There are many people out there offering racking inspection services, but not everyone offers the same quality of service.
The main purpose of racking inspection services is to improve warehouse safety. Therefore, choosing a qualified inspector is essential.
Hiring an inexperienced inspector could waste your money and leave safety risks unidentified. In serious cases, this could put your employees and warehouse operations at risk.
1. “What Racking Inspection Services Do You Offer?”
Different companies offer different racking inspection services. Some provide routine inspections, while others offer racking inspection training for warehouse staff.
However, not all inspections cover the same areas or follow the same procedures. Therefore, it is important to understand exactly what the inspector offers.
2. “Are You a SEMA Approved Racking Inspector?”
If this isn’t the second question you ask, it should be the first. If your racking inspector isn’t SEMA-approved, their inspection won’t meet the SEMA standard for racking inspections.
This matters. HSE differentiates between regular racking inspections performed by your staff (or just some person) and an “expert” inspection. SEMA labels approved racking inspectors as “experts”. If you use one for your inspection, you’ll be following HSE’s advice.
If your inspection isn’t from a SEMA approved racking inspector, then follow up with this question…
3. “What Makes You an “Expert” Racking Inspector?”
Another important question is: “What qualifies you to inspect my racking system?”
HSE guidance recommends that racking inspections are carried out by a technically competent person. Therefore, you should check the inspector’s qualifications, training and relevant experience before hiring them.
This legislation did many things but, for racking inspectors, the most important thing it did was allow the “client” to define who is and who is not an “expert” and who is and who is not “competent”.
In other words, if you own a storage system, it is your responsibility to decide if someone is expert enough to inspect your system. If the worst should happen, such as an injury or worse, then you may be asked to explain your thinking.
You may need to explain how you concluded that the person who inspected your racking system was an expert. If you say they were a SEMA-approved racking inspector, HSE supports your decision. If you have a different answer, then it will need to be a good one.
4. “Are You Qualified to Inspect Cantilever Racking?”
HSE’s warehouse safety guidance covers the importance of competent racking inspections. It also recognises SEMA’s Approved Racking Inspector scheme.
However, pallet racking and cantilever racking require different inspection knowledge. Therefore, businesses should confirm that their inspector is qualified and competent to assess the specific storage system.
It simply states that SEMA runs SARI (SEMA Approved Racking Inspector) courses. It also says that those who pass the courses are experts.
SEMA, however, does differentiate between people qualified to inspect cantilever racking and people qualified to inspect pallet racking. So, in lieu of relevant input from HSE, it’s best to defer to SEMA’s advice on this particular issue.
According to its database, SEMA has 103 approved racking inspectors worldwide. These qualified inspectors work in Ireland, Spain, Poland, Finland, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and China. However, of those 103 inspectors, only 34 are also qualified to inspect cantilever racking.
Storage Equipment Experts has one of those 34 inspectors. According to SEMA, that’s makes us one of the few UK based businesses qualified to inspect both cantilever and pallet racking. Whoever inspects your pallet racking, make sure that are qualified to do so.
5. “How Often Do I Need a Racking Inspection?”
HSE’s answer to this question is that you need an“expert” inspection at least once year and “regular” inspections from “competent” staff. We’ve already discussed what HSE means by “expert” and “competent”, but “regular” is another open-ended idea.
HSE states that the regularity should be determined by the Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS).
In some circumstances, your warehouse may require additional expert racking inspections. Therefore, an annual inspection should not automatically be treated as sufficient in every situation.
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), relevant work equipment must be inspected when required by the regulations. This can include inspections following installation, relocation or circumstances that could affect safety.
What’s more, work equipment should be inspected “at suitable intervals” and when “exceptional circumstances” mean that the equipment could be damaged.
According to the fifth section of the same legislation, storage systems count as “work equipment”. As such, under any of the circumstances mentioned in the sixth section, a racking inspection from a SEMA approved inspector. That’s why HSE says “at least” once a year and not “only” once a year.
6. “What Makes You Qualified to Inspect Racking in This Country?”
SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors work in several countries. However, warehouse safety requirements and inspection guidance can vary depending on the location.
Therefore, before hiring an inspector, confirm that they understand the relevant local regulations and industry standards. This helps ensure your racking inspection is appropriate for your warehouse.
Storage Equipment Experts operates in Ireland, where HSA also recommends racking inspection services from a SEMA approved racking inspector. EU directive states that racking systems need to be inspected by an “expert” inspector at least once a year.
This is the same wording HSE uses and this is likely why there are SEMA approved inspectors operating in Finland, Poland and Spain as well.
While this is the case in Ireland and the EU, the situation in your country might be different. Be sure to check.
If you don’t fancy asking an inspector all of that, just contact Storage Equipment Experts.
Our racking inspection services include SEMA approved pallet racking inspections, SEMA approved cantilever racking inspections and racking inspection training.
FAQs
Ask about their services, qualifications, experience with your racking type, recommended inspection frequency and knowledge of local safety requirements.
SARI qualification provides evidence of specialist inspection training and assessment. Check the inspector’s current credentials and whether they cover your storage system.
Yes. Ask them to explain the appropriate schedule for your warehouse, including routine staff checks and expert inspections, based on your operating risks.
Yes. Check that the inspector understands the guidance and requirements applicable where your warehouse operates, particularly when hiring someone who works internationally.
