Used Racking May Present Major Health Risks And Financial Consequences
The current economic climate is forcing virtually every company to examine every
penny of expenditure and look for ways in which they can make savings.It is therefore understandable that companies looking to add to their existing storage system are considering the implications of installing second hand racking equipment.
With offers of amazing savings from online retailers and auction sites such as ebay, there is plenty of temptation for businesses who are looking to increase their storage capacity on a shoe string budget.
The fact of the matter is that racking is legally classed as work equipment and is therefore, covered by The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 1998) which states that employers have a responsibility to ensure that the work equipment they provide is safe to use and fit for purpose.
This means that in the event that an accident occurs in your workplace and it is found that you have purchased and installed equipment which you cannot demonstrate is safe to use and fit for purpose, the Company Directors can be held personally responsible ?ultimately with jail sentences.
Whilst some second hand racking may look of good quality, it is virtually impossible to guarantee that it is 100% fit for purpose.
The equipment may appear free from physical damage however it is extremely difficult to identify what level of degradation has taken place which would result in the equipment not being capable of carrying the same load levels as new components.
The degradation can be caused by overloading, fire damage, use in cold stores, internal corrosion. And most will be invisible to the naked eye.
At the most basic level, you could be opening yourself to risk by buying equipment which has been incorrectly identified and specified. To carry this out with absolute certainty would require detailed data and experience to ensure that the racking supplied will safely carry the loads required in the new configuration.
In addition, further problems can be caused by components being modified such as beams cut and re-welded, or frames incorrectly braced, cut or joined by a previous user, or your second hand supplier, to make them fit their required installation.
These modifications will have a major effect on the load capacity and safety implications.
Second hand packages are also more than likely to be supplied with accessories from mixed manufacturers and whilst each may be sound in their own right, will not be covered by any guarantee when used together.
And when it comes to the installation of used racking purchased from a separate source whether it is online or from a used racking supplier, you are likely to find it extremely difficult to get any reputable company to issue load notices to put on the rack - a legal requirement under the health and safety guidelines.
Moving your own storage equipment between premises poses less of a risk - assuming that as a responsible company you will have carried out regular inspections, carried out any necessary repairs and replace damaged components to ensure it is kept in a safe condition.
However it is vital that you know exactly what it had been designed to do in the first instance, how it had been maintained and used and use approved and knowledgeable people to dismantle, store, transport, re erect, the latter in accordance with SEMA codes and using SEIRS registered installers.
It is vital that the rebuild is carried out exactly as the original installation or that sufficient data is available for qualified people to confirm that the components will be capable of being used safely in the new design.
So if you are considering second hand racking as an option for your business it is vital that you weigh up the short term cost savings against the potential consequences of sub standard racking.
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