Warehouse racking comes in all shapes and sizes and properly maintaining it is key to its effectiveness for business storage and output. One way to ensure they are safe and well maintained is by inspecting them, but the key question is – how often should warehouse racking be inspected? The experts at Absolute Racking Inspections are here to give you the answer. Read further to find out!
The importance of racking inspections
Before we look into how often racking inspections should take place, let’s answer why they are so important. Racking inspections help identify any faults, anomalies and damage that could harm the integrity of the system. By spotting issues sooner rather than later, the risk of accidents and injuries that could prove fatal is significantly reduced. Also, racking inspections help stop products in storage from becoming damaged, eliminating the threat of financial losses.
Understanding regulatory requirements
The UK has strict regulatory requirements on racking inspections, with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) providing guidelines highlighting the importance of inspections. Racking and other storage work equipment must be maintained and kept in a safe condition with regular inspections by a qualified inspector. By adhering to these guidelines, businesses and personnel can remain safe and not face legal repercussions and potential closure.
Frequency and types of inspections
So, how often should racking be inspected and what do these inspections entail? The frequency of the inspection depends on the type of racking, the warehouse environment, the number of products stored as well as past issues. The three main types of racking inspections include:
Annual inspections
A racking system must be inspected annually by a SEMA approved racking inspector. This will be a detailed inspection where the inspector will check all aspects of the system for faults and damage. A yearly inspection is vital and adheres to HSE guidelines.
Weekly internal inspections
Each business that houses a racking system should have a Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS) and should conduct weekly inspections and make a record of them, detailing any issues found.
Daily inspections
Employees should visually inspect all types of racking daily and look for anything wrong that could be deemed hazardous. Any issues found should be reported immediately and recorded.
Preparation and execution of inspections
Being well prepared for a racking inspection can make a real difference when the SEMA-approved inspection takes place. The ideal outcome of a racking inspection is for any faults to have a green risk, where no remedial action is necessary. The other two categories are amber risk – where damage is exceeding allowable limits which require action – and red risk – where damage is beyond allowable limits which requires immediate offloading and repair of the affected areas.
There are several things you can do whilst preparing to ensure your racking system stays within green risk:
- Maintain an up-to-date record of previous inspections.
- Have a record of your entire racking inventory, including the types, specifications and any modifications made.
- Have any previous faults detected resolved before your annual inspection.
- Clear the floor and surrounding area of your racking system of any obstructions.
Addressing identified issues
The severity of the issues found will determine what action needs to be taken. If any red risks are found, a corresponding member of staff will have to organise the repairs ASAP, by contacting qualified personnel. However, no matter the type of repairs that are needed, a post-repair inspection should be performed to ensure the racking system now conforms to all regulatory safety standards.
How Absolute Racking Inspections can help you
Absolute Racking Inspections is here to help you with all types of racking system inspections, from pallet racking to cantilever racking inspections. Our qualified, SEMA-approved inspector, Sean Parker, has over 40 years of experience conducting all manner of racking inspections. Sean will thoroughly inspect your system and create a detailed report outlining any issues that need fixing, and the level of risk.
Sean
The Inspector
Caroline
The Boss
Training and awareness
Thanks to his years of industry experience, Sean knows a thing or two about training others and making your team aware of things to look out for on a daily basis. Our services also include pre-installation surveys, in which Sean will look for any issues before they even occur, saving your business substantial costs in the long run.
Book your racking inspection with Absolute Racking Inspections today to ensure your business and team are safe. Give us a call on 0800 634 8654 to talk to our team or email us at info@absoluteracking.co.uk. We are here to help.
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