Annual warehouse racking inspections are essential to maintain safety, compliance, and productivity. By scheduling your annual inspection today, you ensure the well-being of your business and employees.

To keep a racking installation safe and operational, regular inspections are necessary. The frequency of these inspections depends on various site-specific factors and should be determined by a designated ‘Person Responsible for Racking Safety’ (PRRS), tailored to the warehouse's operating conditions.

This includes considering factors like operational frequency, methods, warehouse size, equipment, and personnel, all of which can impact the structure. The inspection follows a layered approach with multiple levels of assessment.

Any employee who observes a safety issue or damage must immediately report it to the PRRS. It's essential to have a system in place for reporting damage and defects.

Employees must receive training, information, and guidance on the safe operation of the racking system, covering the components that impact both their own safety and the safety of others.

Visual inspections

The PRRS should ensure that inspections are made at weekly or other regular intervals based on risk assessment. A formal written record should be maintained.

‘Expert’ inspections (SARI)

Inspections should be carried out by a technically competent person at intervals no longer than 12 months. A written report, including observations and recommendations for any required actions, should be submitted to the PRRS.

A technically competent person may be a trained specialist within the organisation, a specialist from the rack supplier, or an independent, qualified racking inspector. SEMA runs regular rack awareness training to cover visual inspection, while a more formal course is available to qualify expert inspectors under the SARI (SEMA Approved Rack Inspector) scheme.

Standard racking inspections will be conducted from ground level, unless there are signs of issues at higher levels that necessitate further investigation.

Storage equipment should be inspected on a regular basis as recommended in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.

The inspection should be carried out in accordance with SEMA Guideline No. 6 – Guide to the Conduct of Pallet Racking and Shelving Surveys. The frequency of the inspections depends on a wide variety of factors that are particular to the operator’s site.

SDE Group's inspections are carried out in line with the SEMA Code and the following information submitted after survey:​

​- Fully documented inspection report

- Details of all locations requiring attention

- General observations on housekeeping, general design, FLT operations and load conditions

Our reports deliver all the details you need to identify damaged areas and the appropriate materials for repairs. Once completed, the inspection reports are generated, emailed to your designated contact, and stored in our database for as long as required. Our thorough assessments examine all components, highlighting any damage or wear, and provide clear recommendations for repairs or adjustments. These reports give you the information needed to make informed decisions, ensuring that your racking systems are consistently monitored and maintained to the highest standards

Based on the inspection report, our team of qualified SEMA-trained Installation Engineers are ready to carry out any necessary repairs promptly. Our repair services are focused on restoring your racking systems to full operational capacity with minimal disruption to your business.

After all repairs are completed, we send completion certificates and a site audit document to your designated contact. All repair details, including completion times, are stored on our database for future reference.

Our Racking Inspectors and Installation Engineers are committed to exceeding expectations, providing you with the assurance and confidence that your warehouse is both safe and running efficiently.

Customers can reach out to us through our website, email, phone, or LinkedIn. To provide an accurate quote, we kindly request a site plan or photos of the racking.

The quote will be based on the amount of racking and the location within the UK or Ireland. As we're based in Derbyshire, we're typically able to reach a site within a couple of hours.

The cost of a racking inspection depends on the type of inspection needed, the size and type of your storage system.

To get your quote, please get in touch with our team and submit some key information via our contact form.