearly mark the affected bay or upright and communicate to your team that it should not be used until it has been evaluated. Use lockout/tagout style signage or your internal “do not use” tags to prevent accidental loading.
2. Unload the affected bay when in doubt. 
   If the damage looks significant or you’re unsure whether the upright is still safe, unload the pallets from that bay or surrounding bays as a precaution. It’s better to slow operations briefly than risk a partial collapse or near miss.
3. Document the damage. 
   Take photos and note the bay location, rack type, and any visible issues (bent column, deformed braces, missing anchors, etc.). This will help the rack specialist quickly understand the situation. 
4. Contact a rack safety expert for an assessment. 
   Damotech offers a FREE on-site pallet rack repair assessment anywhere in North America. Once you complete the online form, a rack expert will schedule a visit to your facility. During this visit, they will:
   - Walk your warehouse and inspect the damaged uprights
   - Advise you whether the racks can safely remain in service or must be unloaded 
   - Recommend the appropriate engineered repair solution (e.g., DAMO PRO, DAMO FLEX, DAMO BRACE) 
   - Provide a detailed quote listing each damaged location and the suggested repair kit 
5. Repair with engineered rack repair kits, not quick fixes. 
   Avoid ad hoc fixes, such as field welding, bracing with scrap steel, or simply re-plumbing uprights. Damotech’s engineered rack repair kits are custom-built to match your existing rack configuration, restoring the original load capacity with minimal unloading and no on-site welding. 

If you have damaged uprights today, book a free on-site rack damage assessment and let a Damotech expert help you bring your racking system back to a safe, compliant, and reliable condition.