Logical storage solutions blog

Duty of care and the importance of racking inspections

Racking systems are a staple part of many businesses day-to-day activities throughout a variety of different industries. Racking systems allow businesses to make the most of the available space in their warehouses and to store large quantities of items in a highly efficient manner.

Employers have a duty of care over their employees and because of this it is their responsibility to ensure that all racking is safe to use. If an employer fails to uphold their duty of care then they may be liable to fines, prosecution and large compensation pay-outs if a member of staff is injured due to their negligence.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) states that “it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure as far is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his/her employees”.  In practice, this means that employers must carry out risk assessments, regularly review them and take appropriate steps to improve safety and remove hazards.

These duties of care underline the importance of businesses employing regular inspections of their racking equipment.  In the event of an incident, it can help their case as they can prove that they made reasonable efforts to review the safety of their racking systems.

If racking is overloaded or damaged and in-turn collapses it could have damaging consequences, not only on staff that might be injured but also for the stock that is held on the racking which could be destroyed in a fall.

A racking inspection can help to spot small problems before they turn into something worse. If racking is damaged or has deformities it might reduce the load bearing capacity, in some cases by as much as 40%, which can expose your workers to unnecessary risk.

To get an instant quotation for racking inspections, please click here,  or alternatively you can call us on 0845 689 1300 to find out more.