Question

We are planning an installation in a garden centre and whilst I am aware of the pallet racking inspections in a warehouse environment, I want to know if I would legally require an inspection?

I seem to think that it does need to be inspected as it carries a load, albeit not a heavy one. In the event of an incident you could demonstrate that due care was taken to reduce risk to staff and members of the public.

Answer

We would agree that garden centre racking, certainly requires an inspection in the same way as industrial racking and shelving. However there are some additional issues that you may need to consider.

We imagine that a risk assessment would be completed which may conclude that there was more than a possibility that a small child may climb on to the rack and parents may not be paying enough attention to prevent the child getting in any danger.

This could be addressed by fixing the racking to the floor to prevent it being pulled over and causing damage and possibly devastation. However if you have different demands and seasonal products, it may not always be the best solution.

Even though you have noted that the loads are ‘not a heavy one’ you will still need to make people aware of the loading capacities to prevent overloading. This will include an understanding of the weight of the product. For example if you have large bags of compost – particularly if they are allowed to get wet – they can be very heavy. You should incorporate in to staff training that these should never be placed on the shelving system.

Inspections should be a final check to ensure that the basic safety issues and methods are being followed at all times. It is so easy to get engrossed in the detail that the big picture is missed.

If you would like a safety inspection or any other safety equipment, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

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