Work-related accidents within the storage and warehousing industry remain a major issue and every year there are still far too many injuries in the workplace. For managers and owners, the consequences of failing to correctly manage health and safety can be hefty. Last year alone the HSE issued 2,929 enforcement notices, there were five prosecutions resulting in fines of over £1 million and 52 resulting in custodial or community service.
It’s not a problem that any warehouse manager wants to face which is why, when it comes to safety, one area you should never overlook is your racking. On the surface, the equipment seems simple, but it can hide dangers that are present throughout every stage in its lifespan.
Implementing safety controls starts with the manufacture and supply of your racking. Your storage equipment must be designed specifically for its chosen application. It should address safety critical areas such as accessing stock, improving efficiencies and protecting employees around the warehouse. Your racking must also adhere to either SEMA Design Codes or the European Code EN 15512 which ensures the rigidity of the structure is up to its intended job.
The next step is the installation of your equipment. Experience doesn’t guarantee safety and you need to check your installer has had the necessary training, such as our SEIRS (Storage Equipment Installers Registration Scheme) qualification. If you don’t install your structure to the exact technical specifications of the manufacturer, it can very quickly develop a problem.
Finally, look after your racking! There is a limit to how much abuse your racking can take and it’s a fine line between working correctly and a major incident. Racking is classed as work equipment and under PUWER regulations you must make sure employees are trained on how to correctly use the equipment and identify any issues. This has to be followed up by ‘expert’ inspectors by a SARI (SEMA Approved Rack Inspectors) at least once a year.
Each of these steps intrinsically links and, like a house of cards, if you don’t deliver each one to the highest level your storage equipment can quite literally collapse. This is the reason why our membership groups and technical guidance closely follow each lifecycle stage, from our full manufacturing members to distributors and installation companies. They are also routinely audited to ensure they meet the latest industry standards and Health and Safety requirements.
If you’d like to know how our members can do the leg work for you, contact SEMA by emailing enquiry@sema.org.uk or visit www.sema.org.uk
Matt Grierson
President
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