| Vodka Warehouse Racking Collapse Safety Notes |
| Tuesday, 17 November 2009 07:48 |
|
By now, I guess that about half of the industrialised world will have seen the You Tube video of the Vodka warehouse racking collapse. For anyone who hasn't or just wants a second or third or fourth look, this is the link After the sensationalism of the whooo's and aaahhh's and “was it staged” for the cameras, an important question is . What learnings can the Occupational Health and Safety community take out of it ?. I've already heard many “it would never happen in our warehouse” comments. But would it? Could it?  There are many excellent well managed warehouses, but there are also some which are not so good.There is an old saying “familiarity breeds contempt” and it is as pertinent today as it ever was. Incidents such as this are a wake up call and should send a message to check our own warehouses and processes for the possibility of accident. Even though there may be well established systems in place, its always a good idea to physically check the installations and to reinforce the Safety message with the workforce. There are a number of components and most places are a little bit different but I would be starting with the following: 1. Racking Maintenance ◦ I have seen numerous racking installations which have been bumped and damaged but  never fixed or taken out of service, maybe the forklift drivers don't appreciate the danger. Maybe the checking and maintenance procedure needs to be improved. Are all racks undamaged◦ Similarly I have seen racking where columns or beams have been replaced with undersized spares, welded or modified to make them fit. Do all racks comply with the design standards  ◦ Although there is propriety protection readily available for the legs, there are still many bent columns out there, waiting for a small bump to complete the final collapse.2. Procedures ◦ Is the housekeeping 100%, no damaged pallets, broken timber or garbage on the floor ◦ I have seen overcrowded warehouses with pallets stored in the aisles which reduces turning circles and forces dangerous lift and turn manoeuvres ◦ Is there a clearly understood protocol for the drivers, do they all know who has the right of way. Particularly when it gets busy. No driver has instantaneous 360 degree vision ◦ Are the floors well marked ◦ Is the racking well marked for maximum loads and do the beams comply 3. Training and refresher courses for the drivers  ◦ Are all licences current ◦ Are all drivers competent ◦ Are all drivers physically fit with adequate eyesight and hearing 4. Forklifts ◦ Are all forklifts well maintained and mechanically safe ◦ Are the logbooks current Th check list can obviously be tailored to suit the specific warehouse application, but at the end of the day, watching your warehouse racking collapse in the next You Tube video clip doing the rounds is not good for career advancement |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 08:46 |