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A guide to pallet racking inspections Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:08 AM PST When you have a warehouse, you need to ensure everything in it complies with the relevant health and safety legislation. This doesn’t just apply to vehicles like forklifts or other equipment used by employees such as ladders and trolleys, but also to the pallet racking itself. Pallet Racking As this kind of storage solution is designed to hold large, heavy items, it’s important to ensure it is always in top condition. Should this type of shelving collapse when it is fully laden, it will cause serious damage and could even injure or kill someone. Aside from making sure you install it properly initially – such as by getting a pallet racking retailer like BiGDUG to send specialists to do this for you – you need to carry out regular inspections to check that the structure is still in good working order. Here’s a bit more information about what a pallet racking inspection involves. The basics of pallet racking inspections Under UK health and safety legislation, it is mandatory to have a full inspection of your warehouse storage at least once a year. The Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (SEMA) also recommends that pallet racking is inspected on a regular basis. There is more than one kind of pallet racking inspection you should be doing, though. While a full assessment by someone deemed a competent person ought to be conducted annually, your staff should also be carrying out regular visual inspections of the storage system. Who can inspect pallet racking systems? As mentioned above, you need to engage a competent person to conduct a full inspection of your system once a year. This should be someone who is well-versed in warehouse storage and all the relevant health and safety legislation. For peace of mind that your facility is being checked properly, you should engage a SEMA-approved inspector. These professionals have received special training to ensure they do not miss any potential defects in a pallet racking or other warehouse storage system. The more frequent visual inspections can be conducted by a suitably-qualified member of your own staff. Visual inspections: what should you look for? When carrying out a visual check of the racking system, you should be looking for any signs of damage. This could be everything from a small dent to significant bends in the shelves or uprights. Obviously, any indication that the structure of the racking has been compromised should be dealt with immediately. Take steps such as removing any goods stored on the racks and make sure the surrounding area is cleared. If it is just a minor issue, be certain that it is logged and checked regularly to ensure the integrity of the structure. You should also encourage staff to report any incidents on the warehouse floor – such as a forklift knocking into the racking – because this will mean any potential problems can be identified and dealt with. What does an annual inspection entail? The annual inspection carried out by a third party is much more thorough than the regular visual assessments your staff will do. As well as looking at the racking system in detail, they will often use specialised equipment – such as infra red technology – to fully examine the structure and ensure there are no faults that can’t be seen by the naked eye. You’ll always receive a written copy of the findings, including a list of recommended actions should there be any sections of your pallet racking that require attention.

A guide to scaffolding legislation in the UK Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:59 AM PST Most people probably don’t give a second thought to the many scaffolding rigs that are erected around the UK every week. Accidents with these structures happen much less frequently than they used to, which can make you forget about the inherent dangers not only of putting up and taking down scaffolding, but also of working at height. According to figures from the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), the number of scaffolders registered with the organisation in the UK has increased from approximately 8,000 in 1980 to 13,716 in 2011. During the same timeframe, the number of reported accidents has declined from 532 to 145. These figures really are testament to the strict legislation that has been introduced in the UK to minimise the risks to both workers and pedestrians alike, as well as to the work carried out by the NASC. For those not in the know, here’s a brief overview of the main legislation governing scaffolding workers in the UK. Work at Height Regulations 2005 One of the major pieces of legislation that affects scaffolding is the Work at Height Regulations 2005. This is a pretty lengthy set of rules, so I won’t go into too many of the finer details. What they cover is provisions for any work at height to be properly planned and organised, safety measures (such as guard rails) to be used whenever appropriate, regular inspections of any equipment used to work at height and measures to prevent tools or other items falling from a high platform. Erecting and dismantling scaffolding Whether you are a builder who uses scaffold hire firms for projects, or are a registered scaffolder, the same rules apply when you’re putting up or taking down these temporary structures. In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) specifies that one of two methods should be used to erect or dismantle scaffolding. The first is the advanced guard rail system, where temporary guard rails are installed from the level below to make it safer for scaffolders as they fit the permanent guard rails. The second is through-the-trap, which is where a scaffolder works from a trap door in the platform to install components that can act as a guard rail when they climb up to finish the installation. Inspecting scaffolding It’s not enough to just put up and take down scaffolding safely, though, especially if it will be in-situ for a prolonged period of time. HSE regulations stipulate that any tower scaffold must be inspected by a competent person after it has been erected and, if someone could fall 2 m or further from a platform, it must be checked every seven days thereafter. All of these inspections need to be recorded and logged at the construction site. The HSE also specifies that additional checks must be conducted if adverse weather – particularly strong winds – is experienced and it must be deemed safe before workers are allowed to use the scaffolding tower again. Regulating the scaffolding industry The NASC is among the organisations in the UK that is calling for official regulation of the scaffolding sector and it reports that many contractors will only hire firms that are members of the confederation. Any NASC member is vetted by the body before it is allowed to join, with the organisation looking at everything from the training its personnel have received to its financial standing. For example, at least 50 per cent of the workforce in an NASC-registered company will have a scaffolder or advanced scaffolder card and 90 per cent of operatives must have appropriate training under the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme.

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