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FlashingBlade  
#1 Posted : 03 December 2013 16:39:52(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
FlashingBlade

Looking for a bit of advice (as usual) I came across a situation today in a warehouse whereby the ground floor section of the racking has been used for locker storage and a changing area for warehouse employees. I asked the warehouse manager why he'd done this and somewhat unsurprisingly the response was 'because there was no where else to put them'. This is the back of the racking so the people arent exposed to FLT traffic but obviously they are exposed to the suspended loads above them and anything which falls from the back of the racking e.g. unsecured load on a pallet. The response was to board the racking out to make an impromptu 'ceiling' and mesh the back of the racking to prevent anything falling through. I'm not happy with the arrangement as clearly in the event of a racking collapse or pallet falling through the consequences are massive. Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are and if anyone has ever come across a similar situation as my experience with warehousing practice is somewhat limited.
FlashingBlade  
#2 Posted : 04 December 2013 10:06:34(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
FlashingBlade

So nobody see's any problem with this??
PIKEMAN  
#3 Posted : 04 December 2013 10:19:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
PIKEMAN

IMHO - do a risk assessment which shows if the risks are real and acceptable / unnacceptable., inlvolve the decision makers in the process.
Dazzling Puddock  
#4 Posted : 04 December 2013 11:24:15(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Dazzling Puddock

I have encountered this situation many times before and have never had a problem with it. Stock pickers are working under racking all the time to retrieve items from the rear of bays. A racking collapse is going to be catastrophic regardless where a member of staff is in the warehouse. By providing a mesh back and sides as added security seems reasonable. There shouldn't be any unsecured loads being stored on a pallet at height and a scheme of racking inspections and damage reporting should ensure that the racking is stable. Lighting may be an issue.
IanDakin  
#5 Posted : 04 December 2013 13:14:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
IanDakin

Is this any different to having walkways through racking? If the racking and pallets are used correctly, and there is sufficient over head protection, it is no more of a risk than working in or near the racking. Ian
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