We can help protect your business by working with you to create a health and safety policy!
Racking
It is crucial that the use of equipment and handling of stock is managed correctly around the workplace as failure to do so could affect the business in a negative way. There were 147 fatal injuries in the workplace based on 2018/2019 figures from the HSE. An example of where incidents could arise due to an incorrect process is racking.
Racking is one of the common activities which involves lifting heavy items. A serious incident involving racking could result in long term injuries. As well as injuries, it could also have an impact on the business as it could damage the stock causing major disruption to the business. Serious accidents can also attract the attention of enforcing authorities which involve fees for intervention where a material breach is discovered.
Companies need to ensure that the right measures and safe working practices are in place as if you fail to comply with the legislation fines associated can be damaging to the business. Fines associated with health and safety breaches have increased significantly from 2016 when the new sentencing guidelines came into force.
A business was prosecuted after an employee fell 10 meters from top of a racking system. The company had subcontracted with another company to start recommissioning work of a warehouse racking system. When HSE had investigated there was no safe system in place, the staff had not been wearing a safety harness and there were no physical barriers which would have prevented anyone from falling. The investigated also showed that the subcontractor company had failed in their duty to ensure the health and safety of its own employees as it had not undertaken a suitable and enough risk assessment for working at height. The company received a fine for £300,000.00 for beach section 3.1 and 2.1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
How Quest Can help you
We understand how important it is to protect your business and that’s where our experts can help you. We can work with you to create a health and safety policy that suits your business. This policy can be used to guide the workforce on the process they need to follow. We will include information the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) so your employees know the process of managing things at work safely.
Prior to this, we would look to carry out an audit. This will help give us a clear sense of direction to support develop of your safety management system with the aim of continuous improvement. We can suggest ways in which you can train your staff day to day and how you can incorporate PUWER requirements into your organisation.
For further information on health and safety policies or PUWER contact us today on 0333 240 7208.
