Storage Equipment Guidance
Storage Equipment Guidance
As an owner of a business, you have the responsibility to provide good governance and manage employee rights. This includes taking measures and abiding by storage equipment regulations to protect employees from potential health risks in the workplace, which is particularly necessary in an industry like racking that is largely unregulated with very few barriers to entry.
Let’s not also forget its purpose of storing hundreds of tonnes of pallets above working colleagues’ heads. An incorrectly supplied or damaged racking system can prove to be a costly and time-consuming problem that takes your storage out of action. At worst, it can result in death or injury to your employees which then leads to an extensive HSE investigation leaving company finances and the Director’s liabilities exposed.
Although this may sound alarming, adhering to health and safety measures can avoid major incidents. Meeting these industry requirements and racking regulations will provide you with the protection to keep your employees safe and ensure smooth operations in your warehouse.
Meeting Storage Equipment Guidance
Most storage equipment guidance covers advice issued by the HSE. You do not have to legally follow most of their guidance but implementing these steps is normally enough to ensure you meet your requirements and racking regulations as a business owner. Failure to demonstrate that you have implementing the necessary Health & Safety elements can result in severe fines and at worse a custodial sentence. Racking is also classed as work equipment and there are numerous Health & Safety guidance documents, including PUWER, which require training for your employees and a regular inspection programme.
Warehouse Health & Safety Legislation
As a multi-faceted environment, there are several Health and Safety documents which cover the day-to-day running of a warehouse.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but the main documents are:
Storage Equipment Regulations
The documents above cover health and safety legislation that applies to most warehouse and manufacturing businesses. However, for anyone who has racking at their site, some regulations specifically relate to working in areas with storage equipment.
- HSG76 Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety covers all stages of a racking’s lifespan. This includes manual and mechanical handling, site transport and working at height. It also emphasises warehouse owners' responsibilities to ensure best practices and general prevention to avoid risks and hazards.
- SEMA Codes ensure products are designed, installed, maintained, and repaired to conform to quality standards and safety requirements. Through the work of our technical committee, SEMA has led on industry best safety practices. Many of our technical publications, Design Codes and guidance documents are acknowledged across the industry.
It is not a legal requirement to follow these guidance documents. However, if you fail to meet your legislative requirements and HSE were to take enforcement action they can use the HSG76 and SEMA Design Codes frameworks to bring action against your business.
Racking regulations through HSG76 requires warehouse owners to address safety at key stages throughout the equipment’s lifetime. This includes the design, installation and maintenance of your structure.
Racking Design
As an engineered structure the design of your racking must fulfil set criteria to ensure the structure is suitable for its intended purpose. HSG76 states that ‘Racking systems should be of good mechanical construction, of sound material, adequate strength and installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.’
When designing your racking, suppliers should conform to either SEMA Design Codes or EN 15512. Both are industry-acceptable standards which instruct on the structural analysis of racking, what types of loads to consider, how to test components and what safety factors are required when designing equipment.
Racking Installation
HSG76 requires ‘Racking should be erected on sound, level floors, capable of withstanding the point loading at each base plate. Aisles should also be wide enough to ensure that mechanical handling equipment can easily manoeuvre.’ It also asks that ‘The racking should only be installed by competent people in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.’
To assist business owners in complying with HSG76 requirements, SEMA has established the Storage Equipment Installers Registration Scheme (SEIRS). This training program aims to enhance installation standards and educate installers on proper methods in accordance with SEMA guidelines. HSG76 refers to the SEIRS training programme.
To further elevate standards, site managers of main and principal contractors might require contractors to possess a CSCS card. This card serves as a quick verification of contractors' qualifications on-site. Racking installation is a specialised trade and to conduct racking installations, an installer should hold a SEIRS CSCS card, which is exclusively available through SEIRS.
Racking Usage
Once your racking and shelving are installed, you are responsible for regularly inspecting the structure and recording any issues. If any damage is present, you must take appropriate action. HSG76 recommends appointing a 'Person Responsible for Racking Safety' (PRRS) to conduct regular visual inspections. This is usually a member of your team and they will be responsible for checking the equipment, maintaining written records of their findings and ensure the maximum load is never exceeded.
HSG76 also references a rack safety awareness course offered by SEMA. This course trains individuals for the role of PRRS and equips anyone working in areas with racking to identify and report damage.
Racking Inspection
At least once a year you must conduct an Expert Inspection which is ‘carried out by a technically competent person.’ They should submit their report to the PRRS with observations and proposals for any necessary remedial work.
To assist the industry SEMA runs the SEMA Approved Racking Inspector (SARI) initiative. To achieve their qualification, attendees must pass an intensive three-day training course, written exam, and practical assessment.
An inspection report from a SARI goes into greater detail than most other inspection reports. It will categorise racking damage using a colour-coded process which identifies how quickly repair work should be undertaken.
KNOWLEDGE HUB
Looking for guidance on your storage equipment? Head over to our Knowledge Hub where we provide an insight into warehouse systems, industry requirements, best practice measures and how to improve safety standards.
