PALLET RACKING AUDIT
Make sure your pallet racking meets AS4084
If you’re a business with pallet racking, you’ve got certain obligations under Australian Standards AS4084, which apply to steel storage racking systems. In 2023, these standards were updated for the first time since 2012 and split into Design AS4084.1:2023 and Operations AS4084.2:2023 Operations. With the new standards came new requirements regarding design, operation, and responsibilities. One of these is ensuring you have a pallet racking audit from a competent professional every 12 months.
Benefits of a pallet racking audit
It’s a legal requirement to now get an annual racking audit to ensure compliance with safety standards. Not getting this done could invalidate your insurance and come with significant financial penalties. Worse, you may be compromising the safety of your team.
However, there are business advantages to getting regular audits, such as identifying damages and repairs necessary before they become much more expensive. You will get the peace of mind in knowing that your pallet racking is in good condition and should last for years to come, plus potentially learn ways you can get more potential out of your storage.
First and foremost, however, you’ll be ensuring your employees are able to work in a safe environment, and this pays off in productivity, attracting new staff, and keeping your best workers happy.
Changes from AS4084-2012 to AS4084-2023
The 2023 update to AS4084 was significant. Many of the changes are quite technical in nature, such as the expected safe level of engineering and testing methods. On top of the mandated pallet racking audits and the fact the standards are now split into design and operations, there are a few key takeaways from the update that are worth knowing.
● The safety of the storage equipment is now entirely the responsibility of the end-user, that is, your business.
● Any damages found during an inspection need to be reported, well-documented, and addressed in the specified timeframe.
● There are new types of damage listed that may need to be fixed, as well as new signage requirements to clearly show load-bearing capacities.
What about if you have racking bought before 2023? Well, it might conform to the older 2012 standards and could be fine as-is. Australian Standards aren’t enforced retrospectively. However, getting your racking up to the latest standards is always recommended, as these safety measures and responsibilities are put in place for a reason. And the good news is – it’s probably cheaper than you’d think.
A dedicated pallet racking audit team
When the new standards came out in 2023, we knew we had to become experts here at Rackman Australia. We made sure to thoroughly analyse the new requirements, forming a dedicated audit task force and updating our systems to be even more efficient for our customers. The result – we believe that we offer the most thorough, user-friendly and cost-effective reporting process on the market.
All our inspectors maintain strict adherence to an OHS Racking Auditors Manual, and all have extensive experience in the racking industry. Insurers approve our processes, and we have our own insurance in place covering everything from design and consultation and installation to audits.
So, if your current supplier isn’t meeting the mark with your indemnity insurance obligations, or providing you with clear, actionable, transparent OHS reports, we’re here to help.
Nobody knows racking like Rackman Australia
With us as your auditing team, you’ll never have to worry about meeting your responsibilities or that your pallet racking isn’t up to standard. Whether your operation has 20 pallet spaces or 20,000, our team offers the same high level of service and detail on all our auditing reports. Giving you the power and foresight to get it sorted, and get back to running your business.