On their own, standards are more like suggestions. There is no requirement for the public or businesses to comply with standards. However, if a South African standard gets taken up by the government and becomes part of the law, then the standard become mandatory.
Light gauge perforated racking (racking structures) is excluded from all South African codes and standards. Instead, the industry relies on internationally recognized standards that work as suitable alternatives.
Since there aren’t any official South African standards regarding covering racking structure design, installation, use, inspection and maintenance, the racking manufacturing industry in South Africa is not controlled. As a result, end users and their insurance are very often not aware of the limitations on the lifespan of the racking structures, required inspections, and how much weigh they can handle.
The only law that indirectly touches this topic is the Occupational Health & Safety Act, also know as the OHSAct. General Safety Regulations 8 (GSR8) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 (OHSAct), is very general with no specific reference to issues of risk assessment or inspections. However, according to GSR2 every employer and every user of machinery should evaluate the risks that might occur from their activities. Based on that, the OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Standards goes a step further, saying that organisations should have procedures in place for situations where there might be deviations from Health and Safety policies and procedures.
IMPORTANT NOTE
All is not lost, with proper operational controls in place all the risks can be managed.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Act is there for securing the health, safety, and well-being of employees and anyone else at the workplace, eliminating of any risks that could harm you.
For this reason, all business owners must meet the requirements set out in this Act.
Duties of employers to employees
- Provide and maintain plant or systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health.
- Ensuring so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and the absence of risks to health and safety in connection with the use of handling, storage or transport of plant or substances.
- Maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, each workplace under the employer’s management and control in a condition that is safe and without risks to health or safety.
International Standards for the use of Racking structures
The use of Racking Structures is governed by a number of standards across the world.
These include:
- AS4084 – Australian Standards
- BS EN 15512 – British Standards
- CSA A3441 – Canadian Standars
- FEM 10.2.04 – European Standards
- RMI – United States Standards
In additional to these standards, companies develop their own standards for racking structures. These standards can cover everything from, installations, inspections, maintenance, or specific colours of the racking structures.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Until such time it is recommended to make use of SEMA (Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association) codes and guidelines on the safe operation and maintenance of racking structures in South Africa.
Codes of Practice
A Code of Practise provides detailed information on how standards required under work health and safety laws can be achieved.
In addition to what was mentioned before, there are a number of other laws that come into play and have an impact on peripheral elements. These can include:
- Building Code and Fire Safety Regulations
- Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Laws
- Standards for Material Handling Equipment
- Standards for Pallets
Remember, these are just a few examples, and the actual laws and standards that apply can vary depending on your specific industry and location. It’s crucial to stay informed about the relevant laws and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations to maintain safe and legally compliant workplace.
