Do you have racking in your warehouse or retail space? Can you vouch for its safety? Protecting your staff is the highest priority, and racking can be dangerous if non-compliant.
Any business with steel racking in their workplace must comply with Australian Standards for Steel Storage Racking – AS 4084-2012. The standards are designed to make sure all racking in Australia is safe.
Warehouse racking collapses do happen and people get injured. And you do not want to be the person responsible for putting your workplace at risk. Staying compliant is integral.
What racking does the standards cover? The AS 4084-2012 standards are for “adjustable, static pallet racking made of cold-formed or hot rolled steel structural members”, but does not cover drive-through and drive-in racking, mobile racking, cantilever racking or racking made of materials other than steel.
We come across racking problems regularly. Typical safety issues that we pick up during pallet racking inspections are:
Safe working loads not displayed
When safe working loads are not displayed, the potential for overloading the racking system increases and so does the chance of a collapse.
Warehouse racking not secured or bolted down
Do you have forklifts going in and out of your warehouse? You’ll need to bolt down your racking system. An innocent bump could result in a fall.
Missing safety locking pins
As warehouse shelving tends to store heavy items, racking structures need to be secure or they risk being knocked out of place.
Warehouse racking safety standards
So what are the warehouse racking safety standards in Australia? And how can you tell if your racking is safe?
You can’t choose just any kind of racking for your warehouse. Your shelving should be specifically designed for the size, shape and weight of your storage. You must also know the rated capacity, including maximum unit load and total rated capacity for each bay.
Reputable suppliers will be able to recommend the right storage for you and supply you with key safety details for your racking including:
- Unit load limit
- Unit load limit for each pallet beam level
- Unit load limit for each bay
- Maximum distance from the base plate level to the first beam level
- Maximum distance between adjacent beam levels
Don’t know the above? We recommend investing in an inspection or updating your racking system so you know if it complies with the AS 4084 and is safe for your workplace.
Do you need a warehouse racking inspection?
Unfortunately, steel storage is not a part of your workplace you can set and forget. It’s recommended that you inspect your racking at least once a month internally and inspected professionally by an external expert once a year.
If you suspect your warehouse racking system is unsafe or you’re not sure of its load limit, you’re obligated to get it inspected. If an accident does happen and your workplace is deemed unsafe, you’ll be facing liabilities.
Here are some things to look out for:
- Overloading
- Vertical leaning / misalignment
- Rust or corrosion
- Damaged components (beams, uprights, bracing footplates)
- Loose connections (beams and uprights)
- Load beams (dents, twists, warping)
Ensure the safety of your workplace with an inspection
All Global Industrial pallet racking fully complies with the AS 4084-2012. We’re also qualified to conduct racking inspections. These need to be carried out at least once every 12 months to ensure your steel pallet racking remains OH&S compliant. As well as a yearly check up, if you suspect your racking is damaged, you’re obligated to get an inspection.
Is it time to book your warehouse racking inspection? Book yours here.
