66 | Sector Focus: Handling & Storage
SUMMARY
■The Health & Safety at Work Act and PUWER cover racking
■Racking follows a circular lifespan ■A rack safety awareness course is available through SEMA
■To join SEMA each member must undergo a tough audit process
NAVIGATING RACKING REGULATIONS
SEMA offers advice on meeting racking safety regulations
Every business owner and director knows they have a responsibility to provide good governance, manage employee rights and protect from health and safety risks in the workplace.
The latter can be difficult when working in environments such as timber yards and manufacturing units where there can continually be risks from trips and falls and constant movement of vehicles and employees. To provide guidance, there are numerous Health and Safety Executive (HSE) documents in place such as the Health and Safety at Work Act and Manual Handling Operations Regulations that provide guidance on the correct steps.
What those working in the industry might not realise is that there are similar regulations in place that apply to storage equipment such as racking and shelving. Storage equipment like racking and shelving plays a vital role within the timber industry, helping businesses to run efficiently and maximise opportunities. Once in place and doing its intended job, it is easy to put racking consideration to one side. In reality, there are multiple factors that determine whether it performs correctly and safely.
As a leading voice in the storage equipment industry, the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA), wants to advise the timber industry on the correct steps when meeting racking safety regulations.
Above: A racking inspection under way
WHAT REGULATIONS COVER RACKING? As a multi-faceted environment, there are several HSE documents that directors should be aware apply to racking. These include guidance such as the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and Provision and Use of
TTJ | November/December 2024 |
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Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) which cover taking the correct steps to ensure work equipment like racking is maintained appropriately, with information and instruction provided on safe use. While these guidelines offer general advice on looking after your equipment, they don’t go into detail on how to apply safety measures to racking equipment.
Anyone who has racking at their site should also reference, in conjunction with the above, HSG76 Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety. This HSE guidance document specifically relates to racking structures and covers the lifespan of the equipment, from the initial design, supply and installation right through to looking after the racking. The document also covers manual and mechanical handling, site transport, working at height and emphasises warehouse owners’ responsibilities to ensure best practice and general prevention to avoid risks and hazards.
The second important guidance documents are SEMA codes, which are critical to ensure products are designed, installed, maintained and repaired in line with quality standards and safety requirements. These codes are specialist, but the purpose is simple, to make sure racking users can have a reasonable level of confidence the equipment will meet its intended purpose.
HEALTH AND SAFETY STEPS TO CONSIDER
It is not a legal requirement for owners of storage equipment to follow HSG76 guidance and SEMA Design Codes. However, if the HSE were to take enforcement action they would in all likelihood reference these documents,
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