In this post we are continuing our look at the various pieces of legislation and regulations that affect health and safety in the workplace. Today, we are looking at the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations are often abbreviated to PUWER.
PUWER 1998 assesses and aims to prevent risk of injury to workers from any equipment they use. It places responsibilities on employers and businesses which own or use equipment for work, or whose employees use equipment, even if it is not owned by them. The regulations therefore cover any equipment which is used by an employee at work, but not equipment which is used by the public.
The regulations demand that all employers must ensure that their equipment is suitable for its purpose, in good working order, safe to use, maintained correctly, inspected regularly, accompanied by appropriate health and safety measures to ensure that it is not a risk to health and safety, and that it is only used by people who have received the necessary training and information. Machinery must have a maintenance log which is kept up to date.
Equipment includes machinery and tools, and covers just about anything used by an employee for working, including equipment that the employees provide themselves. Employers have a responsibility to make sure that employees’ equipment complies with PUWER. PUWER applies to any workplace where the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – this includes shops, offices, factories, warehouses, hospitals, construction sites etc.
Warehouse racking, along with all other forms of storage equipment, is considered as work equipment, and therefore must comply with PUWER. If your equipment does not meet the standards set out in PUWER then you are potentially risking the lives of your employees, and exposing yourself and your company to prosecution.
The easiest way to ensure that you comply with PUWER is to get a Logical Rack Inspection. We give impartial advice as we do not work directly with original equipment manufacturers, we provide a comprehensive report, and we are highly experienced in the industry. Please give us a call on 0845 689 1300 to discuss one off, annual, bi-annual or quarterly rack inspections for your facilities.
Our previous post looked indepth at the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act of 1974. This post is going to continue our series looking at key pieces of legislation regarding health and safety of employees in the workplace and why it is essential to have regular racking inspections by considering the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations were first introduced in 1992 by the Major government, and became law in 1993. The regulations built on what was already laid out in the Health and Safety at Work Act.
They were amended in 1994, twice in 1997 and in 1999 by the Blair government. The 1994 amendments related to new and expectant mothers, and the two 1997 amendments related to young persons and fire precautions.
The most notable feature of the regulations is the requirement to carry out a risk assessment, and if the employer has five or more employees, they need to record the significant findings of the risk assessment.
Following the carrying out of the risk assessment, employers must arrange to implement the measures identified as necessary in the risk assessment, regularly monitor and review these arrangements, appoint appropriate people to help implement them, create procedures in case of an emergency and inform employees of these, provide training, information and supervision to employees, insure that employees are aware of their duties regarding training and informing managers of any hazards they are aware of, share information with any other employers in the same workplace, and consider risks in particular to new mothers and mothers to be.
In order to ensure the health and safety of your employees and to prevent against risk, it is incredibly important that you have a regular rack inspection in your warehouse. To discuss how Logical Storage can help you with this, please call us on 0845 689 1300.
In our previous blog post, we gave an overview of some of the most crucial pieces of legislation when it comes to health and safety of employees in the workplace, and why it is essential to have regular racking inspections. We are now going to look at some of the pieces of legislation in a bit more depth, starting with the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974.
The Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 is often abbreviated to HSW Act, HSWA 1974, HASAWA or HSWA. It is an Act of the UK Parliament, first introduced by Harold Wilson’s government in 1974 after four years of political wrangling as the UK went from a Labour government to a Conservative one and back to Labour. It is the primary piece of government legislation concerning health, safety and welfare regulation, encouragement and enforcement in the workplace in Great Britain. The Act sets out key principles for occupational health and safety, and brought existing legislation regarding health and safety, which was complicated and confusing, into one easier to understand act. The Act also allows the UK to comply with EU laws regarding health and safety.
The Act has 10 different sections. Section 1 sets out the aims of the act. This includes securing the health, safety and welfare of people at work as well as protecting other people from the risks to health and safety caused by the activities of the people at work.
Section 2, which is our main focus, sets out the duties of employers towards their employees, stating that” It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his/her employees”. It also states that the employer must have a safety policy and must make employees aware of it.
Section 3 lays out the duties of employers towards people other than employees, such as clients, visitors, contractors and the general public. Employers must be able to ensure their safety as far as reasonably practicable.
Section 10 created two bodies, the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. They were merged in 2008 to create the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who have responsibility for enforcing the act along with local authorities. Breaches of the act can ultimately lead to unlimited fines and imprisonment for up to two years. To read more about the act, click here.
If you have pallet racking in your warehouse, it is therefore essential to have a regular racking inspection carried out to ensure that you as employer fulfil your legal obligations under this act. To learn more about a Logical Storage rack inspection, click here, or contact us on 0845 689 1300 to discuss your needs.
Racking inspections are required to ensure that organisations meet their health and safety requirements and that they provide a safe environment for their employees. What is required of a UK organisation when it comes to health and safety is laid out in multiple pieces of legislation, with the key ones profiled below.
The basis of British health and safety law is the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974. Section 2 of this act states that “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his/her employees”. This includes maintaining the workplace and equipment so that it is practical, safe and without risks to health, and ensuring that articles and substances can be used, handled, stored and transported safely.
This was built upon by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, a key feature of which was to require employers to carry out risk assessments, regularly review them, take appropriate steps to improve safety if it can be improved, and familiarise themselves with potential hazards.
The Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 covers any piece of equipment which is used by an employee at work. This includes racking. It requires that equipment is suitable for use, maintained so that it is safe and that people’s health and safety is not put at risk, and inspected to ensure that it continues to be safe to use.
However, until 2008, a corporation could only be found guilty of manslaughter if every part of the offence had been carried out by one senior person within the corporation who was seen as embodying the mind of that organisation. This meant that corporations rarely were convicted or punished for manslaughter. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill, introduced in the House of Commons by the then Home Secretary Dr. John Reid in July 2006, changed that. It received royal assent a year later in July 2007 and came into force in April 2008. It created a new offence which is called corporate manslaughter in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and corporate homicide in Scotland.
Under the act, if the way an organisation’s activities are managed or organised leads to a person’s death and was a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed by the organisation to the deceased, then an indictable offence has been committed. A gross breach is a breach of a duty of care by an organisation that falls far below what should reasonably be expected of an organisation. If a company fails to meet what is required of it in the above legislation and this leads to a death, then it can expect to be prosecuted under this act.
Logical Storage are an independent company that provide impartial advice. Our surveyors will provide a comprehensive report detailing any damaged or missing parts of racking or structural imperfections. Our team are highly experienced and will provide a summary of your operational facility and make recommendations regarding working practices, mechanical equipment, floor marking, signage, lighting and layout if required. Inspections can be annual, bi-annual, or quarterly. Please call us on 0845 689 1300 for a tailored proposal.
The key benefit of having a mezzanine floor installed in your workplace is that it allows you to greatly expand the amount of space available to you quickly and easily without having to move premises.
In the current economic climate, moving premises is a risky business. As the economy continues to flatline, with growth being minimal and a triple dip recession only narrowly avoided, many businesses are treading very cautiously and have been treading cautiously for the last five years. Moving to larger premises at a time of such uncertainty is a risk that few businesses can afford to take right now. Since property prices crashed over five years ago, they have been very slow to recover, whilst banks have been slow to lend to businesses whilst the future remains uncertain.
At the same time, it is vitally important to allow your business to grow if the opportunity is there. With very little growth around in the economy, if your business is growing well then you need to have the facilities to accommodate that growth and take full advantage of it. Essentially, you need more space without the risk of moving to larger premises. That is where using mezzanine floors come in.
Many businesses that have warehouses have a huge amount of space which they are not using and which they could utilise without the risk of moving premises or the upheaval of extending the existing building. Warehouses are tall, and most of the space above the warehouse floor is generally wasted space which could be put to use.
Installing a mezzanine floor can allow you to have more storage space above your existing warehouse, or can allow you to have offices upstairs and storage space downstairs, or even production space downstairs with storage space upstairs.
Without having to move or extend, installing a mezzanine floor could double your existing workspace, meaning you haven’t taken any gambles or risks, but have allowed your business to grow.
A mezzanine floor is also the most cost effective way to expand your business. Logical Storage can design, create and install a mezzanine floor to suit your needs – tailor made to help your business rather than following a “one size fits all” template. It is quick to install and is also flexible, so if you need to make further changes in the future then you can. Mezzanine floors don’t have to be permanent, so if you business or needs change again in the future, so can your mezzanine floor.
For more information on how we can help your business, and to contact us for a free, no obligation quote on how a mezzanine floor could help your business, please take a look at our website.
Pallet racking has been used in most warehouses since the Second World War. Before that, pallets of products were often stored on warehouse floors, but this was not a very effective use of space. Pallet racking allows businesses to use the maximum amount of space possible for storing products.
The basic principle of pallet racking is that it allows pallets to be stored in rows on multiple levels,
If you are considering installing a pallet racking system in your warehouse, then your first step is to get in touch with us for free and independent advice. We have experienced and helpful staff who can discuss your needs with you to make sure you get the right type of racking to suit your needs, and not just a one size fits all product. Here are just a few examples:
Wide Aisle Racking
Wide Aisle Racking is the most popular type of pallet racking. It is highly versatile and easy to modify and relocate, with beam levels fully adjustable in 50mm increments. It is cost effective, quick and easy to install, and allows for the storage of a wide range of different products at the same time. The wide aisles mean that all pallets are easily accessible using standard forklift trucks and without having to use special equipment. In fact, each and every pallet is 100% accessible if placed on Wide Aisle racking.
Very Narrow Aisle
Very Narrow Aisle pallet racking is ideal for warehouses with limited storage space. The narrower aisles between the racking means that floor space is better utilised, giving you a much more efficient storage solution. To access the pallets, narrow aisle forklift trucks must be used, but like the wide aisle racking above, pallets are still 100% accessible and allow for very fast throughput speeds.
Drive In / Drive Through
This type of pallet racking system is designed for storing large amounts of the same products. Pallets are stored behind or on top of each other, maximising storage space. Forklift trucks drive directly into a bay to collect pallets rather than through traditional forklift truck aisles. Drive in has entry and exit all at one end, so pallets are stored on a Last In First Out (LIFO) system, whereas drive through has an entry at one end and an exit at the other, with pallets stored in a First In First Out (FIFO) system. This is not the best solution if you need to access individual pallets, but is perfect for high density, bulk storage.
Dynamic Push Back
This is a Last In First Out (LIFO) system and is also designed for large amounts of identical products. Pallets are loaded from the front and “pushed back” as they are loaded, and when the front pallet is unloaded, the next pallet takes its place. It allows for an excellent use of floor space due to the depth of storage.
Logical Storage Solutions was formed in 2011 by an industry professional with many years of experience in the storage industry, and provides a number of services to businesses, with a particular focus on warehouses. We aim to be a “one stop shop” providing all the solutions to your storage, workspace and maintenance needs. We can offer a full warehouse fit out and refurbishment, or just specific services depending on the needs of your business.
A key part of Logical Storage’s business is providing a fit out service for warehouses. This includes installing the most appropriate type of racking systems or shelving systems for a warehouse to suit a business’s needs. Logical Storage uses a wide range of different pallet racking systems in warehouses, which includes wide aisle, narrow aisle, double deep, drive through, dynamic push back, dynamic pallet flow, mobile and shuttle. We also offer different types of shelving, including carbon flow, office, industrial, longspan and mobile. We will be profiling some of these in future blogposts, but the key point is that every business is different and has different storage needs, and these different types of racking and shelving systems provide solutions for a wide range of different needs.
Once you have the most appropriate racking solution for your business installed, it is vital that it receives regular annual inspections and maintenance. If not, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 because of a gross breach of a duty of care. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) demands that work equipment such as warehouse racking must meet relevant standards. What may appear as minor damage could reduce the load bearing capacity of your racking by up to 40%, exposing your workers to great risk. This is why Logical Storage offers rack inspections and a full racking repair service, to ensure that companies meet their Health & Safety obligations, protecting themselves from the law and their employees from danger. With our online shop offering everything from stepladders to storage bins, you’ll find everything you need on our site for your warehouse storage needs.
Logical Storage also designs and installs mezzanine floors, creating a huge amount of extra space for businesses, whether that is for offices, retail, production space or storage space. Often in a warehouse there is a huge amount of wasted space above the warehouse floor. Installing a mezzanine floor allows a business to double its floor space without having to extend the building or move premises.
Finally, your warehouse probably doesn’t just consist of storage space, but is also likely to contain offices. We offer a full office partition service, including space planning, to allow you to get the very best out of your office space.
If you think we can help you, please get in touch today!
In the business world, it is all about the bottom line. Business owners and operators are ultimately concerned with making money at the end of the business day. In the pursuit of this, it is important that the actual building that houses the company or business is fully functional, meeting all of the various needs of the business at hand. Without proper function, efficiency and productivity is low and therefore the bottom line is negatively affected.
One of the many things that can help a business maximize efficiency is fully utilizing the building space already available. Mezzanine flooring is a definite plus in this area. Mezzanine floors, sometimes referred to as lofts, are those floors that are suspended between the roof and the ground floor of buildings. These floors provide additional space for numerous things and are accessible via staircases or lifts. The building can gain double the space if mezzanine floors are in use.
Some specific benefits of mezzanine flooring are:
- Low cost- this flooring option is affordable and much cheaper than remodeling or purchasing a larger building space for the business at hand.
- Avoids relocation- most people are aware of what a huge hassle and challenge moving can be. Moving a business with the myriad numbers of employees and equipment is a virtual nightmare in many ways. Adding functional, low cost mezzanine flooring can add whole levels to the space, providing additional office space or storage space.
- Flexibility- mezzanine flooring is versatile in that it can be rearranged in both small and big ways without incurring a lot of extra costs.
- Fast- the set up for mezzanine flooring typically takes much less time for companies or businesses to accomplish. A matter of days or weeks in comparison to weeks or months if remodeling or completely relocating takes place.
- Space- all in all, mezzanine flooring can double the space a business has. As a business grows, often more employees are hired and the need for more office space grows. Mezzanine floors can easily provide multiple offices. In the growth process, a business often needs more space to bring in additional equipment or perhaps needs more storage space for products at hand. This flooring option can take care of those needs without remodeling or relocation hassles and expense.
Mezzanine flooring makes good business sense, giving businesses room to grow and saving money in the long run by avoiding costly upgrades or relocations. Not just for warehouses, this flooring is being found more and more often in offices and stores everywhere. By using this previously empty space, businesses are adding space while cutting costs at the same time–heating and cooling the same amount of space yet producing and holding more employees, equipment and product.
As with anything in life, things can get old, not operate properly and have just generally seen better days. People get old and can’t do the things they used to, technology gets old and needs replacing and general items might not operate exactly as they should due to the passage of time. With all of these though there are some preventative measures that can be taken to improve and delay the effects of time.
Your racking is no different and general use can lead to it slipping in terms of racking safety. You need to ensure that your warehousing and storage facility is operating efficiently. This involves ensuring all the correct working practices are being enforced and that mechanical equipment, floor marking, signage, lighting and layout are all appropriate to maintain the safety of all your racking.
If something does go wrong with anything in your warehouse then it can have a detrimental effect on your business. An example is if you have one poor component on your racking, it could have a big impact on your operations if left untreated and you don’t ensure its safety it could lead to bigger problems. Preventative Maintenance is the best course of action with regards to making sure your warehouse continues to operate.
Logical Storage offer many services to help you with your storage needs. Here’s a look at some of the main solutions we offer.
Mezzanine Flooring
The mezzanine floor is a flooring level that is installed within an area to make use of the wasted space above you within a warehouse or retail store. Sometimes extending a building outwards is not an option due to land or budget restrictions. Mezzanine flooring is a cheaper alternative that will create a new floor level within your existing premises. There are many instances where this could be useful such as storage in a warehouse or offices within retail buildings. Since adding in a mezzanine level is also very flexible, you can have complete control on its size, design and location.
An Office Partition
If your company is based within an open plan office but you require some quieter areas such as for a meeting room or managers office, an office partition is an ideal solution. Either glass or normal walls can be used depending on your privacy requirements. Partitions can be created that are permanent as well as temporary structures where the partition may need to be moved.
Warehouse Refurbishment
Running a large warehouse or industrial property can be hard work so a complete warehouse refurbishment could help you in organising and maintaining your premises. A refurbishment could involve dismantling current structures, moving them or adding to them with new racking systems.
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