One of the most relevant challenges that utility companies have to deal with is how to store utility poles safely and efficiently. Utility poles, which are basically required for building and maintaining power lines and communication networks, are usually very big and heavy; if not stored properly, they might cause serious safety concerns. The economic pole racks have lately been the solution to these challenges, providing safe, space-saving, and efficient ways of managing pole storage on both job sites and laydown yards.
In this blog, we take a close look at the benefits of pole racks, discussing why they are a truly effective economical solution for utility companies and how services such as CMS Utility Services, Inc. can further help improve safety and efficiency.
What are pole racks?
Pole racks are designed to hold utility poles in a Horizonal manner, storing them safely off the ground. The size and configuration vary to accommodate utility companies to hold various types and sizes of poles from regular wooden poles to much larger composite ones.
Key Benefits of Pole Racks
1. Improved Safety for Workers
One of the major benefits associated with pole racks is a significant improvement in terms of safety for the workers. The reason being, if the poles are stored on the racks, the working personnel will easily get their desired pole without having to climb on unstable piles of poles. This cuts down chances of any accident happening, including the shifting or rolling of poles when a worker is trying to get one.
2. Efficient Use of Space
Many job sites and lay down yards have limited space. Pole racks allow for horizonal storage to enable companies to store more poles within a smaller area. This efficient use of space may be especially helpful on smaller job sites where every square foot counts.
Just think of a Tetris game, where you try to fit as many blocks as possible into an enclosed space. The pole racks work exactly in that manner, enabling utility companies to stack the poles horizontally so that the available space is utilized to its maximum effect, leaving no space unused. This will not only save the poles but also make them more accessible when their need arises.
3. Protection of Poles
Utility poles are an investment, and protection against damage is one of the most valuable ways to prolong life and structural integrity. Pole racks keep them off the ground, lowering the possibility of warping, cracking, or rotting when stored in piles. In this way, storing utility poles horizonal on racks can let utilities ensure their poles remain in good condition until they are ready for use.
4. Ease of Access and Organization
Similarly, when the poles are in a pile, it might take an awful lot of time and labor to retrieve a certain pole. Workers may have to move poles in several numbers to get the required pole, which could be an unnecessary delay to work or increase labor costs. Racks for poles, on the other hand, make for ready access to individual poles with very little time and effort spent in retrieving the poles.
Again, this ease of access, enhances regarding job site organization. Poles can be sorted by size, type, or intended use, and any worker that needs to find a particular pole will quickly spot it. These speed up the flow of work besides reducing the risk of various errors, such as using the wrong type of pole on any particular job.
5. Cost Savings
While buying pole racks seems to involve a big initial cost, it can be very cost-effective in the long term. Enhancing safety, reducing probable accidental damages to poles, and saving space and labor can also be very economical for utility companies in the long term with the help of pole racks.
The Rental of Pole Racks: An Affordable Solution
Pole racks can be an extremely affordable rental for utility companies that need to store poles on a temporary basis. CMS Utility Services, Inc., a leading utility pole rack distribution company, can accommodate a utility company with its pole rack installation and rental service, which includes free delivery and removal. This allows companies to have the benefit of pole racks without a large upfront investment in the equipment.
1. Flexibility
Utility companies can rent pole racks to increase or decrease their storage capacity as per current needs. Be it a big project for which the company may wish to take extra storage of poles temporarily or a smaller job where space constraints are to be faced, rental pole racks shall permit the adjustment in storage solutions.
2. No Maintenance Headaches
Utility companies save themselves the headache of maintaining and taking care of their pole racks when renting them. CMS Utility Services, Inc. offers complete lifecycle services for the racks, which includes delivery and installation and removal upon request when no longer in service. In this hassle-free approach, the utility company is free to focus on its core business operations without added overhead from storage equipment maintenance.
3. Cost-Effective for Temporary Needs
Companies that have temporary needs for storage find it cost-effective to rent pole racks instead of investing money in the purchase of permanent racks. Individual rack rentals are generally pretty cheap when compared with the cost of rack purchases, and complementary services like free delivery and installation add great value. Therefore, companies can invest resources in other critical areas of their operations.
Conclusion
Utility pole racks improve worker safety, optimize space use, protect the poles from damage, and offer a well-organized and easily accessible way of storage.
For utility companies that need temporary storage, the most economical way could be renting pole racks from a reputable provider, such as CMS Utility Services, Inc.
In terms of scalability of storage capacity, no more headaches with maintenance issues, and an upfront cost reduced by up to 2/3s, rental pole racks are an excellent choice for companies wanting to optimize efficiency without blowing budgets.
As the adage goes, “Penny wise, pound foolish.” Trying to take shortcuts on safety and storage solutions can cost more in the long run. Invest in or rent quality pole racks to ensure that utility companies are wise enough to invest in safety, efficiency, and cost savings for the long term.
