Warehouses rely heavily on their racking to maximise storage capacity, improve the flow of operational flow and keep employees safe. But what happens if something goes wrong? Who will be responsible if someone gets injured because the racking wasn’t designed, installed or maintained correctly?
As the warehouse owner, director or manager, the responsibility falls on you.
What can go wrong with racking?
There are a number of reasons why your racking can fail. It could be down to poor design by your racking supplier, incorrect installation methods or damage that has been identified but ignored.
If your racking fails, the consequences can be severe. At best, you’re looking at lost stock and your operation temporarily shutting down to clean up the mess. At worst, an employee gets seriously hurt.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) then investigates your business. They will look at whether you, as the warehouse director or manager, have been negligent in your duties and followed correct process. If they find an issue they could prosecute, resulting in reputational damage, hefty fines, and even a prison sentence.
Who is responsible for your racking?
In any warehouse, you hire racking suppliers, installers and inspectors to get your equipment in place and kept in good working order. You train members of your team to take on the role of Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS) and conduct regular Visual Inspections. You hire qualified professionals to undertake the Expert Inspections.
But when something goes wrong, it is the decisions of the senior management team that are examined.
Have you checked that external partners are working to industry standards? Did you check that Visual and Expert Inspections were carried out and reports prepared? Have you put processes in place to ensure damage flagged on inspection reports has been repaired within required timescales?
If you can’t confidently answer these questions, you may want to consider training.
How can Duty Holder training help?
The best warehouses in the UK don’t leave safety to chance. They invest in training from the ground up at every level – from suppliers and installers to PRRS employees and qualified inspectors. Until now, there has not been a dedicated course for warehouse owners, directors and managers that highlights their responsibilities towards racking.
SEMA is changing that with a new Duty Holders course.
Launching in September 2026, the course is aimed at directors, warehouse operators and those responsible for workplace safety. The two-hour online session covers why you can’t delegate racking safety, how to protect your business and employees and the framework governing UK racking safety.
Those attending the course will gain vital practical knowledge of risk assessments, inspections and racking protection. It will explain the role of the PRRS, why acting on their inspection report isn’t optional and why ignoring recommendations can carry serious legal consequences.
Click here to learn more about the SEMA Duty Holders course.
Transport & Logistics Magazine – Driving The Industry Forward
