Rack Armour® returns to ProMat 2023

Posted on 20 February 2023 by Maisie Greenfield

Rack Armour® returns to ProMat as the world’s leading impact protection for racking uprights, with a new USA range of industrial products, already used widely across Europe.

Rack Armour®, from its location on Stand N6636, will return to ProMAT to display innovative products and solutions for the logistics, material handling, and industrial sectors across the USA. These range from impact protection of racking and storage systems to warehouse recycling solutions, labelling, visual management signage, and more.

Along with Lean Inc, USA master distributor, Rack Armour® will exhibit the world’s best-selling upright protection solution which guarantees an 80% reduction in racking damage. Made from ballistics grade plastic, the outer shell of Rack Armour® is shaped to divert impact energy around the rack leg instead of through it. Any remaining impact energy is absorbed by the interior foam until it’s diffused. This twin action protection uniquely helps maintain the structural integrity of the racking system – which saves tens of thousands of pounds in damage repair costs. Lean Inc will be happy to discuss USA reseller opportunities for this fantastic product which provides an 800% proven customer ROI.

Beaverswood®, a leading manufacturer of visual management and recycling solutions, will be on hand to showcase its latest products to potential USA resellers, such as the award-winning racksack® mini. Available in many sizes, this waste segregation solution is perfect for shelving, smaller racking areas, and workbenches, picking stations, desks, and more. Additionally, Modulean® rack end shadow boards, an innovative way to transform redundant end-of-aisle racking space into working space, will be displayed. All of this, plus Beaverswood®’s well-known offering of high-quality warehouse labels, aisle and bay markers, document display, and floor marking, will be on show.

Rack Armour® and Beaverswood® are part of IWS Group, a group of industry-leading companies, cutting-edge in their own fields of expertise, while working collaboratively to provide outstanding services and solutions in the industrial workplace. Lean Inc is the master distributor in the USA and is actively looking to onboard more distributors across the USA for both Rack Armour® and Beaverswood®. We will have several representatives from Lean Inc, Rack Armour®, and Beaverswood® on our stand, ready to explain how these innovative products can best support your organisation.

Warehouse Floor Safety Signs

Posted on 5 October 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Floor signs and floor documents are valuable to any workspace. They convey simple but important messages including warnings, instructions, and direct of traffic.

Floor stickers offer a more unique visual aid compared to wall signs, which can often be easily ignored or hidden. With warehouse floor signs, there is much less chance of the messaging being missed.

All of our floor products are backed with strong adhesive, meaning once they’re down, they stay down!

Download the guide for more information, or get in touch with our team for a quote.

IWS Group is Proud to Announce the Appointment of Richard Harden as the New Chief Executive Officer

Richard Harden is appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of IWS Group. This strategic move is part of IWS Group’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustained growth, ensuring its continued leadership within the market.

Read on

The Power of Preventative Maintenance – How to Reduce Downtime and Extend the Lifespan of Warehouse Racking

We all know that preventative maintenance is better than reactive maintenance, as it reduces accidents and down time, plus the cost of damaged goods and repairs. We’ll highlight the primary advantages and outline essential steps to consider when developing your plan.

Read on

The Benefits of Local Businesses Partnering with Rack Group

We look at how Rack Group can transform local businesses through partnership, maximising warehouse storage through decades of experience and expertise in industrial racking.

Read on

Rack Armour® Size Guide

Posted on 31 August 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Find the Rack Armour® fit for your racking

This handy guide lists the most popular types of racking, along with the size of Rack Armour® that is the best match.

Rack Armour® is the original upright protection against impact damage. Patented in 18 countries around the world and impact tested to FEM 10.2.02 international standards.

The unique design has a dual function to combat impact damage to racking uprights. The rounded shape deflects collisions, with the interior foam absorbing any transferred impact.

Made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), Rack Armour® guards are durable and extremely effective in preventing damage to uprights.

DOWNLOAD SIZE GUIDE

Which Rack Armour® size do I need?

Rack Armour® comes in various sizes to fit most types of racking uprights.

EURO A - fits racking fronts up to 87mm

EURO B - fits racking fronts up to 100mm

EURO C - fits racking fronts up to 120mm

Available in a range of striking, high visibility colours that are easily detectable to prevent impact before it occurs. Why not organise your warehouse with our traffic light bundles!

Fully recyclable and non-toxic. The original Rack Armour® is suitable for use in food production facilities and freezer environments down to -40°C.

IWS Group is Proud to Announce the Appointment of Richard Harden as the New Chief Executive Officer

Read on

The Power of Preventative Maintenance – How to Reduce Downtime and Extend the Lifespan of Warehouse Racking

Read on

The Benefits of Local Businesses Partnering with Rack Group

We look at how Rack Group can transform local businesses through partnership, maximising warehouse storage through decades of experience and expertise in industrial racking.

Read on

What Does a Typical Rack Training Day Look Like

Posted on 5 August 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

What Does a Typical Rack Training Day Look Like?

It’s better to be safe than sorry in every situation. Employees must have the knowledge and skills to handle the entire pallet rack life cycle, including set-up, annual inspections, equipment management, and maintenance.

Why Rack Training Is Important

Warehouses are dangerous places. Accidents happen, even with all the safety measures you can imagine. So, training your employees to recognise the dangers is crucial and identify problems—and address them before anybody gets hurt and before any valuable property gets destroyed.

Training can keep your employees safe, reducing the stress on everyone, leading to a happier, more productive environment.

A Breakdown of the Training Courses

Inspection

These courses come in escalating levels and cover the knowledge needed for in-house racking inspections. The courses can be as short as two hours or as long three to six months, ending with special certifications. Here are some examples of what you’ll learn:

Racking types and components
Safe Working Load information
How to conduct a racking inspection
Allowable deflections and tolerances
Legal, moral and financial considerations

This ideal for team members involved in management and inspection or team members interested in inspecting industrial storage equipment.

Installation

This three to six month installation course ends with an Ofqual-regulated qualification, and covers the following modules:

Conforming to General Health, Safety and Welfare in the Workplace
Conforming to Productive Working Practices in the Workplace
Moving, Handling and Storing Resources in the Workplace
Installing Industrial Pallet Racking Systems in the Workplace
Installing Industrial Shelving Systems in the Workplace

This course is perfect for team members already working as an installer within the industry.

Damage and Repair

Much like our inspection courses, our Damage and Repair courses come in multiple levels according to level of complexity. They range in length from one day to three to six months. The courses focus on racking maintenance and repair of up to 12 meters depending on complexity. These courses generally cover:

Most commonly damaged components to racking
Upright and beam repairs
Legal issues associated with racking maintenance
Working at height safety

These courses are ideal for team members responsible for pallet racking maintenance and repairs. The damage and repair courses are also suitable for experienced maintenance teams working on higher level racking installations.

Management

Our one-day course on pallet racking management covers planning and designing racking installations. It involves learning about the safe use of storage equipment on site. Some of the things you may learn about include:

Racking components
What to look for when carrying out regular checks and inspections
Racking structure user / operational requirements
Dos and don'ts around pallet racking

This course teaches you how to ensure your current system is built to the correct standards and is ideal for team members that oversee warehouse storage equipment safety.

Conclusion

The right training can mean the difference between an accident that’s caught early and one that ends in tragedy. Ensure your team has the training to know what to look for.

Rack Group is the UK’s providers of warehouse racking solutions. Whether racking inspections, racking repairs, racking protection and racking training, our 40 years of experience in increasing safety whilst saving clients’ money is a testament to our commitment to get the job done right. If you want to commit your employees to a racking safety course, we can help. Get in touch with us today!

IWS Group is Proud to Announce the Appointment of Richard Harden as the New Chief Executive Officer

Read on

The Power of Preventative Maintenance – How to Reduce Downtime and Extend the Lifespan of Warehouse Racking

Read on

The Benefits of Local Businesses Partnering with Rack Group

We look at how Rack Group can transform local businesses through partnership, maximising warehouse storage through decades of experience and expertise in industrial racking.

Read on

NEW Racking Inspection Kits

Posted on 5 August 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Do you regularly inspect your warehouse racking?

If so, do you have the right kit to do so efficiently?

Our Racking Inspection Kits are available to buy direct and include:
✔️ 1m ruler with spirit level
✔️ Small ruler
✔️ Wooden measuring wedge
✔️ Tape measure
✔️ String line
✔️ LED torch
✔️ Handy carry case

Each kit also comes with sample damage report tags PLUS for a limited time only, a FREE damage report book.

Order yours today and ensure your racking is inspected with the right kit.

ONLY £85.00 including delivery

Racking Repairs Traffic Light Code

Posted on 30 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Racking damage and repair

Once damage has been identified on a racking system, you should take action according to the SEMA traffic light code of practice.

Red Risk - Very serious damage requiring immediate action

Amber Risk - Hazardous damage requiring action as soon as possible

Green Risk - Requiring surveillance only

These levels of damage will be highlighted in your racking inspection, which you should have at least once every 12 months.

You should also ensure your in-house teams regularly inspect and monitor your storage systems to identify damage early.

What does a Red Risk on racking mean?

Red risks on racking are situations where a critical level of damage is identified. The area of racking should be immediately offloaded and isolated from future use.

The racking can be re-used when the necessary repair work is carried out and the system is re-inspected for safety. Such repair work would usually be by replacement of the damaged component.

You should have a method of isolating areas to ensure that they do not come back into use before the repair work is carried out. For example, a particular bay could be offloaded in the presence of the inspector and roped off to prevent further use.

What does an Amber Risk on racking mean?

An amber risk on racking would identify an area where the damage was sufficiently severe to warrant remedial work, but not so severe as to warrant the immediate offloading of the rack.

Once load is removed from a damaged component, the component should not be reloaded until repairs have been carried out.

You should have a method of isolating such racks to ensure they do not come back into use until the necessary racking repairs have been carried out. The equipment should then be certified as safe before the rack is reloaded.

You could also use dated racking damage report tags to indicate the racks are not to be used until repaired.

Any racking with an AMBER RISK category damage should be re-categorised as RED RISK if remedial work has not been carried out within four weeks of the original identification.

What does a Green Risk on racking mean?

Green level damage on racking indicates the rack does not need to be offloaded or repaired immediately. This category indicates the racking components are considered safe and serviceable.

Such components should be recorded as suitable for further service until the next management inspection. The components should be clearly identified for specific re-examination and reassessment at future inspections.

Exceeding the green level should be considered damage and causes risk to the racking system.

When do I need to repair racking damage?

Damage to racking needs to be prioritised in order of risk category.

Red risk damage should be first offloaded and segregated from being used. Repair work will need to be booked in as soon as possible before the racking can be reused.

Amber risk damage should be repaired within four weeks, otherwise the racking needs to be immediately offloaded and unused until repair work is carried out.

Green risk damage should be monitored for any deterioration at regular in house inspections. If there are any changes to the damage, the appropriate action should be taken depending on the new category of risk.

To find out more about common types of racking damage and what you should do about them, check out our maintenance and repairs page here.

Do your teams know what to look for on their regular in-house inspections? Ensure they have the skills and the knowledge to keep your warehouse safe and operational. Visit our training courses page here.

IWS Group is Proud to Announce the Appointment of Richard Harden as the New Chief Executive Officer

Read on

The Power of Preventative Maintenance – How to Reduce Downtime and Extend the Lifespan of Warehouse Racking

Read on

The Benefits of Local Businesses Partnering with Rack Group

We look at how Rack Group can transform local businesses through partnership, maximising warehouse storage through decades of experience and expertise in industrial racking.

Read on

The Importance of Regular Pallet Rack Safety Inspections

Posted on 22 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Regular examination and repair of pallet racking and shelving are essential to warehouse management. If storage systems are neglected, warehouse and operational managers may be unaware of the hazards to operations, workers, and goods.

Failure to conduct frequent visual inspections, an annual rack inspection by a technically competent person, or a replacement of any damaged components may result in legal liabilities in the unfortunate case of an accident.

Here are the facts about the importance of rack inspection:

The Importance of Annual Rack Inspection

The European standard EN 15635 Steel Static Storage Systems - Application and Maintenance of Storage Equipment describes pallet rack safety regulations regarding inspections and repair.

Section 9.4.2.3 Expert Inspections indicates that inspections should be conducted by technically competent persons every 12 months. A report with observations and recommendations for any necessary action must be presented to the person responsible for storage equipment safety (PRSES).

Making Regular Visual Inspections

According to EN 15635 part 9.4.2.2 Visual Inspections, besides the annual pallet racking inspection, the PRSES should ensure that checks are carried out at weekly or different regular intervals based on a risk assessment. A proper written record must be kept.

Section 9.4.1 states that storage equipment should be examined regularly for safety and especially for any damage that has occurred. Repairs must be completed promptly and effectively, with proper attention to the system's continued safety. All damage or other incidents must be documented.

Differences between Visual Inspections and Annual Inspections

Visual inspections and the regulated annual inspections are not the same. While it is entirely possible for your staff to perform weekly visual checks, yearly inspections are better handed to professional inspectors.

They can assist you in educating your personnel in charge of the visual inspections. A technically qualified individual should perform annual checks, so leave it to the specialists and contact us immediately.

What Happens When Damaged Racking Is Found?

Any damage to racking/shelving compromising safety must be repaired quickly, according to the criteria of the Employer's Liability Insurance Association and the Standard EN 15635.

This is true whether the damage is discovered by the fork truck driver, the storage installation manager, or the Association-approved racking and shelving inspector.

Follow these steps:

Damage must be reported to the safety officer as soon as it is discovered.
Implement safety-related measures.
A written report with the responsibility to preserve must be produced.
If the same damage occurs repeatedly, the reason should be investigated.
Begin a damage control method in line with EN 15635, Section 9.4.5.

Replacing with Original Spare Parts

Any damaged components should be replaced instead of repaired. According to Section 9.7.1 of EN 15635, damaged components should not be fixed since effective quality control of cold-reduced parts is extremely difficult. Repair of damaged parts is not permitted unless authorised by the equipment provider.

The EN 15635 Section 7 also mentions that the loading capacity may be affected when racking or shelf installation is modified. All changes must be approved by the supplier or a competent professional. Any advice must be followed before any changes are made. Changes must be made in line with the supplier's instructions.

Conclusion

Racking is essential to any warehouse facility, and its quality must be scrutinised regularly. This will help ensure safe and high-quality storage.

Are you in need of pallet rack inspection services in the UK? Rack Group provides warehouse racking solutions, inspections, repairs, protection, and training. Give us a call to learn more!

Working in the heat, is it safe?

Posted on 18 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Summer is here!

The Great British summertime might be a little... unpredictable, at times. Sun, wind, rain, hail, and anything else mother nature sends our way. But we are usually guaranteed at least a few weeks of warmth and sunshine sometime between May and September.

If you are working outside, you might rejoice in some much-needed warmth. But what about the dangers?

We have covered the risks of winter working before, and the cold. But what about summer working, is that safe? In addition to the risks you already need to control, working outside in hot weather brings two additional hazards:

• Sun
• Heat

A bit of sunshine isn't a bad thing. And it's certainly nice to feel warm. Working outdoors can be more enjoyable in the summer. But the sun and heat can also be dangerous if we don't protect ourselves.

Sun Exposure and Working Outside

The sun can make you feel great. You might go on holiday to get even more of it. For many people, a bit of sunshine is a great thing. But top up your vitamin D and not your tan, because working outdoors can expose your skin to more sun than is good for you.
It seems easy to get caught out by the sun when working outdoors. We didn't expect it. We forgot to pack the sunscreen on our way out the door. Perhaps because heatwaves don't happen as often as we would like them in the UK. Or maybe because we have other things on our mind when we go to work.

Short term skin damage from high levels of sun exposure can cause sunburn. This can be painful and uncomfortable for weeks as skin blisters and peels. Even a gradual tan will speed up the ageing of your skin over the long term.

One of the more serious dangers of sun exposure is skin cancer. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. And UV light from the sun can cause it. The British Skin Foundation says that 40,000 new cases of skin cancer are reported each year. The NHS reports that more than 100,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK.

Steps To Reduce Risk Of Overexposure To UV

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is the main cause of non-melanoma skin cancer. UV light comes from the sun, as well as from artificial tanning sunbeds and sunlamps.

As an outdoor worker, it is hard to completely avoid the sun when it's out. But you can take steps to protect your skin and avoid over-exposure. This will lower your risks from some of the more harmful effects:

• Stay in the shade when possible
• Use a high factor sunscreen on any exposed skin (the higher the SPF the better)
• Re-apply sunscreen throughout the day
• Wear a hat
• Wear a top and clothing that covers the skin (especially any areas without sunscreen)
• Take regular breaks out of the sun

Working In The Heat And Heat Stress

This is the UK. How hot does it really get? Is heat a real problem? Well, yes. Especially at work. Because you're not on holiday, able to cool off in the pool or an airconditioned hotel room (unless you happen to be working on a holiday resort).

You're at work. You might be doing a really intense physical task, which is hard enough in a cool environment. Add extra heat to the mix, you're going to get hot and sweaty. You might need to wear extra PPE to protect you from other hazards of the job, which might prevent you from sweating properly and cooling off.

“Heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail. As well as air temperature, factors such as work rate, humidity and clothing worn while working may lead to heat stress. Therefore, it may not be obvious to someone passing through the workplace that there is a risk of heat stress."
HSE Heat stress

And heat stress can be serious. It can make you feel unwell, lack concentration, get muscle cramps, faint. You can develop heat exhaustion, feeling tired and sick, get a headache and feel clammy. At its most serious, heat stroke can bring confusion, convulsions, loss of consciousness and can even be fatal.

Working Outside In The Heat

If you are working outside in the heat, you can take steps to minimise the risk of heat stress and keep cool. Here are some top tips:
• Keep hydrated
• Regular breaks
• Cool down
• Work in the shade
• Plan your work

First, stay hydrated. Cold drinks will both keep you cool and replace the water lost through sweating. You should take regular breaks out of the sun and heat, to give your body a chance to cool down and recover.

If you can work in the shade where it is cooler, do so. You can also plan your work so that more intensive tasks take place early or late when the temperature is lower.
You made need to make extra allowances. Particularly during longer spells of hot weather. Like specialist PPE to keep you cool and safe. Or installing fans and air conditioning in break areas.

Be especially careful if you're not used to working in hot environments. Your body needs time to adjust to working in the heat. If a sudden heatwave arrives, give yourself time to get used to working in hot weather. Be extra careful the first few days.

New Rack Training Centre Opens at Rack Group

Posted on 15 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

Rack Group have opened a newly refurbished racking training centre in Barnsley’s Carlton Industrial Estate, only 6 miles from M1 Jct 38.

The refurbished centre enables candidates to undertake rack safety training away from their own warehouse site. This option is ideal for customers who have limited space on site, or who have extremely busy operations and therefore training on site is not an option.

The rack training centre is also ideal for companies who only have one or two candidates looking for rack safety training. These candidates can book onto one of our open training days at a time that suits them, offering a cost effective alternative to hosting a group training session at a customer site.

Larger groups are also able to book the training centre for team away days, where training can be incorporated as part of the day’s schedule.

Facilities at the centre include a large classroom and separate breakout room with private kitchen for lunch and refreshments. The centre also includes a designated training racking area where candidates will be trained to spot damage and safety issues within a real warehouse environment.

The full list of courses available at the Rack Training Centre include:

To register your interest in the Rack Training Open Days, or to enquire about a group booking, get in touch with the Rack Group team today.

What is EN 15635, and how is it related to storage equipment?

Posted on 13 July 2022 by Maisie Greenfield

In 2008, the British Standards Institute adopted EN 15635 as the standard for the racking industry. This standard sets out how racking systems need to be installed and maintained. But what exactly is this EN 15635, and why is it so important?

What Is EN 15635?

EN 15635 became the standard with regards to the application and maintenance of steel racking systems. It acts as the guidelines of storage and racking systems to ensure safety on an operational level.

This is deemed necessary because a lot of these racking systems are used in close contact with heavy machinery. Not only does EN 15635 minimise any damage to the structure itself but it prevents safety risks to everyone within the vicinity.

It is important to note that EN 15635 is only used for racking and storage systems that are made of steel. Other racking and storage systems that are made of different materials may have different standards.

Who Needs to Know and Comply with EN 15635?

This standard is very important to several industries. It is necessary for the manufacturers of storage equipment, specifically those who make items made of steel. This is crucial to them because it is the best way to demonstrate to end users that their equipment is safe to use.

Aside from the manufacturers, the designers and installers of racking layouts should also be aware of this standard. This way, whenever they are designing or installing any racking or storage system, they know that they are complying with the required standards.

Both manufacturers and suppliers of steel should also be familiar with EN 15635 as a precautionary safety measure. Of course, it lets them know that the quality of their steel is also passing the EN 15635 standards.

Why Do We Need to Use and Comply with EN 15635?

EN 15635 does not only include guidelines in the development and manufacturing of these storage systems. Rather, it also includes operational requirements, assembly and installation standards. These guidelines have been created for the purpose of safety and have been considered to be a top standard.

EN 15635 ensures the safety of operations when using these storage systems. It also addresses any possible issues and helps classify them while at the same time providing the recommended solutions. This provides ease when it comes to dealing with any safety issues with regards to the storage systems that are being used.

This has also helped in improving the quality of the steel itself and its manufacturing process. This has ensured that the racking systems and storage solutions remain of the highest quality possible to endure any tough conditions.

What Happens If We Do Not Comply with EN 15635?

While it is possible to get away without complying with EN 15635, it poses a risk of a safety hazard, harm, damage in operations and possible human safety being compromised. The standards exist for a valid reason.

So even if it is possible to avoid complying with EN 15635, this does not mean you should. The existence of the standard means that there is an importance to it that should be followed.

If an incident was to occur that involved the safety of the racking system, the Health and Safety Executive would investigate the business owner. The company would then need to demonstrate the steps they took to avoid the incident. Following the EN 15636 standard is the best way companies can ensure they are doing all they can to keep their warehouse safe.

Conclusion

EN 15635 is important in that it has been created to ensure the safety of the facilities, equipment, and operators. All of this is done while providing solutions that are efficient. It is important that you are familiar with these standards and ensure that your storage systems also comply.

If you are seeking industrial racking services, including the supply and installation of storage systems, you can contact Rack Group. We are a reliable provider of racking solutions for warehouses and have been in operation for 40 years where our priority is your safety. Contact us to learn more.