In September, a food refrigeration firm was fined £140,000 for failing to protect one of its workers from a fatal accident. A 61-year-old died after being crushed under an unsecured racking system he had been told to dismantle.

The HSE investigated the incident at George Baker & Co (Leeds) and found there was no system to inspect and replace racking, no labels to indicate maximum weight loads, and workers were not trained in the correct procedures. The accident was deemed wholly preventable and the business was prosecuted under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

But an investigation of corporate manslaughter might have resulted, which could have led to unlimited fines and directors being jailed for life - as was made clear at this week’s Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association’s annual safety conference (1 November).

Key speakers of course included the HSE, but it was good to see the retail sector also represented, with Neil Sheehan, Asda’s safety, health and environment manager, revealing how Asda approaches safety when choosing a storage supplier. It’s a subject close to my heart. SEMA members regularly witness the compromises to safety caused by consolidation and the drive to accelerated completion.

The two typical sins are time pressure and changing pallet racking configurations. When installers of sprinklers, lighting and mezzanines are competing for the same workspace, it’s likely that risks have not been properly assessed and site supervision is under par. But one fall from a ladder can halt an entire project. As the client, you must know who is responsible for Construction Design Management Regulations.

You also need to take care if changing racking configurations to create another aisle, for instance, as this can compromise the integrity of the structure. Racking collapse often causes serious injury and prosecution under the Corporate Manslaughter Act is very likely - don’t get caught out.

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