Pallet Racking Regulations
As a business owner, or as a person with responsibility for a pallet rack system within a business, you should be aware of the regulations governing these structures. The regulations have been established by industry experts and professionals and outline the requirements to ensure consistent safe practices, mitigate hazards, and prevent accidents.
The laws, regulations and building codes for a pallet racking system vary from province to province and each municipality. Select a province below to view a summary of the pallet rack regulations and links to each provinces’ building codes.
The best way to ensure safety and protect yourself from liability is through compliance with all relevant regulations and through regular pallet rack inspections to maintain compliance over time. The expert team at cam|industrial is here to help.
Provincial Pallet Rack Regulations
OHS Alberta | Part 12 – General Safety Precautions
Pallet and storage racks
187(1) An employer must ensure that pallets used to transport or store materials or containers are loaded, moved, stacked, arranged and stored in a manner that does not create danger to workers.
187(2) An Employer must ensure the racks used to store materials or equipment
(a) are designed, constructed and maintained to support the load on them
(b) are placed on firm foundations that can support the load
187(3) A worker must report any damage to a storage rack to an employer as quickly as is practicable
187(4) The employer and the workers at a work site must take all reasonable steps to prevent storage racks from being damaged to the extent that their integrity as structures is compromised.
WorkSafe BC | OHS REGULATIONS PART 4: GENERAL CONDITIONS
4.43.1 Storage racks
(1) In this section, “storage rack” means a combination of steel frames, beams and associated accessories used, once assembled into a structure, to support materials and products, including, for example, a pallet rack or cantilever rack, but excludes shelving and display fixtures used for retail purposes.
(2) This section applies in respect of a storage rack that is
(a) 2.4 m (8 ft) or taller in height, as measured from the floor to the top of the highest shelf level of the storage rack
(b) under 2.4 m (8 ft) in height, if the materials and products are loaded on or unloaded off the storage rack by other than manual means.
(3) The employer must ensure that a storage rack in the workplace is
(a) capable of safely supporting the items stored on it,
(b) designed and constructed in accordance with good engineering practice, and
(c) used in accordance with the specifications and instructions of the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
(4) The employer must ensure that a qualified person installs and uninstalls the storage rack, in whole or in part, in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
(5) The employer must ensure that the instructions of the manufacturer or a professional engineer for safely loading, unloading and maintaining the storage rack are readily available in the workplace to workers.
(6) The employer must ensure that the rated capacity of the storage rack is clearly posted near the storage rack and readily visible to workers.
(7) The employer must ensure that any structural modification, including reconfiguration, of the storage rack is carried out in accordance with the specifications of the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
(8) The employer must ensure that a qualified person
(a) inspects the storage rack
(i) for wear, corrosion, damage, missing or incompatible parts, and signs of fatigue, and
(ii) at regular intervals that will prevent the development of unsafe working conditions,
(b) makes a record of the results of each inspection, and
(c) provides the record to the employer.
(9) The employer must ensure that, with respect to the storage rack,
(a) regular maintenance is done, and
(b) wear, corrosion, damage, missing or incompatible parts, and signs of fatigue are repaired or replaced in accordance with the specifications and instructions of the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
Manitoba Workplace Safety & Health Act & Regulation | Part 7 – Storage of Materials, Equipment, Machines & Tools
General Requirement restorage
7.1 An employer must ensure that all workplace materials, equipment, machines and tools are stored in a manner that does not create a risk to the safety or health of a worker or affect the safe operation of the workplace. Safe loading conditions — permanent or temporary building or structure
7.2(1) An employer must ensure that the safe loading conditions for a permanent or temporary building or structure, as specified in the Manitoba Building Code or the design specifications of a professional engineer, are not exceeded
(a) during its construction; or
(b) when it is used to store materials, equipment, machines, or tools.
7.2(2) If it appears that the loading conditions specified in subsection (1) may be exceeded when the use of a building or structure is changed, the employer must ensure that the loading conditions respecting the changed use are certified in advance of the change in use as being safe by a professional engineer. Storage beneath electrical lines
7.3 An employer must obtain the written approval of the electrical authority having jurisdiction before storing machinery, materials, or equipment beneath an outdoor overhead electrical line. Design of racking
7.4(1) An employer must ensure that all racks and frames used to store materials, equipment, machines or tools are
(a) designed, constructed, and maintained to support the load placed on them; and
(b) placed on firm foundations that can support the load.
7.4(2) An employer must ensure that commercially manufactured racks and frames are installed, used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
7.4(3) An employer must ensure that racks that exceed a 3:1 height-to depth ratio are suitably anchored, externally braced or properly secured to a building or structure.
7.4(4) An employer must ensure that all racks and frames used outdoors to store materials, equipment, machines or tools are designed, constructed and maintained to support loads placed on them by wind, wind gusts and other environmental conditions.
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation 2020
Occupational Health & Safety Regulations | Part IX – S130
Pallets & Storage Racks
(130) An employer, contractor, owner or supplier shall ensure that:
(a) pallets are maintained in a manner that will permit safe lifting of the pallets and the pallets’ loads by a forklift truck or other device; and
(b) racks for the storage of amterials or equipment are:
(i) designed, construced and maintained to support any load placed on the racks; and
(ii) erected on a firm foundation.
Occupational Health & Safety Regulations
National Building Code of Canada
The National Building Code of Canada 2015, adopted for use throughout Saskatchewan, came into effect on January 1, 2018.
Occupational Health & Safety Act (OSHA) Section 7- Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PSR)
Under Section 7, Item 3 of the Act, a PSR is required when materials, articles, or objects are to be placed or stored on a rack or stacking structure.
Furthermore, Clause 45(b) of item 3 specifies that the rack or stacking structure must be designed and tested in accordance with the relevant current standards.
However, there are certain exemption conditions for conducting a PSR. If documentation can demonstrate that a rack or stacking structure complies with the ANSI MH16.1-2012 (R2012). Specification for the Design, Testing, and Utilization of Industrial Steel Storage Racks, the owner, lessee, or employer may claim an exemption.
To establish the exemption, the following documents are required:
1. A statement confirming that the rack or stacking structure is designed and tested in accordance with the ANSI MH1616.1-2012 (R2019) Specification for the Design, Testing, and Utilization of Industrial Steel Storage Racks.
Each component provided by the manufacturer must be tested to validate its design according to the standard. Once a component passes the testing and validation, it can be used. However, is there is no documentation clearly stating that the entire rack or stacking structure complies with the current applicable standard mentioned above, a PSR may still be required even if the components meet the standard
Federal Pallet Rack Regulations
4.1.8.18 Elements of structures, non-structural components and equipment
A-4.1.8.18.(14) Storage Racks
CCOHS is Canada’s national resource for the advancement of workplace health and safety. They provide guidelines for best safety practices of construction and maintenance of a racking assembly. They recommend companies perform an internal monthly racking inspection to identify and document any deficiencies or damages.
Get Help When you Need it.
Most businesses need help with more than just their annual expert inspection. At cam|industrial, we partner with companies to support all their pallet racking needs from annual inspections, assessing and repairing damage, and designing systems that help you as your needs change. Email us today with any questions or to find out more.