The Office of National Statistics recently reported that storage and transport is one of the fastest-growing broad industry groups. This fact is perhaps unsurprising considering the recent surge in online shopping, global logistical issues and increased transport costs.
A lot of businesses are now looking to bring their storage back to the UK. But the difficulty of finding suitable warehousing space coupled with rising costs has meant that getting the correct storage system in place is more important than ever.
So, if you’re looking to set up a new facility or staying put but need to reconfigure your existing storage, how do you achieve this and more importantly deliver optimal return on investment?
Plan your design carefully
The design of your storage system is key. Ideally it should not only improve efficiencies but also, and most importantly, keep everyone safe. The process isn’t as simple as adding a few racks here and there.
Working with an expert team like Whittan’s own in-house designers will help. We can visit your site and work with you to examine what products you are storing, both now and potentially in the future. We will also look at how you handle the goods, whether it is mechanically, manually or a combination of both. Finally, we find out what space you have available, and that means the lengths, widths and even height of the facility. With these findings we can then advise on the most suitable racking and design a bespoke system that matches your needs.
We also place great emphasis on safety. This is implemented at every stage from the design of our systems through to the installation and ongoing care of our products.
Our solutions are in line with British standard requirements, British Safety Council Certifications and we are members of Made in Britain. To top it off we are also SEMA Full Manufacturing Members which means we must submit our designs to independent product assessment. This guarantees they meet the highest safety industry standards and will live up to their intended job.
Legal obligations
Large storage projects such as warehouse racking or multi-tier shelving are subject to 2015 Construction, Design and Maintenance Regulations, which were created to manage the health, safety, and welfare of all construction projects in the UK. It obliges employers to ensure all such projects are carefully planned, considered, carried out and maintained with comprehensive risk management demonstrated throughout the project and lifetime of the installation.
Whilst we operate in most cases as a contractor, our experience in large scale storage scheme installations means we can offer a comprehensive project management service, under current regulations.
Ensure a safe installation
In a busy workplace, installing new shelving and storage isn’t always a straightforward process. You need to find a way to complete your installation without damaging productivity or putting employees at risk. Site safety is paramount!
We are the only major pallet racking manufacturer to employ our own installation teams and we fully endorse the Storage Equipment Installers Registration Scheme (SEIRS) provided through SEMA. Using this standard, we ensure that only trained and competent personnel are used for key activities during the installation of a storage system.
We are also SafeContractor accredited which clearly demonstrates our commitment to delivering rigorous measures, meeting compliance and achieving high industry standards.
Regular inspections are essential
Once the racking is in place you need to consider how it should be looked after and what to do if there is a problem. Racking systems qualify as work equipment and under PUWER it is your responsibility to ensure they are in good working order.
You need to implement a continuous and rigorous maintenance and inspection regime. This includes daily and weekly inspections by employees who report to a suitably qualified member of your staff.
At Whittan, we can teach your staff everything they need to know about how to properly maintain warehouse pallet racking systems, for safer usage and a longer lifespan. Our rack safety awareness course is a half-day session that uses a hybrid of both classroom and in-situ training to ensure that any health and safety issues are identified and safely dealt with before they become problematic.
At least once a year, you also need to submit your racking to an ‘expert’ inspection which must be performed by a suitably qualified person. We can offer you a third-party inspection undertaken by our SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors (SARI). The initiative by SEMA ensures that inspectors are trained and continually assessed to meet industry standards.
At the end of the inspection, we will provide you with a report that identifies and priorities risks to help you manage workplace safety and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Choose Experience
The right storage can help you make the most of your space, however you use it. With over 70 years in the industry, we want to make it easy for businesses to identify, install and immediately benefit from exactly what they need. Whether this is pallet racking, shelving or lockers. Get in touch to arrange a free consultation to discuss your requirements.
