Don’t neglect your racking
Here’s a fun fact – your racking is classed as work equipment. That means, under UK law, specifically the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), you are responsible for maintaining the structure, says SEMA.
BUT DID you know this isn’t a simple, once-a-year check and instead requires a year-round inspection process. Consider the following steps.
1 Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS)
Train a member of your team – usually a warehouse, facilities or health and safety manager – for the role of PRRS. They ensure you meet legal requirements by confirming racking inspections and maintenance records are conducted, analysing damage data, and spotting areas where damage occurs. They will also have the authority to take action and arrange repairs.
2 Daily inspections
Make sure employees working in areas with racking recognise damage on the structure and are trained to report problems.
3 Visual inspections
These inspections are undertaken by your PRRS or a trained team member. They will check for damage, signs of wear and tear and that correct loading procedures are followed.
4 Inspection training
Anyone undertaking the role of PRRS or conducting visual inspections need training. Send them on a course such as our Racking Safety Awareness course. Referenced in HSG76, this course covers the frequency of inspections, responsibilities of users and suppliers, recording an inspection, categorising damage levels and understanding load notices.
5 Expert inspection
At least once a year, a trained professional must undertake your Expert Inspection. While you might consider a “Damage only” inspection which typically lists the location of damaged items, a better solution is a full inspection by a SEMA Approved Racking Inspector (SARI). A SARI report offers far more insight such as identifying racking type, equipment compatibility, damage and floor fixing suitability. Significantly for warehouse owners, their report offers a clear traffic-light system with repair timescales.
6 Repairs
Racking damage needs repairing but take a cautious approach when choosing a company for the work. Check they meet industry and SEMA guidance and are manufacturer approved, otherwise it could render your racking’s warranty invalid.
For more information, visit www.sema.org.uk
