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.
A lack of understanding of Health & Safety laws coupled with practical dangers such as heavy loads and overloading can produce plenty of risks to your business. Often however, the key to staying safe is as simple as choosing the right form of racking system and taking due care when choosing a supplier.
The dangers to businesses in the workplace
There are many dangers within a workplace. These can vary in businesses depending on what the environment is like. During 2017/18 a total of 144 workers were killed in fatal accidents and more than 650,000 non-fatal injuries were reported. This poses a huge risk to businesses as it can have bad consequences such as workers taking time off to recover or even in the worst case a worker being killed resulting in fines and even legal action.
How can racking help?
Racking is a great way to stop and prevent these dangers from occurring. This is because it is a highly-effective storage solution which enables for easy organisation and allows for heavy objects to be stored away safely. Saying this, racking will only be an effective solution if it is maintained properly, hence why it is incredibly important to have annual inspections.
Initial installation
Before even thinking about Health & Safety or maintenance for your racking, you need to ensure that you are selecting the right supplier and installer to get the job done. If your racking is faulty then it could have a negative impact on not only your productivity, but it can have a large impact on your Health & Safety standards.
Requirements on the racking
All manufacturers of warehouse racking are obliged to provide the safe loading data on the racking system, stating its maximum load and the maximum number of items that can be loaded at once.
This is to ensure that the users of the racking systems know how to load it properly so that it coincides with health and safety regulations. Failure meet these standards can have detrimental effects as it could cause racking and pallets to fall on the driver of a forklift or anyone stood underneath it.
Rules around the racking
In addition to the points mentioned above, your own housekeeping is essential to keeping your racking safe and in turn aiding the overall Health & Safety standards of your business. Keep workways clear for both forklifts and workers and have systems in place to collect and disperse rubbish as a minimum. Adopt a “see it – sort it” approach for maximum impact.
Inspections and maintenance
Inspections of your warehouse racking are a must as the HSE recommend having annual inspections by a SEMA approved racking inspector so that you are can highlight any problems and so you can stay up to date with any new legalisation.
This is where we can help. 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.
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.
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.
You may be thinking that when it comes to racking for your warehouse there is only one size and one style. But there is never just ‘one size fits all’ as every business has its own needs and each warehouse will be different in size and shape.
Different types of racking
Here at Logical Storage we offer all styles of racking that will fit your businesses bespoke needs. We offer:
- Wide Aisle – Wide aisling that is useful for easy access of people, goods and forklifts.
- Very Narrow Aisle – This is useful for a warehouse with not much room as it utilises a lot of room in such a short space.
- Double-deep – This is where the storage gets stores two rows deep instead of one.
- Drive in/ Drive through – Racking designed so forklifts or machinery can drive in between or through it.
- Dynamic push back – Racking with the ability to push items back through the racking with a roller system.
- Mobile
- Shuttle
It can be stressful choosing which one is best for your business needs so that is why it is best to take expert advice when choosing your storage solutions and to take your time – Rome wasn’t built in a day remember!
When choosing the best storage solution for your business, you need to consider many factors. These include the floor space, ceiling height, how often you need to access pallets and most importantly, how big your storage needs to be.
How can the right racking help organisation within your business?
Once you have figured out the best racking solution for you and your business, it is time to understand why it will help your organisation. Racking is one of the best storage methods for simplicity and ease of access. This is because it can hold tonnes of weight and it can hold many pallets/objects etc. at once meaning you don’t have to worry about it being too heavy or too much for one space.
Another reason racking is perfect for organisations is because you can organise it in a format which suits you, for example in a food warehouse you may organise it by food types, cereals, biscuits, drinks etc. or if it was a clothes warehouse you may even colour code it, for example green for male clothes, purple for female clothes etc. the list of possibilities is endless, and any way that you choose is sure to be organised if it is with a racking storage solution.
If you are still struggling on what solution to choose for racking, look on our website here or call us on 0845 689 1300 as we would be happy to help!
You may be thinking that when it comes to racking for your warehouse there is only one size and one style. Well you are wrong as there is never just ‘one size fits all’ as every business has its own needs. Every warehouse is different in size and shape and the racking they use should be too.
Different types of racking
Here at Logical Storage we offer all styles of racking that will fit your businesses bespoke needs. Here are some examples:
- Wide Aisle – Wide aisling that is useful for easy access of people, goods and forklifts.
- Very Narrow Aisle – This is useful for a warehouse with not much room as it utilises a lot of room in such a short space.
- Double-deep – This is where the storage gets stores two rows deep instead of one.
- Drive in/ Drive through – Racking designed so forklifts or machinery can drive in between or through it.
- Dynamic push back – Racking with the ability to push items back through the racking with a roller system.
Together with these forms of racking we also offer mobile and shuttle racking too.
The job of choosing racking can be stressful – which is why it’s important to take expert advice.
When choosing the best storage solution for your business, you need to consider many factors, including the floor space, ceiling height, how often you need to access pallets and most importantly, how big your storage needs to be.
In order to figure out the best racking solution for you and your business, you first need to understand why it will help your organisation. The ease of access, weight capacity and storage amounts that our racking systems provide can help streamline your operations and ultimately benefit your bottom line.
Our racking systems also provide unrivalled flexibility meaning that you can organise your stock in a way that suits you best – for example by food type, colour codes, sizes, best before date, alphabetically, in order of sale volume – the possibilities are endless.
Logical Storage specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment and offer a wide range of innovative products to increase your available storage and also improve productivity. We know that no two businesses are the same which is why we prepare quotes fully tailored towards your business and its unique needs. For more information and to talk to one of our experienced team please call us now on 0845 689 1300.
Damage to the racking in your warehouse can have a devastating impact. Not only can it slow down your operations and cause damage to your stock, but it can also put your employees at serious risk of injury which in turn can spiral into financial loss and potentially damage to your reputation as a business. But how does racking damage occur in the first place? Here are a few common examples.
Vehicular damage
Warehouses are busy environments and while vehicles like forklifts are excellent tools in speeding up your operations and reaching areas that would be more challenging on foot, used incorrectly or without proper training they can pose serious hazards. Accidental collisions with racking systems are a common cause of breakages and while more serious incidents may be too hard to ignore, small bumps and knocks could go unnoticed but still do damage that compromises your systems.
Poor warehouse layout
While poor training of drivers can lead to collisions with racking, sometimes it is not the driver who is at fault. Instead cramped and poorly maintained areas that don’t utilize tools like coloured safety tape and notices or have poor housekeeping can result in drivers having to make tight maneuvers that can often end in collisions.
Overloading
The most common cause of racking failure is that of overloading. By calculating factors like frame size, beam size and depth we can work out exactly what the limit should be for weight on your racking. However, if advice is ignored and your racking becomes overloaded then structural damage is bound to occur at some point. It is important to make it clear to workers through both training and notices exactly what weight limits are.
Seek advice
The key to avoiding racking damage is to quickly identify faulty or damaged racking. By organising periodic reviews of your racking with a professional company you can quickly identify small signs of wear and tear before they develop into something much worse.
Logical Storage is highly skilled in spotting the often hard-to-find signs of racking degradation. 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.
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest in the UK today, employing over 73,000 people and contributing more than £8million to the UK’s GDP. However, as a profit-driven industry the success of individual companies and organisations relies on very tight margins. Every link on the supply chain from research and development right through to fulfillment must be conducted with the utmost precision – and the role of warehousing in this process is no different.
Cutting edge storage solutions and efficient fixtures can make a profound impact on an organisation, helping them to meet the high pressures and demands on their business. Solutions like customisable racking, shelving options and mezzanine floors can add that much-needed edge over competitors, helping to simplify stock management and make efficient use of the space that is available.
Mezzanine floors are both practical and cost-effective for warehouses in need of space, and that need to operate in a timely fashion. These areas can be used for a wide variety of situations from packing and labelling areas and space for more storage through to laboratories, staff break areas and admin areas – whatever is required to meet you’re the requirements of your business.
The pharmaceutical industry presents unique challenges that require clever solutions. Products often need to be handled in a specific way, tracked and checked for expiration dates. They might need temporary or bulk storage or need to be segregated away completely from other stock in a sterile or highly secure environment.
From pallet racking to long span shelving, there are a variety of different solutions available to help you manage your inventory and meet any specific requirements and standards you need to uphold.
Logical Storage specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment and offer a wide range of innovative products to increase your available storage and also improve productivity. We know that no two businesses are the same which is why we prepare quotes fully tailored towards your business and its unique needs. For more information and to talk to one of our experienced team please call us now on 0845 689 1300.
Every warehouse is different and depending on several factors like SKU’s, picking requirements and budgets, storage strategies can differ greatly from warehouse to warehouse. One of the options available to you if you are looking at racking is that of dynamic pallet flow racking.
Dynamic pallet flow racking is a form of racking that is highly popular with warehouses that require a high density of storage. It uses mechanical or gravitational force to move pallets within a racking system and are commonly found in warehouses handling food distribution or other high-density items.
Dynamic pallet flow racking loads from the rear and off-loads from the front, which is why it is favoured for storing high levels of the same product. Utilising it in this way can result in a 60% space saving increase when compared with other conventional forms of pallet racking. This can free up space for other areas of your business and reduce the need for you to move premises or build additional storage areas. It will also help to reduce travel times and operational costs.
Dynamic pallet racking is set on a roller conveyor track. Pallets can move freely from deposit to collection as the rollers are set at a slight incline and the speed can be controlled using wheels and breaks to slow down the movement.
If you are unsure as to whether this is the right storage system for you then you should seek expert advice. The right type of pallet racking can make a profound impact on your operations, but if you choose the wrong type then you could make things more difficult. For example, if you need access to individual pallets then dynamic pallet flow racking might not be the best option and an alternative like wide aisle pallet racking might better suit your needs.
With dynamic racking systems you don’t need to worry about disruption to your business as they are quick to install and easy to dismantle should your business needs change. This system also enables loading to be carried out across different aisles meaning that your operators can carry out their tasks without fear of congestion or interruptions.
Dynamic pallet flow racking systems can be tailored to your individual business requirements concerning the size and the weight of the items that you need to store. This will then inform the angles, size, weight bearing capacity and number of tracks on your custom-made system.
Logical Storage possesses many years of experience in installation and all of our racking is designed to meet all European & British standards of quality. Contact us on 0845 689 1300 to discuss your needs in further detail.
While it’s true that some workplaces are more dangerous than others, there are still plenty of accidents that can happen. Choosing to ignore your health and safety obligations is not only illegal but could have potentially disastrous consequences on your entire business. Here we will look at some of those repercussions and offer advice on how to start tackling risks.
Facts and figures
Health and Safety laws exist for a reason and they are highlighted by these worrying statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During 2017/18 a total of 144 workers were killed in fatal accidents and more than 650,000 non-fatal injuries were reported. Common causes of accidents include falls from a height – which is incidentally the biggest cause of fatal accidents, to being struck by moving vehicles, being trapped, hurt by contact with moving machinery and being struck by falling objects.
Consequences
If these types of accidents happen in your workplace than at the very least your business will be disrupted, and an employee may have to take a period of time off work. However, at the very worst an employee could be killed, and your business could face fines, legal action and catastrophic damage to your reputation should you be found to be liable under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (2007).
Solutions
In warehouse environments, one of the best ways that you can show commitment to the Health and Safety of your business is to have regular inspections carried out of your racking equipment. Racking equipment can be highly effective as a storage solution but it is critical that it is properly maintained. As highlighted in the figures by HSE, some of the most common forms of injury in the workplace can be caused by damaged racking such as being trapped or hit by falling objects which could be the result of a racking collapse. So, to keep your racking in good shape and ensure the safety of your employees you need a trained eye looking out periodically for signs of weakness in your structures.
Logical Storage carry out regular reviews of racking for a number of businesses around the UK. We help them to keep their systems in good working order and to maintain their obligations to both their employees and the law under the Health & Safety Act. To find out more please call us today on 0845 689 1300.
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