Racking Systems Safety Information

1. Racking design and Materials Handling Equipment

Storage racking for products on pallets should be designed specifically for the size, shape and weight of the products being stored. The racking design should be compatible with the pallets and the materials handling equipment in use within the workplace. Aisle width should be matched to the turning circle of the forklift or other materials handling equipment used to put-away, replenish or pick.

2. Safe Working Loads

Regular inspection of racking should be conducted both in-house and independent to check its integrity, identify maintenance requirements and to ensure racking is not overloaded. Do not exceed the Safe Working Limit (SWL) for the unit load or the safe working total load per bay for the racking. There should be some means of ensuring that workers using the racking are aware of its SWL; e.g. having one or more signs in conspicuous locations, such as at the end of all aisles, which contain the following information:

a. racking manufacturer's name and trademark

b. safe working unit load

c. safe working unit load for each shelf beam level

d. safe working total unit load for each bay

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

These regulations are based upon EC Directive 92/58/EEC, a directive for the minimum requirements for the provision of safety signs and/or health signs at work.

It is a legal requirement that if a risk or hazard exists, the employer, after appropriate measures have been taken to reduce or eliminate that risk or hazard, shall use appropriate safety signage to advise, warn and instruct personnel of the nature of the risks - and take the necessary measures to avoid or protect against them.

It is also a requirement that each employer provides (and ensures that each of their employees receives) accurate, comprehensible and relevant information regarding safety signage.

Also they must ensure that suitable and sufficient training is given in relation to the meaning of safety signs and the measures needed to be taken in relation to them.

Altering the racking design or components

Any alterations to the racking should be scrutinised by a competent person and should take into account the effects on the SWL.

Operating procedures, signs and drawings should be amended accordingly. In a broad sense, a competent person is an individual who, by way of training and/or experience, is knowledgeable of applicable standards, is capable of identifying storage equipment hazards relating to the specific operation, is designated by the employer, and has authority to advise on appropriate actions

Physical alterations to uprights, bracing's, beams or components, such as welding on additional cleats or bearers, should not be made.

Replacement of uprights, bracing's, beams, clips or other components should be with compatible parts.

If not practicable, an engineering report should be obtained confirming the integrity and SWL of the racking with these alternative replacement parts.