RACKING PSR CERTIFICATIONS

PRE-START HEALTH & SAFETY REVIEW (PSR) and SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

Warehouse racking is essential for the day to day operations of warehouse storage and distribution facilities. It is also essential to ensure the safe and productive operation of your warehouse by regularly inspecting your storage system for any damages and requesting a racking PSR (Pre-Start Health and Safety Certificate) issued by a qualified engineer. Damage to racking frames is common due to lift truck impact, which can cause bends in upright racking end frames. This in turn will weaken the storage system thus altering the PSR certified load capacities.

In Ontario, the Ministry of Labour has been promoting safe practices and proper usage of industrial storage racking to ensure compliance of safety codes and to verify current load capacities for the racking in your facility.

A rack PSR will provide the necessary load capacity certification and ensure your storage system is safe for everyday use. A professional inspection must be performed by a qualified Engineer to ensure the racking system has not become damaged by years of wear and tear.

They can also recertify load allowances. North American Steel, as a racking manufacturer, can issue a PSR exemption letter for all new installations of racking. In 2011 alone, the Ministry of Labour issued over 3,000 stop work orders, causing lost revenues for businesses due to the down time for the certification of warehouse racking. It is our recommendation that industrial racking or shelving in warehouses and distribution centers is inspected annually for any damages that may affect the integrity of the racking.

The CSA Standard A344 requires that on-site inspections of the racking be performed regularly by an internal staff member and a record be kept of such inspections for the Ministry of Labour compliance checks.

Rack Protection

Preventing rack damage is the most economical way to ensure rack safety in your warehouse for the long term. Forklift truck drivers must be trained to work around pallet racking to minimize damage. Rack protection is a recommended option to prevent damage. Rack protection is an upfront minimal expense that can prevent both long-term damage and the added expense of replacing racking in the future. Damages in your storage system can lead to warehouse down time, a possible racking collapse, serious injury or the death of an employee. Lift truck drivers should be properly trained on working with material handling equipment and safety procedures when dealing with heavy and palletized loads. If you are issued a stop work order by the Ministry of Labour because of damage or other safety concerns, a racking PSR will be required before you can resume work.

Rack PSR

We will provide certificates for each bay of pallet racking along with layout drawings of your installation. A rack PSR should indicate the date, signature of the reviewing engineer, as well as the capacity per beam indicating the allowable maximum beam load.

North American Steel performs PSRs along with certifying the pallet racking for safe load capacity, which is one of the benefits of dealing directly with your racking manufacturer. For new installations with NAS racking, a PSR exemption letter can be issued by your NAS representative.

Proper Usage

Moving pallet racking within a warehouse facility is not recommended without the proper review of the manufacturer’s guidelines for racking protection and anchoring. Racking that is not properly anchored to the floor is an accident waiting to happen. Moving or removing cross beams and braces can overload remaining beams and significantly reduce load capacity ratings. Consult with a licensed Engineer when moving or adjusting racking.

Safety Specifications And Standards

Used racking is of particular concern as it is difficult to determine the age of the racking or whether the racking was initially certified. A new storage system is often required when damages are too severe for a “band-aid” repair solution. We highly recommend that engineering specifications be kept on hand, as per CSA A344-17 guidelines. Manufacturers are required to maintain records of certification and load capacities per bay or racking type depending on what the racking is used for. Always obtain information from the manufacturer indicating that it was designed and installed in accordance with the safety specifications and standards. This can be done by having a PSR issued. An inspection is required in order to obtain a copy if you do not already possess one. If you make any alterations or repairs to the racking, a new PSR is required.