Racking Regulations
Racking Regulations
Every business director must ensure good governance and manage employee rights, by protecting their team from potential health risks in the workplace. In industries like manufacturing or logistics, which often rank among the top ten most dangerous work environments, prioritising safety is even more critical. This is where racking regulations play a crucial role.
Go into any factory or warehouse and it is usually a busy environment with vehicles, employees and stock constantly in motion. The risk of an accident in this situation is high with common risks including trips, falls from height and improper manual handling. For company directors, maintaining Health and Safety throughout the entire warehouse is essential. However, finding clear and unbiased advice online can be challenging, especially when businesses are trying to influence you into buying their products.
As a leading authority in the storage equipment industry, the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) offers impartial guidance on racking safety. We advise warehouse owners on the best practices and relevant legislation to help them fulfil their safety obligations. Our knowledge and experience within the industry means we also regularly work with leading bodies such as the HSE and CSCS to advise and guide on key publications.
Health & Safety Legislation
As with most businesses, Health & Safety guidance governs warehouse operations. The documents below are several HSE documents which cover the running of a warehouse:
Racking Guidance
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 guidelines specifically relate to working in areas with storage equipment.
- HSG76 Warehousing and Storage covers all aspects of racking, including manual and mechanical handling, site transport and working at height. It emphasises best practices and risk prevention.
- SEMA Codes ensure racking products are designed, installed, maintained, and repaired to meet quality and safety standards. SEMA’s technical publications and Design Codes are widely recognized in 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.
SEMA Members are regularly assessed to check they are working with current industry guidance and legislation.
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.
