Archive for the ‘Logical Storage’ Category

Which businesses can benefit from mezzanine flooring and why?

Mezzanine flooring can offer many benefits to businesses in most industries. They offer versatile additional space which can be used for storage, office, or workspace.

Read on to discover some of the key businesses which can benefit from a mezzanine floor and why. First, here is an overview of what a mezzanine floor is.

What is a mezzanine floor?

A mezzanine is a smaller intermediate floor between the main floor and the floor or ceiling above. It can be freestanding or attached to an existing wall.

It does not cover the whole floor space so you can see the floor below from it and it does not typically qualify as a floor within a building.

Mezzanine floors are a cost-effective solution to expanding a space without having to relocate or undertake major construction work.

Now here are some of the business types or sectors that are most likely to reap the rewards from mezzanine flooring and why.

Self-storage

If you have a company that provides self-storage facilities for your customers, space equals money and, if you experience increased demand, you may find yourself needing more space so that you can take on more customers.

Rather than hiking up rental costs or construction fees, or purchasing more property, consider a mezzanine floor which will be a quicker and more cost-effective solution instead.

Industrial and manufacturing

Ample storage and working space are essential to businesses in the industrial sector. A cramped work area can have a negative impact on productivity and efficiency, as well as being potentially dangerous.

A mezzanine will provide you with an additional work area or storage space so that you can free up more space and reduce clutter elsewhere to avoid errors and accidents.

Another potential benefit of mezzanine floors in manufacturing businesses is that they can also serve as a sort of bridge, allowing you to get from one area to another, or as a viewing platform for visitors and tours of the premises, without having to go through the factory.

Restaurants and eateries

If you operate a restaurant business that is regularly full and you are having to turn customers away, mezzanine flooring may be the solution you need.

Location is often key for eateries so if you move to larger premises you may lose loyal customers and not get the same footfall. Rather than cramming more tables and chairs into the existing space, add a mezzanine on which you can accommodate more guests.

Retail

Much like with restaurants, location is key when it comes to retail space, and the cost of commercial space is increasing, especially in sought-after areas.

When it comes to needing more space, relocation is not always feasible, and expanding outwards or upwards may not be possible if you have shops or other commercial space above or beside you.

If you want to expand your stock, or simply spread out your existing stock, increase your offering to include workshops or a cafe, then consider a mezzanine floor.

Offices

An organised and tidy workspace makes for a productive and efficient workforce. If your offices are starting to look cluttered or you are expanding, or there is little recreational space, consider adding a mezzanine floor.

This will allow you to declutter your offices, add more office or meeting space, or even add a seating area where staff can relax during their breaks.

Gyms and leisure centres

Leisure facilities should be spacious and airy, not cramped and cluttered, both for safety and wellness.

You need to have a safe distance between gym equipment and machinery, and areas for people to warm up and do stretches.

Having a mezzanine floor will allow you to further spread out your existing equipment or bring in additional equipment, or to provide a space in which to run classes. This will attract and allow for more users.

If you think your business will benefit from mezzanine flooring, or for more information, call our expert team at Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

Offering a consultative approach and nationwide service for all single and multi-site operations, we are your one-stop provider of all storage, workspace, and maintenance solutions.

Common warehouse storage management mistakes

Anyone running a warehouse will know that the better organised it is, the more efficient it will be. Higher efficiency means less unnecessary expense and more productivity.

Mistakes lead to inefficiencies, so it is important that any mistakes are identified and rectified as quickly as possible.

Here are some of the most common warehouse storage management mistakes and how to combat them to ensure your warehouse maximises its potential.

Overlapping goods in and out

Having separate goods in and goods out areas will help to make sure that neither becomes too congested and the stock does not get mixed up.

If it is not possible to have two separate areas apart from one another, at least ensure that they are clearly defined and signposted to avoid confusion.

Small goods in or out area

Sufficiently sized goods in and goods out areas are critical to a well-functioning warehouse.

If either area is too small, it will make it difficult to efficiently receive or dispatch, and inspect, label and sort incoming and outcoming goods.

Inefficient picking aisles

If the aisles in the warehouse are not organised well, clear of obstructions, or marked then it can be difficult for pickers to locate stock.

Items that are needed more frequently should be easy to get to, and located closer to the packing station to reduce time searching for and picking the items.

Lack of a deadstock plan

Most warehouses will contain deadstock; items that are not up to quality standards, have been damaged or returned, or simply do not get used or bought.

You need to have a plan for the storage and management of deadstock. Deadstock should be kept separately from regular stock and should be clearly labelled so that pickers do not accidentally use or send out these items.

You may want to try and sell these items at a reduced rate, and then dispose of them or donate them if they do not sell within a certain amount of time, so as to not accumulate too much deadstock that will take up valuable space.

Unclear signage and labelling

The warehouse and everything within it, including areas, aisles, stock, equipment and tools, should all be clearly signposted and labelled.

This will help to ensure the smooth running of your warehouse. You could implement a barcoding system, or colour coding to make things or areas easily and quickly recognisable for warehouse workers.

Poor equipment or storage system

One of the biggest and most common mistakes is the use of inadequate equipment, tools, or storage systems or solutions.

You must make sure that the equipment and systems used in your warehouse are of good quality, and are reliable and as effective as possible.

The storage systems should be tailored to the type of stock that you have in your warehouse and should be regularly checked and reviewed to ensure their suitability.

For professional advice on how you can optimise your warehouse, get in touch with our expert team at Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments including office partitions and mezzanine flooring.

Offering a consultative approach and nationwide service for all single and multi-site operations, we are your one-stop provider of all storage, workspace and maintenance solutions.

5 Common Warehouse Management Pitfalls

Although warehouses vary in many ways including size, shape, and stock, they all have one thing in common. Effective management is required for a warehouse to run efficiently.

Managing a warehouse effectively is not always easy. Meticulous planning, execution, and monitoring are required to achieve optimum efficiency.

Even with the best intentions, it can be easy for managers to become complacent, overlook issues, and make mistakes, oftentimes without even realising.

Read on to find out some of the most common warehouse management pitfalls and what you can do to avoid making mistakes.

Poor inventory management

Inefficient management of your warehouse inventory can lead to serious problems.

Having too much or too little stock, or incorrectly stored stock can result in inaccurate records, misplaced inventory, and wasted time.

Keeping unnecessary or expired stock is taking up valuable space which can be used to store inventory that is actually required.

To prevent this from becoming an issue, make sure that you monitor incoming and outgoing inventory and regularly review what is being stored in the warehouse.

Inefficient layout

Not utilising your space wisely is one of the most commonly made mistakes that can have a detrimental impact on the efficiency of your warehouse.

You should review your warehouse layout regularly, at least once per year, to ensure that it is still functioning to the best of its ability.

It is a good practice to also review the layout whenever there are any changes to inventory so that you can accommodate and adapt to these changes.

You do not need to start from scratch to improve the layout of your warehouse. Small changes such as moving certain stock to a different area or implementing new racks can have a big effect on productivity.

Outdated technology/systems

Having outdated or a lack of warehouse management systems or software in place is a mistake.

Even small to mid-sized warehouses will benefit from adopting technology. A warehouse management system can help you to track, manage and locate inventory, and analyse data, quickly and easily.

Although it will require time and money to be invested initially, a warehouse management system is sure to be cost-effective and reduce operating expenses in the long run.

Recurring safety issues

Warehouses can be busy environments with a variety of machinery and equipment operating within them on a daily basis.

It is therefore imperative that safety precautions are put in place and any issues are assessed and dealt with promptly.

Ensure that regular risk assessments are carried out in your warehouse to help you to identify any potential risks or hazards.

You then need to follow these assessments up with corrective measures so that potential accidents and injuries, as well as associated costs and litigation, can be avoided.

Insufficient training

Are employees properly trained in health and safety, and manual handling? Are forklift truck drivers, machine and equipment operators, and people working at heights, operating machines and equipment, and driving forklift trucks all qualified to do so?

If not, you need to ensure that any employees without sufficient training refrain from carrying out any of these activities until proper training is provided and completed.

Training and development of staff is critical in ensuring the smooth running of your warehouse and the safety of the warehouse staff, their colleagues, and any visitors, as well as in improving the productivity and effectiveness of your workforce and warehouse.

For professional advice on how you can optimise your warehouse, get in touch with our expert team at Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments including office partitions and mezzanine flooring.

Offering a consultative approach and nationwide service for all single and multi-site operations, we are your one-stop provider of all storage, workspace, and maintenance solutions.

Best Storage Options for Heavy Items and Equipment

With managing a warehouse comes a need to understand the requirements associated with storing products and to invest in equipment to meet those needs whilst maximising the capacity of the warehouse effectively. Here we discuss the best storage options for heavy items and equipment.

One of the biggest challenges you will be faced with is effectively storing heavy items and equipment. It is important to carefully consider how these items will be stored to optimise capacity and improve the efficiency of the warehouse management system.

There are several ways you can store heavy goods. When assessing the best method for your warehouse, take into consideration the effect that the storage solution or equipment will have on the warehouse’s capacity and productivity.

It is important that you select a solution that will not only store heavy products but will also maximise the available space and not restrict the movement of people or equipment in, out, and around the area.

Cantilever Racking & Storage

Cantilever racking is one solution to effectively storing heavy goods. This type of racking is supported at one end and extends horizontally. This means it can hold items of various lengths and weights, which makes it a popular choice for storing heavy, long, or bulky items.

Adjustable, versatile, and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, cantilever racking maximises the space available. As the front is completely open, it is easily accessible, which means forklifts can load and unload goods with ease.

It is also hardwearing, which makes it a long-lasting and cost-effective solution, and can be tailored to suit your storage requirements and warehouse environment.

Mobile Cantilever Racking

For warehouses that have minimal space available, mobile cantilever racks may be the ideal solution. They have the same benefits as standard cantilever racking, but with the added benefit of being moveable, allowing for increased density.

Telescopic Cantilever Racking

Although static to the floor, telescopic cantilever racking can crank stored goods in and out, helping to optimise capacity and allowing for a higher density of products to be stored.

The design of this type of racking is based on that of the classic cantilever rack, meaning it has all its advantages, but with the added benefit of additional storage options due to it having telescopic shelf brackets with extendable storage levels.

A-Racking

An alternative option to cantilever racking is A-racking. This solution Is ideal for more awkward to store items such as planks, slats, or strips. These items can be stored vertically within the A-racking system.

A-racking maximises space as both sides are open, so items can be stored on both sides.

The spacing can be adjusted horizontally and vertically to suit the thickness, height, and quantity of items being stored.

To find out more about solutions to storing heavy products and equipment, and to ensure you effectively optimise your warehouse capacity, get in touch with Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300 and talk to a member of our expert team today.

For tailored storage solutions that are fit for purpose, you can trust Logical Storage Solutions. With over 10 years of experience, we can engineer a bespoke racking solution that meets the requirements of your food storage warehouse.

How to Make the Most of Your Warehouse Space

Effectively utilising your business space can be highly beneficial. Not only because poor use of space can mean you are not getting good value for money out of your space, but also because this can help to improve efficiency and productivity. Follow the advice below to ensure that you make the most of your warehouse space.

If you are looking to store more, before expanding or investing in more space, you should first look at your existing warehouse space. You may be able to maximise and better utilise the space you already have.

The primary use of a warehouse is to store stock or components so you must maximise the space available to ensure you can store as much as possible.

Extend Your Racking Vertically

If you are looking to create more space or store more in your warehouse, you should first look at whether you can extend your racks up vertically. This can help to maximise your warehouse space without taking up any surface area.

Reconfigure Your Racking

You may be able to reconfigure your existing racking to enable you to store more. For example, if your largest pallet is 1 metre but your racking is set at 2 metre intervals, then you could bring your racking down and be able to fit more beam levels in, allowing you to store more pallets.

Before reconfiguring your racking, you should always check with the manufacturer or supplier of your racking that it is safe to do so.

Install a Mezzanine

Adding a mezzanine is a great way to increase space in your warehouse. Installing a mezzanine can provide you with almost double the floor space. It is also more cost-effective than expanding your warehouse or investing in a larger space.

You will need to check whether the floor loading can handle a mezzanine before having one installed. Also, you will need to ensure that the columns and base plates holding the mezzanine in place would not cause significant disruption on the floor below.

Change Your Storage Medium

Switching your storage medium to higher density equipment can increase your storage capacity. For example, double-deep racking, or push-back or drive-in racks. If you have single-deep racking, you may want to swap this out for double-deep racking.

Reduce Aisle Widths

Look at how wide your aisles are and consider whether they need to be as wide as they are. Try to get them to the minimum width required for product and machinery to pass through, without compromising operating efficiency.

Store Off-Site

If you require extra space temporarily or have excess inventory for certain items, consider using some type of off-site storage such as a trailer or crate.

Consolidate Your Stock

Do a thorough stock check and ensure stock is stored as efficiently as possible. If you have two half-full pallets of the same products, consolidate the stock onto one pallet to free up space.

You may also find that you have stock that you no longer use or need. Alternatively, depending on the type of product you stock, that may have expired. Removing this dead stock will provide you with more space.

Seek Professional Advice

To make sure you get the most out of your warehouse, bring in professionals to evaluate your set-up and to advise you on how best to maximise your existing space.

Here at Logical Storage Solutions, we have over 10 years of experience in engineering bespoke racking solutions for warehouses. For expert advice on how to best utilise your warehouse space, call us on 0845 689 1300 today.

Ways to keep your warehouse staff safe

Staff safety is always important no matter what the workplace, but when it comes to warehouse staff additional measures need to be made due to the increased risks that can be found here. Your staff are your most valuable asset, so you need to ensure they always feel safe whilst at work so that they can do the best job possible as well as make sure they understand the health and safety rules themselves to protect others. As well as health and safety being something required by law, if all measures are carried out correctly you will end up with a happier and more productive workforce. Here we discuss what some of the common risks are in warehouse situations and what measures you can put in place, if you haven’t already done so, to ensure staff remain safe at all times.

Thousands of incidents happen each year, with the severity of them varying dramatically. Some of the incidents include slips, trips, falls, being hit by moving vehicles or hurt by falling objects. All of these could potentially be avoided if all health and safety measures are strictly adhered to. Here are some of the ways you can prevent these from happening.

Provide regular breaks
Accidents are more likely to happen if your staff are feeling tired. Although this is not entirely under your control, by proving them with regular breaks it means that you are doing your part. Also, provide your workers with a dedicated staff room space for them to spend their breaks and lunchtimes. Having this specific area will allow them to wind down, relax and re-energise before they have to start work again. Having a separate space for staff to eat their lunch also ensures that no food or liquids enter the main part of the warehouse where it could cause spillages.

Never work alone
When planning the shifts and rotas, ensure that people in the warehouse always work in groups and never alone. If you only have one person in the warehouse and they slip or fall, they may not be found quickly enough for a serious injury to be avoided.

Be careful of moving vehicles
It is common to have slow moving vehicles throughout your warehouse, especially if you have pallet racking, however you need to be especially careful if you have moving vehicles, no matter how slow they are travelling. Always ensure they stick to the speed limit and that the speed limit is clear to everyone.

Ensure that all routes are clearly marked out on the floor so pedestrians know to avoid these areas, and make sure the routes are clear of any obstacles. Markings on the floor need to be maintained as they can fade over time, which can be dangerous. Use the markings to show a traffic flow system to avoid any collisions.

Regularly train your staff
It doesn’t matter if a member of staff has been there a week or 10 years, you need to provide regular training to refresh information. Although your staff may be experts who have done the job for years, there are still elements of the training that they may have forgotten, or they may have developed bad habits over time which you need to stop. You cannot rely on the more experienced members of staff to provide the only training new employees receive, as these bad habits may be unintentionally passed on.

Stay tidy
Always ensure the warehouse is tidy. Not only does this avoid people tripping over items that shouldn’t be there, but it also will make the warehouse run more efficiently. Make sure all members of staff are responsible for tidying up after themselves.

Use signage effectively
Always ensure there are signs located around the warehouse to show important information. As the warehouse evolves and grows, ensure the signs are always kept relevant. If some are now out of date, other more important signs could be ignored as staff are confused. Clear signs will also help visitors and people driving vehicles.

Provide proper working at height training
Sometimes its unavoidable and people will have to work from a height. Make sure staff are correctly trained for this and keep up to date with all the relevant regulations.

Always wear protective equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should always be provided and worn at all times. Hard hats help reduce damage if anything falls from a height, high vis jackets ensure members of staff are easily seen. Other forms of PPE include safety shoes, eye protection and hearing protection. Ensure each individual has the correct equipment assigned to them as it will vary depending on the role they are undertaking.

Be prepared for a fire
Fires in warehouses can cause significant damage and quickly, destroying both your stock and equipment, and potentially putting your employees’ lives in danger. Fires are sometimes unavoidable so you need to be prepared for the worse. Ensure you have a plan in place for such an event occurring. Have fire exits and extinguishers clearly accessible and visible. Make sure there are no obstacles placed between the employees and the fire exits. Ensure there are a sufficient amount of fire wardens and hold fire drills on a regular basis.

Do safety checks regularly
Ensure there are regular checks on all of the equipment but also on your shelving and racking. Check for damage and repair when necessary. If the shelving or racking is becoming old, it can have fatal consequences. Make sure your shelving and racking is always repaired when damaged and replaced completely when its old.

These are just some of the ways in which you can protect your warehouse staff and ensure a safe working environment. Here at Logical Storage we can offer high quality racking inspections for your business and discuss your racking requirements. Click here for more details http://www.logicalstorage.co.uk/services/rack-inspection/ or call us on 0845 689 1300.

Finding Extra Space in Small Warehouses

It is inevitable that as your business grows, you will find it a struggle to find sufficient space in a warehouse. Moving to larger premises with more space may seem like the next logical step, however this can be both an inconvenience and a huge expense. An alternative is to find extra space in your existing warehouse by considering innovative storage solutions which you may not have considered before. It can be surprising how a few small changes can make a large impact on the storage available, which will help your business continue to run smoothly and grow.

If you use your space efficiently and effectively, it can ensure your business can increase its productivity. Here are a few of our tips and solutions that you may want to try and consider.

Warehouse design
First of all, you should look at your existing warehouse plans. Looking at them closely, it may become obvious that you are not using all of your space effectively. Most warehouses evolve over time and can lead to adding bits here and there without looking at the entire design. Use a professional to help if you need it, as they can see potential space that you may be missing.

Increase floor space
You need to make sure you are getting the most out of your floor space, however existing floor space is not the only option. Consider the height of your warehouse and think about whether or not you are using all of this height to your advantage. If you are not, could you consider buying racking which can increase your storage significantly? If racking is not suitable but you desperately need floor space, could you look at having a mezzanine put in which will instantly provide you with valuable space.

Check where your inventory is placed
Always check to make sure the products in your warehouse are in the most logical place. Are the items which you need access to regularly easy to get to? Are any of your items seasonal? If so, do you ensure these non-seasonal items are out of the way and swapped over with the items you actually need? The main thing to remember is that a warehouse will usually change over time. What used to be a product you needed all the time may now not be. If this is the case, ensure you have changed the layouts around to reflect this. It will make the most of the space you have and also make your employees’ work easier, thus increasing productivity. Also, consider how much inventory you actually have to store in your warehouse. Are there any products you could buy in smaller batches?

Regularly tidy
This is an obvious one, but ensuring the warehouse is tidy will automatically make the most out of the space you have. Use signs and labels wherever possible to ensure all members of staff know exactly where everything is located.

Ask your staff
As good as it is to hire professionals when looking at a redesign, make sure you ask your staff as well. These are people who work there every day and know the warehouse the best. They will have valuable information about what they think works and doesn’t work which you will find helpful. They may also have some amazing ideas you hadn’t even considered before.

For more advice on storage solutions for your warehouse, we are here to help. At Logical Storage we have plenty of experience with helping businesses to move up rather than out. We offer a no obligation consultation where we can assess your individual needs and offer cost effective and practical solutions. Click here to find out more or alternatively call us on 0845 689 1300.

Shelving vs racking: what’s the difference?

Although some people may assume that shelving and racking are the same thing, for those in the warehouse industry it’s important to understand the difference and how they can both benefit your business. It is important for a business with warehouse facilities to understand these differences, so they know which option is best for them.

Shelving
Although shelving comes in many sizes, it is typically used for smaller goods which are easy to access by hand. If people are picking products individually by hand, shelves are often the best choice. Warehouse shelving is normally made from metal (or sometimes, but rarely wood). They can be a variety of heights and include any number of shelves on it that you require. Sometimes the shelves have a solid back, whilst others are an open design, depending on what the use of it is for.

Pallet racking
Pallet racks, on the other hand, tend to be designed for access by forklifts and other automated systems, rather than by hand. Racking solutions are generally a lot taller than shelves and therefore can be great for warehouses with enough height as it maximises the space available. Racking tends to be deeper than shelving as well. This makes it a great storing solution for pallets of smaller products or individual larger items.

They are produced from metal that is heavy duty due to the items they are storing, and are usually attached to the floor or walls for additional stability. Racking pallets tend to not have solid shelves (and sometimes no shelves at all) as it depends on what is being placed on them.

Racking is described as a structure of bars for holding a specific load. They are more open in design. Shelving however includes a solid slab which supports the products.

Which is right for you?
Does your business need shelves or racks? The answer 100% depends on what the product is that you’re storing and in what quantity. If you are storing smaller items that you need to be hand selected, shelving will probably be the best for you. If you are storing large quantities of products, racking will allow you to stack these products up on pallets.

You also have to remember that although some warehouses have either one storage solution or the other, you can have a combination of both pallet racking and shelving in different areas of your warehouse. This will allow you to optimise the space in your entire warehouse.

Here at Logical Storage, we can offer high quality racking inspections for your business and discuss your racking and shelving requirements. For more information visit our website or call us on 0845 689 1300.

What are the benefits of Mezzanine Flooring?

Deriving from the Italian word “Mezzano” meaning middle, mezzanine flooring provides an additional level between the main floors of a building. As long as you have sufficient vertical space available, a mezzanine floor could be a viable and beneficial option for your company. Here are just a few of the benefits you can gain by investing in it.

It is low cost
In comparison to having an extension built to your premises, a mezzanine floor is a convenient and low cost alternative

No need for relocation
If you have exceeded capacity at your current premises, a common option is to relocate. This, however, has many issues and will involve not only the costs of moving but also the cost of finding an alternative, larger space. Installing mezzanine flooring a way around this.

Maximises work space
A mezzanine floor can potentially double the work area you currently have.

Adds space and storage
A mezzanine floor could almost double the work area you currently have. They also provide that extra storage space many companies want.

It adds value
Adding mezzanine flooring can add value to your property in the long run as you have added valuable extra space. The value it can add will vary depending on the type and size of flooring you have installed.

It is bespoke
There are many options to choose from as the floor will be adapted and made especially for you to match your individual needs.

It is multi-functional
Whether you need it for additional storage or offices, mezzanine flooring can be adapted to meet those requirements.

Fast construction
Compared to building work if you were to have an extension, the instalment of a mezzanine floor is relatively simple and therefore can be done quickly, meaning you will have additional space quicker than if you had to extend or relocate.

Causes minimum disruption
Due to how quick the structure can be put up; this also means the amount of disruption caused in the work place will be kept to minimum. This is an amazing benefit for companies as it means the business can continue to function as usual and at normal capacity whilst the floor is being built.

No planning permission required
Although you will still need to ensure the addition of the mezzanine flooring meets both the building and health and safety regulations, you do not require planning permission for the project to be carried out.

Uses wasted vertical space
A lot of warehouses include vertical space which is never used. Mezzanine flooring allows you to create more floor space and optimise the space used.

It is adaptable
As the flooring is built from a light weight steel structure, it is very flexible and can be adapted to almost any warehouse. It can also be taken down if necessary, which is beneficial for premises that you rent.

Integrates easily with warehouse systems
Mezzanine flooring will fit seamlessly into your working environment and can be integrated with other warehouse systems such as pallet racking or conveyor systems, which can improve the efficiency of your warehouse operations.

Here at Logical Storage we have plenty of experience with helping businesses to move up rather than out. We offer a no obligation consultation where we can assess your individual needs and offer cost effective and practical solutions. Click here to find out more or alternatively call us on 0845 689 1300.

Why your business needs to know about the Corporate Manslaughter Act

What is it?
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. This legislation means that, for the first time, companies can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter if they have committed a duty of care breach.

The Act came into official force on 6th April 2008 and stated the liabilities of companies where serious health and safety failures have resulted in a fatality.

Before the Act came into action, it was necessary for a senior individual to embody the company and be found guilty of the offence. Now, a company or a group of management can be proven guilty instead of just one individual.

Proving an Offence
The following elements must be proven:
1.    The defendant must satisfy the classification for an organisation
2.    Proof that the organisation is responsible for the death of a person
3.    Proof that the organisation had a duty of care to the victim
4.    Proof that the organisation breached that duty of care

Why do you need to be aware of it?
The legislation does not apply to Armed Forces operations but means that all other organisations must be aware of this Act. Out of the remaining organisations, there will be some companies that are more at risk than others in terms of the probability of an accident occurring at work.

As an employer, it is essential to understand the laws surround this topic and how these changes may involve you making changes in the running of the company, in order to ensure the safety of your employees.

If your workplace has a warehouse which includes operating machinery, heavy equipment, high racking, etc then these places need to be checked securely and regularly as they will be deemed more high risk than other workplaces such as small offices.

Penalties can include fines and remedial orders. Large companies can expect to pay up to £10million, medium sized £4million and small businesses up to £1.6million. These all depend on the seriousness of the offence and the risk of harm the company created.

What can you do to help protect employees?
-    Evaluate all the health and safety risks
-    Always keep health and safety management systems under review
-    Ensure communication regarding health and safety is filtered down through the company
-    Know how to identify and manage health and safety risks
-    Provide high quality training
-    Need to make health and safety an integral part of the company’s culture
-    Carry our regular risk assessments. After identifying hazards, rectify them by:

• Ensuring any damage is repaired. For warehouses with significant storage ensure all racking is secure and undamaged.
• Ensuring any shelving does not exceed the recommend weight
• Ensuring your workplace has floor markings where necessary
• Ensuring your workplace has the correct signage
• Making sure your workplace has easy access and location of emergency exits
• Ensuring all equipment is stored away correctly and nothing left on the floor or in the wrong place which could cause harm.

Logical Storage is highly skilled in spotting the often hard-to-find signs of racking damage. We carry out regular reviews for a number of businesses helping them to keep their systems in good working order and to maintain their legal obligations under the Health & Safety Act. To find out more please call us on 0845 689 1300.