Pallet Rack Guards & Column Protectors
Forklift impacts are the #1 cause of pallet rack damage and collapse. Rack guards and column protectors absorb hits that would otherwise bend, dent, or tear your uprights — preventing expensive repairs and dangerous failures.
Talk with a pallet rack specialist. Call (800) 326-4403 or Email Sales@MH-USA.com
Types of Rack Protection
Different areas of your rack face different threats. We supply the right guard type for each vulnerable position — from individual column protectors to full row-end barriers.
Column Protectors
Wrap around individual rack uprights at forklift impact height. Available in steel and high-density polymer. Absorb and deflect glancing hits that would otherwise dent or bend the column. The most common and cost-effective rack protection. Bolt-on or wrap-around installation.
End-of-Aisle Guards
Heavy-duty steel barriers at the end of every rack row. These take the hardest hits — forklifts turning into aisles, cross-traffic, and backing collisions. Bolted to the floor with their own anchor system so impact force doesn’t transfer to the rack.
Row-End Barriers
Full-height steel barriers that protect the entire end frame of a rack row. Used in high-traffic areas and at the end of drive aisles where forklifts approach rack head-on. Provides maximum protection for the most vulnerable positions.
Floor-Level Guards
Low-profile steel rails that run along the base of rack rows. Prevent forklifts from driving too close to uprights and protect base plates and anchor bolts from wheel and chassis contact. Essential in narrow aisle configurations.
The Cost of Not Protecting Your Rack
Rack guards are cheap insurance. Here’s what you’re protecting against.
Column Replacement
A single damaged column requires unloading the bay, removing beams, swapping the column, and reloading. The labor and downtime cost far exceeds the price of a column protector that would have prevented the damage.
Rack Collapse
A damaged column that isn’t caught can lead to progressive collapse — one bay falls into the next, domino-style. The resulting damage to rack, inventory, building, and potentially people is catastrophic and far more expensive than guards.
OSHA Citations
Visibly damaged rack without guards or repair plans demonstrates negligence. OSHA fines for serious violations reach $16,000+ per instance. Rack guards demonstrate proactive safety — a defensible position during inspections.
Rack Guard FAQ
For overall protection, column protectors on every front upright plus end-of-aisle guards at every row end provides the best coverage. Column protectors handle glancing hits; end-of-aisle guards handle direct impacts. Together they address 90%+ of forklift impact scenarios.
End-of-aisle guards are required by many local building codes, especially in aisles with forklift traffic. Column protectors aren’t universally required but are strongly recommended by ANSI/RMI standards and warehouse safety best practices.
Column protectors wrap around or bolt onto existing uprights — most install in minutes with no special tools. End-of-aisle guards bolt to the concrete floor with their own anchors, independent of the rack system. We can install guards during or after your rack installation.
Both work well. Steel guards are more durable and handle heavier impacts. Polymer guards are lighter, won’t dent, and absorb energy through deformation. High-traffic warehouses with heavy forklifts benefit from steel. Standard operations work well with either.
Rack guards are one of the most affordable warehouse safety investments. Individual column protectors cost a fraction of a rack column replacement. End-of-aisle guards cost less than a single forklift repair. Contact us for quantity pricing.
Pallet Rack Accessories
Protect Your Rack Investment
Column protectors and rack guards cost a fraction of rack replacement. Get a free quote for your warehouse.