Pallet Racking Inspection - A Vital Element

Pallet racking inspection is a vital element of any company’s safety management programme as it encourages best practice and ensures compliance with current legislation.

The industrial storage equipment industry should conform to all current Health and Safety legislation in order to avoid any HSE litigation.

The following are the current HSE legislation:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended)
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended)

Racking Inspections can be a time consuming task and a distraction from day-to-day work for many end-users of industrial storage equipment.  As per current legislation if any work equipment is exposed to conditions causing deterioration and can result into dangerous situations, an employer must ensure that the equipment is inspected on a regular basis.

TheRack Group Ltd with over 35 years of experience within the Industrial storage equipment industry carries out racking inspections on the behalf of end-users while conforming to all Health and Safety legislation. The Rack Group Ltd not only conforms to H&S legislation but also identifies where the customers can save money on the replacement /repair of any identified non-conforming components and reduce life-time costs associated with pallet racking maintenance. 

WHY ARE PALLET RACKING SAFETY INSPECTIONS ESSENTIAL?

Pallet racking safety inspections are essential to the safe day to day running of any warehouse.

The frequency of these inspections is determined by risk assessments and the levels of activity within the warehouse. There are two types of inspections; internal and external. Internal inspections must be carried out by trained and competent personnel who have been appointed by the PRSES (person responsible for storage equipment safety). External inspections must be carried out by an expert in storage equipment safety on an annual basis as specified by the European Standard EN15365.  Our inspectors have many years of experience and a vast array of knowledge within this area.

In addition to the EN standards the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 outlines the duties imposed on employers to provide a safe place of work.  Industrial storage equipment is classed as work equipment and therefore falls under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.  This state’s “Work equipment that is exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in dangerous situations must be inspected to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained, and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in goods time”.

The Rack Group’s inspection process is designed to be easy and very user friendly and assists the PRSES in

their duties. As we use the latest digital pen technology we provide the customer with both a digital and hard copy of the completed inspection report which is written in a straight forward, non complicated manner. It is designed to aid the communication process between all parties thus insuring they can effectively work together to create a safe working environment.

Within the inspection report, the inspector will outline all essential repair work plus any potential hazards. Recommendations are then made in order to resolve any issues identified.  

The Rack Group’s main priority is to develop a proactive safety management process which will result in less damage occurring.  However, should damage occur we can repair the damage in a cost effective manner with as little disruption to the customer as possible using our specialist equipment.

For more information regarding inspections or if you would like a no obligation quote, please call 01226 784488 and speak to our inspections department. Alternatively you can e-mail us on info@therackgroup.com or visit our website at www.therackgroup.com

Tesco Choose Rack Armour

Tesco approached RackArmour Ltd for a solution to their ever increasing racking damage, with over 290 forklifts and lollops operating at one time, damage was an inevitable occurrence, and with the average cost of a racking leg replacement at £400.00 per upright, effective protection couldn't come soon enough.

"The New Daventry Grocery Depot distributes to all UK stores explains Simon Harris, Project Manager at Tesco , “with over 5 million pallet movement's each month at this one site, racking damage does occur , which is detrimental to the warehouse operation”

“To help us to reduce & prevent racking damage within our operation, Tesco trialled a number of racking protection t, the trial identified that the Rack Armour product was robust and easy to install, as well as a cost effective solution to reduce racking damage”. "We have now had the guards installed on over 6500 uprights for more than a week, and we have already seen a dramatic reduction in racking damage, I would whole heartedly recommend this product to other's looking for a solution that not only works, but is clearly the most cost effective product available."

Tesco trialled other racking protection, including the latest products on the market to find the best solution for them, in the end Rack Armour was the obvious choice for quality, cost, and having the most established product in the market.

“There are a number of pretenders to Rack Armour’s crown out there in the market” explains Richard Nelson, Marketing Co-ordinator at Rack Armour, “and they usually have an Achilles Heel in relation to the Rack Armour guard, a serious design flaw to these other products are they can easily be dislodged from the upright by forklifts and lollops, the last thing you want in a busy warehouse is to find your so called protection lying idle on your warehouse floor, these stray units have the capability to cause serious harm as projectiles to both employees and handling equipment”.

Tesco’s is another blue chip company to be added to Rack Armour’s illustrious list, and they are in good company, with the likes of, IKEA, DHL, Mercedes Benz, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Toyota, Superdrug, Pound land, ASDA, Coca Cola, Nestle and B&Q whom have all had the guards installed for years.

“Every customer has different wants and needs from the Rack Armour guard” says Jenny Charlton, Director of Rack Armour “one customer will rave about the guard being able to work in conditions as low as -40 degrees, whilst another’s are impressed that it fits all types of racking and is inter transferable between different racking systems, it has countless benefits!”

If racking damage is becoming a problem on your site, don’t delay, contact us to arrange a free site visit and demonstration of Rack Armour on 01226 784 488 | www.rackarmour.com

RACK ARMOUR DOMINATES THE AMERICAS

 Rack Armour’s network of distributors have excelled themselves.  The newest continent to ride the Rack Armour wave is the Americas.  Rack Armour’s popularity has soared over the past year throughout Central, Southern and Northern America, making Rack Armour their preferred choice when it comes to pallet racking upright protection.

After recent visits and exhibitions in America, sales have risen by a massive 280% with orders from worldwide household names such as Nestle, Ikea, Toyota, Wal-mart plus many more.

Rack Armour Ltd is delighted with the success the product has had in foreign markets over the years, JennyCharlton Director of Rack Armour Ltd stated “We can’t believe the speed at which sales are increasing;  Companies throughout the Americas have really taken to the guard. The easy installation process and cost effective product has revolutionised racking protection in this particular continent, and we look forward to the same rate of acceleration in the coming year”.

The American market is a massive market to conquer, however Rack Armour Ltd feels the door to the market has been firmly wedged open and Rack Armour has proven to the continent that it is the number one preferred pallet racking upright protector and plans to stay that way for many years to come.

Rack Armour is manufactured and sold on every continent, an achievement Rack Armour Ltd is very proud of. The achievements gained so far will only inspire Rack Armour to grow further, expanding its presence further throughout the world’s market.

     

RACK ARMOUR AND PLASTIC GUARDS INTERNATIONAL DOMINANCE

Steel column guards have dominated the racking protection industry for years. However, now there is a new material that’s taking the industry by storm..... High Density Polyethylene. Plastic has been seen as an inferior material to steel in the past, not as strong or durable. This is changing day by day.

As an increasing number of bridges require rehabilitation, strengthening or replacement, interest has grown in reinforced plastic polymers as a solution to the problem of an aging infrastructure. The range of composite materials manufactured for bridge construction and repair is expanding as more installations are undertaken. Soon, a bridge made of plastic may be coming to a highway near you!

Rack Armour column guard protection was one of the first to utilise plastic. Employing plastic rather than steel has massive advantages:

·         Very high strength to wait ratio

·         Will not corrode and can be designed to accommodate most climate conditions

·         Impact and dent resistant – retains properties

·         Cheaper to manufacture and lighter weight for better transport costs

·         Aesthetically pleasing – all colourings can be added to the mould

·         Impervious to many chemical compounds – can be used in a wide range of warehouses

·         Easier packaging

After recent shows in the US, popularity with plastic guards has increased dramatically and the number of plastic guards on the market has sawn. In particular, Rack Armour has seen a tremendous increase in growth due to the mind set of potential customers switching from metal guards to plastic.

Racking uprights are constantly under attack by fork lift trucks but with the aid of Rack Armour this is no longer a problem. Rack Armour is a cost effective, proven method of protecting racking uprights.

Don’t delay, try Rack Armour today.

For more information regarding Rack Armour visit www.rackarmour.com

THE RACK GROUP WORKING ALONGSIDE IRON MOUNTAIN

The Rack Group Ltd is delighted to announce they have just renewed another year’s contract with Iron Mountain, one of the world’s leading document storage giants.  After a rigorous tender process The Rack Group won the privilege once again of becoming Iron Mountain’s preferred pallet racking maintenance and inspections company. Phil Maxwell-Smith The Rack Group’s Managing Director commented “we are very pleased that Iron Mountain have decided to choose the Rack Aid® Management System. Over the years The Rack Group have developed a very strong working relationship with Iron Mountain and look forward to working with them for another year.”

Iron Mountain first approached The Rack Group Ltd with the sole purpose to find a solution to help reduce and eliminate where possible pallet racking damage across their distribution network. Iron Mountain identified their warehouse and distribution division as an area where savings associated with pallet racking maintenance and repair could be made and The Rack Group were only too happy to assist.

The working relationship between The Rack Group and Iron Mountain started six years ago when John Headford of Iron Mountain formerly known as Hays Distribution, approached The Rack Group with the sole purpose to reduce pallet racking maintenance and repair costs throughout Iron Mountain’s entire network. After seeing the huge success The Rack Group’s Rack Aid® Management System had been when implemented throughout ASDA stores and distribution centres, Iron Mountain took the decision to adopt The Rack Aid Management System for themselves throughout their entire network.    

Regular safety inspections were employed throughout the network which gathered crucial information in regards to stocking materials and the types of damage being incurred. After analysing each safety inspection, The Rack Group identified fitting Rack Armour (upright protection) to stop the damage happening, and replacing damaged uprights with sacrificial legs would save Iron Mountain time, money and disruption around the warehouse.

Users of Industrial Storage Equipment have a legal duty to carry out regular inspection audits in order to identify damaged components (as stated in the Provision and safe Use of Work Equipment Regulation section 6), these inspections are key to the whole management system.

More recently the training aspect of The Rack Aid® Management System has been incorporated throughout Iron Mountain. The Rack Group and Iron Mountain identified training as a vital element within the management system as a means to ensure Iron Mountain colleagues were given the correct information, instruction, training and supervision to work safely in and around storage equipment.  Iron Mountain wanted competent operatives and seniors managers throughout the network to be aware of the dangers associated with working with pallet racking. The Rack Group developed bespoke training enabling Iron Mountain’s workforce to work safely around the warehouse and to conduct their own pallet racking safety inspections. Further developments are in place to offer an accredited qualification NVQ (QCF) to Iron Mountain’s employees regarding inspections to qualify their workforce, once developed this will then be available for others.  

Over the past six years the Rack Aid Management System has saved the Iron Mountain network thousands of pounds in repair costs and strives to increase this figure year after year. This will be achievable through constant developments and innovative thinking. The Rack Group embraces this challenge and looks forward to another successful year working alongside Iron Mountain.

If reducing your pallet racking maintenance and repair costs whilst still maintaining a strong health and safety culture is important to you, please call 01226 784488, or visit our website www.therackgroup.com and ask about what The Rack Group can do for you.  

   

THE RACK GROUP LTD INSTALLERS RECEIVE CSCS GOLD CARD

The CSCS Card, which is issued by Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), is increasingly being demanded as proof of competence by major organisations and employers in almost all industries.

CSCS was set up in the mid-90’s with the aim of improving site worker’s competence to reduce accidents and drive up on site skills and abilities.

The scheme keeps a database of those working in construction that achieve, or can demonstrate they have attained an agreed level of occupational competence. Successful applicants are issued with a card giving them a means of identification and proof of their achievements. Cards are increasingly demanded as evidence of occupational competence by contractors, public and private clients and others; today there are over 1.7 million cards in circulation.

The Rack Group Ltd installers started by acquiring the white and grey Construction Related Occupations (CRO) card or the Green, Construction Site Operative Card; The Rack Group then upgraded these cards when the CSCS scheme recognised the new accredited qualification “Specialist Installations Occupations – Industrial Storage Equipment” aimed at the installation of pallet racking. The Red trainee card and the Blue Craft Card were then introduced to the industry in recognition of the newly approved NVQ qualification. The Director of Operations at CSCS is currently looking at ways of recognising the Level 3 NVQ for Occupational Work Supervision and methods of integrating the Gold Card into the Industrial Storage Equipment sector of CSCS.

One of the reasons The Rack Group looked at obtaining the Gold Card was due to one of their major blue chip clients ASDA adopting the CSCS scheme. All contractors working for Asda are required to work to the standards specified by ASDA’s Way of Working Document. This was prepared in partnership with the Partnering Contractors Health and Safety CIG (Contractors Improvement Group), providing contractors with a health and safety guide and standards required while working on ASDA’s sites.

Mike Abel ASDA’s General Manager has been quoted as saying “we stipulate that all people carrying out construction related activities on our sites can show that they have the requisite skills. With tradesman and operatives we insist that they have a CSCS card at the appropriate level for the activities they are undertaking”.  Mike Abel. (2012). ASDA Focuses on CSCS to Support Health and Safety Targets. Available: http://www.cscs.uk.com/about-us/case-studies/. Last accessed 2.09.2012.

Another of The Rack Group’s blue chip clients Sainsbury’s has also stated that having the CSCS card is crucial for all contractors working on their sites, Arthur Carruthers Project Manager at Sainsbury’s has been quoted as saying “CSCS enables us to ensure that anyone who comes onto a Sainbury’s site has a level of competence, which can be improved upon as contractors invest in their staff. CSCS cards started off as something that was desirable to have, but is now a compulsory requirement and is checked by our main contractors as part of the site induction process”.  Arthur Carruthers. (2012). Sainsbury’s checkout value of CSCS.Available: http://www.cscs.uk.com/about-us/case-studies/. Last accessed 2.09.2012.

Having the card is beneficial for both the employee and the employer. As an employer you are confident your supervisory employees are competent in the jobs they are doing, it also proves to potential customers that your employees are qualified to the highest level. The card benefits the employee because as an employee you are confident in your own abilities and workmanship.

The Rack Group is always looking at ways in which they can up skill their staff and the industry as a whole and therefore, all Supervisors have acquired their CSCS Gold card.     

The Rack Group strives to have its supervisors and installers trained to the highest level possible. This ensures all work completed on site is to the highest standard possible.   

An awards ceremony was held at Barnsley Football club on the 7^th September 2012 to celebrate the achievement and to handout the Gold Card to The Rack Group supervisors along with other certificates of achievement from various other training organisations.

The Rack Group is always looking at ways in which they can up skill their staff and the industry as a whole.

For more information regarding inspections, maintenance and repair work to pallet racking give us a call on 01226 784488, alternatively you can e-mail us on info@therackgroup.com or visit our website at www.therackgroup.com 

THE RACK GROUP CHOSEN BY ASDA AGAIN

The Rack Group Ltd is delighted to announce they have just renewed another year’s contract with ASDA, one of the UK’s leading supermarkets. 

After a rigorous tender process The Rack Group won the privilege once again of becoming ASDA’s preferred pallet racking maintenance and inspections company.   Phil Maxwell-Smith The Rack Group’s Managing Director commented “we are very pleased that ASDA have decided to choose the Rack Aid Management System.  Over the years The Rack Group have developed a very strong working relationship with ASDA and look forward to working with them for another year."

ASDA first approached The Rack Group Ltd with the sole purpose to find a solution to help reduce and eliminate where possible pallet racking damage that was occurring across their distribution network. With hundreds of forklift trucks in operation and thousands of pallet movements each day, pallet racking damage is inevitable.  ASDA identified their warehouse and distribution division as an area where savings associated with pallet racking maintenance and repair could be made and The Rack Group were only too happy to assist.

The Rack Group has built a strong working relationship with ASDA over the years and has worked closely with their maintenance team to develop innovative solutions to these problems. The working relationship with ASDA started twenty years ago when The Rack Group carried out safety inspections on some of ASDA’s first distribution centres.

 “Due to the changes in Health and Safety legislation, ASDA were keen to unite all stores and distribution centres under one management system to help reduce repair and maintenance costs throughout the network, with this in mind, The Rack Group and ASDA started to develop The Rack Aid Management System” states Simon Lee, Installations Director at The Rack Group Ltd.  

The Rack AidManagement System is made up of five key elements, 1) scheduled racking Inspections, 2) repair and maintenance, 3) specialist materials, 4) racking protection and 5) accredited training sessions.  The first element The Rack Group looked at was protecting the racking from costly damage, preventing the damage or severely limiting it was a priority.  After months of development and rigorous testing Rack Armour was created, Rack Armour is now sold globally and reduces forklift truck damage where ever it is installed.

Users of Industrial Storage Equipment have a legal duty to carry out regular inspection audits in order to identify damaged components (as stated in the Provision and safe Use of Work Equipment Regulation section 6), these inspections are key to the whole management system, ensuring vital information such as the type of damage, how frequent the damage is occurring and details of materials for stocking purposes. This information enables efficient lead times, which is crucial for a distribution network as large as ASDA’s. 

The next element within the management system where costs can be saved was maintenance and repair work. By using specialist materials created purposely to save ASDA time, money and disruption around the warehouse. When maintaining their pallet racking ASDA was able to make significant savings.  Instead of replacing entire uprights The Rack Group developed specialist materials and their own unique leg prop along with specialist bracings which enables the installation team to replace the damaged section of upright without having to off load any materials and without having to replace the whole upright, making this element of The Rack Aid Management System extremely cost effective.

The last element of the Rack Aid Management System is training.  ASDA and The Rack Group identified training as a vital element within the management system as a means to ensure ASDA colleagues were given the correct information, instruction, training and supervision to work safely in and around storage equipment. ASDA wanted competent operatives and seniors managers throughout the network to be aware of the dangers associated with working with pallet racking. The Rack Group developed bespoke training enabling ASDA’s workforce to work safely around the warehouse and to conduct their own pallet racking safety inspections.  Further developments are in place to offer an accredited qualification NVQ (QCF) to ASDA’s employees regarding inspections to qualify their workforce, once developed this will then be available for others.

Over the past seven years the Rack Aid Management System has saved the ASDA network over £1,000,000 in repair costs and strives to increase this figure year after year. This will be achievable through constant developments and innovative thinking. The Rack Group embraces this challenge and looks forward to another successful year working alongside ASDA.

If reducing your pallet racking maintenance and repair costs whilst still maintaining a strong health and safety culture is important to you, please call 01226 784488, or visit our website www.therackgroup.com and ask about what The Rack Group can do for you.