Mobile racking PUWER compliance for frozen food storage
Actively identifying and applying the correct specific Type-C standard (BS EN 15095) to a complex system in a specialized environment (frozen storage).
Demonstrating that the Cenheard team doesn’t just do generic PUWER assessment. Our ongoing technical competency takes the correct specific type-C standard and applies a technical standard validation into a legal PUWER framework. Helping our clients utilise PUWER compliance in a way that delivers validation of conformity.
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Summary
As warehouses look to maximize their storage footprint, power-operated mobile racking systems are becoming increasingly popular. However, installing such complex machinery in harsh environments like a frozen food storage facility introduces unique safety challenges.
Cenheard was contacted to conduct a series of PUWER assessments and validate the safety of new mobile racking units for a leading frozen food distributor.
The challenge
Our client recently installed a new power-operated mobile racking system to increase capacity within their frozen food storage warehouse. To ensure full legal compliance and the highest standard of safety for their operators, they contacted Cenheard to carry out a comprehensive Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) assessment.
Because the equipment was being operated in a sub-zero freezer application, the safety systems required strict, expert validation to ensure warehouse operators were protected from crushing, shearing, and trapping hazards when entering or operating the moving aisles.
Standards and regulations applied:
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998
- BS EN 15095 (Power-operated mobile racking and shelving, carousels and storage lifts. Safety requirements)
- BS EN ISO 12100 (Safety of machinery. General principles for design. Risk assessment and risk reduction)
Realised benefits
By employing Cenheard for their PUWER compliance needs, our client could be confident that their newly installed machinery was not only legally compliant but actively protecting their workforce in a high-risk environment.
Rather than relying purely on generic risk assessments, Cenheard’s machinery safety lead utilized the designated Type-C harmonised standard, BS EN 15095, to comprehensively validate the safety requirements of the equipment. This specialized standard explicitly addresses the safety measures required for power-operated storage equipment, particularly noting the additional hazards presented by freezer applications.
We systematically verified the system’s critical safety functions – such as aisle-entry protection, anti-crush sensors, emergency stops, and braking mechanisms. Any observations, gaps, or necessary improvements identified against the standard were then seamlessly incorporated into the final PUWER assessment.
By applying the precise engineering standard alongside the legal framework of PUWER, Cenheard provided the client with simple, actionable guidance for compliance and a clear roadmap for safe operation, ensuring peace of mind for the business and a safe working environment for their warehouse staff.
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