Most warehouses think of PUWER, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, as something that governs forklifts and machinery, not the racking those forklifts load. Legally, pallet racking counts as work equipment too, and that brings a set of duties that have nothing to do with the racking’s colour coding or inspection schedule on their own. It’s a duty that applies across the industrial and warehouse sector as a whole, regardless of what’s actually being stored.
What PUWER actually requires
PUWER requires that work equipment is suitable for its purpose, properly maintained, and used only by people who understand the risks involved, and it applies to racking exactly as it applies to any other piece of equipment your business relies on. That’s a broader, more general duty than the specific inspection requirements racking already has under other guidance.
Why this catches warehouses off guard
Most warehouses are well aware of the need for regular racking inspections, but far fewer connect that requirement to PUWER specifically, treating it as a separate, standalone obligation instead. Understanding that racking sits under the same legal framework as your forklifts and conveyors changes how seriously “we’ll get to that inspection eventually” should be taken.
Suitability: is the racking actually right for the job
PUWER’s suitability requirement means racking has to be fit for the loads and the way it’s actually used, not just structurally sound in the abstract. Racking rated for one product but now holding something heavier, or a system never designed for the pallet sizes now going through it, can fail the suitability test even if it hasn’t failed a physical inspection yet. Our Warehouse Pallet Racking systems are specified around your actual load profile from the outset, which is what keeps this test easy to pass rather than a recurring worry. The clearest evidence of suitability sitting on the racking itself is the load notice, and our guide to Pallet Racking Load Notices Explained covers what that notice needs to show and when it needs updating.
Maintenance: an ongoing legal duty, not a good habit
Keeping racking maintained isn’t just best practice under PUWER, it’s a specific legal requirement, which puts real weight behind decisions about repairing versus replacing damaged sections. If you’re weighing that decision on a specific bay, our guide to Racking Repairs vs Replacement covers how to make that call properly.
Training and use: who’s allowed to load what
PUWER also requires that people using work equipment understand the risks involved, which for racking means staff loading pallets need to understand load limits and safe handling, not just how to operate a forklift. A well-maintained racking system undermined by untrained loading practices is still a PUWER problem, not just a training gap.
How this connects to inspection and colour coding
PUWER is the legal backbone; the practical routine that keeps you compliant with it is regular inspection and a clear damage-rating system. Our guides to Pallet Racking Safety Inspections and SEMA Racking Colour Coding Explained cover the day-to-day process that actually satisfies the PUWER duties described here.
And finally…
Pallet racking being classed as work equipment isn’t a technicality, it means the same legal duties that apply to your forklifts and machinery apply to the racking those forklifts load. Knowing that changes how inspection, maintenance and training around racking should be treated, not as good practice, but as a legal obligation.
If you want help making sure your racking meets its obligations under PUWER, Rackline can help. Call 01782 770144, email info@rackline.co.uk, or fill in the form below and one of our team will be in touch.