10 Warehouse safety tips for 2014

1. Inspect your pallet racking on a regular basis.
2. Ensure that you are conforming to European Standard EN15635.
3. Do not ignore damaged pallet racking. A damaged rack can collapse and cause injuries.
4. Have a safe working environment.
5. Use the right kind of protection for your pallet racking.
6. Conform to all current Health and Safety legislation in order to avoid any HSE litigations.
7. Provide warehouse training for your staff.
8. Be safe not sorry.
9. Do not drive into a pick location with raised forks as this can cause damage to the beams and in some case could even push a pallet off the racking.
10. Do not ignore traffic signs or rules for any one way systems that are in place.

Why You Should Maintain/Repair Pallet Racking?

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended) states all work equipment must be inspected on a regular basis and any reported damage made good. Regulation 5 requires the equipment to be maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and in good repair.

Racking systems are constantly in contact with forklift trucks and inevitably damage occurs. However 90% of the damage only occurs in the first 600 mm of the upright. In response to this The Rack Group has designed specialist tooling to enable repairs to be carried out in this area with minimal fuss and disruption to the warehouse.

Using Specialist Tooling unique to The Rack Group, racking can be supported whilst the damaged part of the upright is cut out. Once this is completed a sacrificial leg is bolted into the bottom 600 mm of the upright.

Benefits:

Specialist Tooling

1. No need to replace the whole upright.

2. No offloading of materials is required.

3. No need to wait for replacement uprights and materials.

4. A repair can be completed in less than 20 minutes.

5. Repairs can be made to all types of racking – welded or bolted systems.

6. No scissor lift or plant hire is needed.

7. Ease of repair encourages operators to deal with damage as and when it happens, creating a safe working environment.

The Rack Aid Management System- One solution to all your warehouse problems

The Rack Aid® Management System is the collective term used by The Rack Group to describe all the products and services The Rack Group offers . It is designed not only to save customers time, disruption and money, but also ensures compliance with all current Health & Safety legislation relevant to industrial pallet storage equipment.

1. Safety Inspections:

Storage equipment safety inspections carried out by The Rack Group ensures you are conforming to The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended), The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) and the European Standard EN15635.

2. Maintenance and Repairs:

The maintenance and repairs of pallet racks are conducted in accordance with The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (as amended) and industry guidelines.

3. Protection:

Rack Armour pallet racking protection ensures compliance with European Standard EN15635 and SEMA guidelines.

4. Training:

All our pallet racking training courses conform to the codes of practice outlined in the European Standard EN15635.

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

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 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.