Maintaining the safety of racking within warehouses is an imperative aspect towards the upkeep of general health and safety standards. Checking the security of the racking, as well as spotting issues and possible faults allows warehouses to keep within HSE guidelines.
Annual checks should be conducted to ensure the racking remains within the guidelines set out by SEMA. SEMA uses a traffic light coding system to indicate the level of risk.
SEMA’s Colour Coding System
It is vital for racking to be correctly designed and installed; both factors contribute towards their longevity and security. SEMA’s requirements for racking to fall within the Green category include the racking having no more than:
- A 3mm upright bend into the rack.
- A 5mm bend parallel to the beam.
- A 10mm bend on the frame bracing.
Anything outside these requirements is considered either an Amber or Red risk, with the racking requiring repair or immediate offloading.
Safety Standards for Racking in Warehouses
SEMA suggests that racking safety checks are carried out on all types of racking annually. This ensures that the safety of the racking is maintained at all times. There are three different types of safety checks which can be carried out, including:
- All damage and defects to be reported immediately: this is conducted using logbooks to keep records of inspections, damages and repairs.
- Visual inspections: these are carried out at regular intervals: this kind of inspection consists of continuous assessment of the racking’s condition. The racking is visually assessed for the required repairs and amendments.
- Expert inspections: these can be carried out by a professional, external bodies carrying out official inspections of the racking and providing system reports and checks.
Additional safety precautions as outlined by HSE should also be taken, including guidelines for installing the racking and the ability to take goods on and off the shelf safely. They also indicate towards the requirement for the protection of the racking, defending it from supplementary damage. By guarding the racking, particularly on the corners, individuals who are conducting moving vehicles are also protected. This allows the safety of the racking and the individuals around it to be maintained.
Racking Inspections
Pallet racking is one of the most popular forms of warehouse storage. The importance of racking inspections and observing the pallets before use enables the safety of those around them to be maintained. It is important to handle the empty pallets with care; dragging or throwing the pallets causing them to become damaged and risks the safety of workers. It is also important to keep records of the racking and offload goods when faults are found which fall into the Red or Amber Risk categories. This decreases the chances of harm being caused to individuals within the warehouse and the damage which can be caused to the racking minimised.