PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANT STORAGE SYSTEMS
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Are you aware of the serious consequences of having non-compliant storage systems on your premises?
The Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation mandates that all plant and structures, including pallet and cantilever racking, must be without risks to health and safety. Ignoring these regulations can lead to dire penalties and legal repercussions.
Here’s what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law:
- Ensure that your pallet racking is installed and used correctly according to manufacturer's instructions by a competent person.
- Regularly inspect your racking to confirm its integrity and safety. Ensure you are having your external audits conducted every 12 months by a qualified & insured company (this is what RackSafe are here for!)
- Display load limits, use appropriate ratings, and secure loads prior to storage to prevent overloading and uneven distribution of weight. Find out more about Safe Working Load (SWL) Signs
Breaches of WHS Act 2011 incur penalties varying in severity:
Industrial Manslaughter: Negligent actions resulting in worker death can lead to 20 years imprisonment or a $10 million fine for corporations.
Category 1 Offenses: Reckless endangerment of life may incur fines up to $3 million for corporations, $600,000 and 5 years jail for individuals conducting business, and up to $300,000 and 5 years jail for workers.
Category 2 Offenses: Failure to meet safety duties leading to serious risk carries penalties up to $1.5 million for corporations, $300,000 for individuals conducting business, and $150,000 for workers.
Category 3 Offenses: Breach of health and safety duties can result in fines up to $500,000 for corporations, $100,000 for individuals conducting business, and $50,000 for workers.
In addition to these penalties, on-the-spot fines may be issued by an inspector which can range from $144 to $720 for individuals and $720 to $3600 for a business.
Category 1 Offenses: Reckless endangerment of life may incur fines up to $3 million for corporations, $600,000 and 5 years jail for individuals conducting business, and up to $300,000 and 5 years jail for workers.
Category 2 Offenses: Failure to meet safety duties leading to serious risk carries penalties up to $1.5 million for corporations, $300,000 for individuals conducting business, and $150,000 for workers.
Category 3 Offenses: Breach of health and safety duties can result in fines up to $500,000 for corporations, $100,000 for individuals conducting business, and $50,000 for workers.
In addition to these penalties, on-the-spot fines may be issued by an inspector which can range from $144 to $720 for individuals and $720 to $3600 for a business.
Standards mandate annual racking audits by providers like RackSAFE to ensure compliance. If you haven’t audited recently, it’s time to act!