HSE Compliance for Warehouse Racking
Employers have legal duties to make sure warehouse racking is safe to use. This guide explains the law and HSE's guidance, the design standards and competence schemes involved, inspections, and the records you should keep.
The Law and HSE Guidance
Legal duties come from legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). HSG76, Warehousing and storage: A guide to health and safety, is HSE guidance rather than law. Following it helps demonstrate that you're meeting your legal duties, but an inspection on its own doesn't fulfil every duty.
What Good Practice Looks Like
- Racking designed by competent designers, using appropriate design codes and the manufacturer's data
- Verified loading information, with load notices clearly displayed
- Installation and use in line with the approved configuration and the manufacturer's instructions
- Damage reported immediately, and documented visual inspections weekly or at other risk-based intervals
- Expert inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months, as recommended in HSG76
- Inspections after installation and after any event that may affect safety, where PUWER requires them
- Staff trained in safe loading and handling
Design Standards, Quality Assurance and Competence
Several different standards and schemes are involved, and it's worth knowing which is which:
- Design codes: the structural design of adjustable pallet racking is covered by the SEMA design code or BS EN 15512.
- BS EN 15620: covers tolerances, deformations and clearances.
- SEMA membership: applies to the manufacturers and distributors involved, and includes quality assurance requirements.
- SEIRS: SEMA's scheme for trained, registered racking installers.
- SARI: SEMA Approved Rack Inspectors, qualified to carry out expert inspections.
None of these automatically certifies a particular completed installation.
Consequences of Failing to Manage Racking Safety
Breaches of health and safety law can result in enforcement notices and prosecution. Depending on the offence and circumstances, penalties can include unlimited fines and, for certain individual offences, imprisonment. Employers should maintain suitable inspection, reporting and maintenance arrangements and act promptly on identified risks.
Records to Keep
- Verified loading information and the displayed load notices
- Approved layout and configuration drawings
- Installation and user instructions
- Routine inspection records and expert inspection reports
- Damage reports, immediate restrictions, corrective actions and closure of defects
- Maintenance and repair records
- Risk assessments
- Staff training records
Person Responsible for Racking Safety
HSG76 and SEMA recommend that every site nominates a Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS). They are the named contact for racking: they receive damage reports, arrange inspections, make sure repairs are completed on time, keep the records and control any changes to the racking. They need suitable training, resources and the authority to isolate unsafe areas and arrange action. Make sure all staff know who your PRRS is.
Mezzanine Floors
Mezzanine floors have different structural, inspection and approval requirements from racking. See our guide to Mezzanine Floor Safety & Building Regulations.
Racking Safety Reviews and Inspection Support
We carry out racking safety reviews and inspections, provide clear written reports, and help you put the right inspection, reporting and record-keeping arrangements in place. Where a project needs Building Control approval, we can manage that too.
Request a Racking Safety Review