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.

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