Essential inspection
December 1st 2004

Regular inspection of storage equipment is essential to ensure employee safety. Malcolm Jeary, managing director of Spaceway South looks at the tell-tale signs of damage, potential causes and possible solutions

British Safety Council figures show that more industrial accidents occur to employees in the transport and storage industry than in any other singular industrial classification. In one year alone a total of 17,807 employees were injured in this sector alone with 1284 resulting in major injury and 21 in fatality.

It is a requirement of the Health & Safety Executive as detailed in ‘Health & Safety in Wholesale and Retail Warehouses’, that racking and shelving storage systems must be installed, used and maintained correctly to protect against injuries. Similarly it is essential that warehouse staff work in a safe environment where equipment is regularly checked for damage and defects.

In general terms, storage equipment comes in two categories, shelving and racking. Shelving is for pedestrian picking, hand-loaded applications and as such, under normal use, sustains little damage.

Racking, on the other hand, being loaded and unloaded with mechanical handling equipment is much more susceptible to damage.

Racking is manufactured from relatively light components and consequently is susceptible to damage. Any damage to racking will reduce its loading capacity, the greater the damage the lower the safe working load becomes. Eventually the racking will collapse even when it is within specified safe load limits.

What to look for The Health and Safety Executive and The Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) give the following areas to look at for potential problems. These are divided into two distinct areas, beams and uprights: Beams: a) Missing beam locks/pins b) Bent/deformed beams when unloaded c) Dislodged beam connectors d) Damaged beam profiles.

Uprights: a) Front impact damage (limit 5mm) b) Side impact damage (limit 3mm) c) Damaged/missing braces.

d) Damaged/missing floor fixings The limits quoted are measured by using a simple 1m long straight edge held against the racking upright. The damage/deflection is then measured in the centre of the straight edge.

Potential causes

Where racking is likely to be struck by vehicles it should be protected with column guards or rail systems. It is essential that companies use qualified forklift truck drivers who should only be expected to work within their capabilities. Not only is it necessary to use the right type of truck intended for a particular installation, it is also important to ensure that the layout of the racking system provides good access for that vehicle with adequate aisle widths free from obstruction.

Pallets and shelving can also be a potential cause of damage. Broken or sagging pallets can cause premature beam failure by putting outward pressure on the inside faces of the beams. Dropping heavy goods on to shelving, overloading, or forcing items into place can cause them to weaken and become unstable. The shelving being struck by access equipment, fork trucks and other heavy lifting equipment can cause other possible hazards.

The solution

Spaceway South is helping companies ensure that they meet the requirements of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to protect employees from damaged and poorly maintained equipment by implementing a new storage inspection service.

Carried out bi-annually, or more frequently if the operation demands, to ensure that companies are adhering to safety guidelines, Spaceway’s new storage inspection service will not only provide employers with peace of mind but also a written history for Health & Safety Inspectors and Insurance Companies. Using procedures set down by the HSE and The Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association, Spaceway’s trained technicians will inspect all storage equipment for any signs of damage caused by pallet racking and shelving being struck by vehicles and access equipment. The company will also inspect racking for missing parts, such as fixings, locking pins.

‘The best way to avoid storage-related accidents is combine regular inspections from a reputable company with common sense,’ says Jeary. ‘Purchase all equipment from trusted suppliers and ensure all relevant information is considered at the planning stage. Always consult the manufacturer or supplier before making any changes to the structure even if they appear relatively minor. It is also important to ensure forklift truck drivers are well trained and that they report any damage to storage equipment, even if it appears very minor.’

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