Businesses which store products or machinery and utilise storage equipment such as racking, mezzanine floors and shelving will need an expert inspection carried out. Carrying out in house inspections isn’t enough to meet legal requirements. An annual expert inspection by someone with the relevant qualifications and insurance cover needs to be done according to SEMA.

The person carrying out the inspection needs to be qualified as a SEMA Approved Inspector (SARI), this is the industry’s leading qualification so everything will be inspected to the latest legislation. An in-depth on-site assessment is carried out with any areas considered dangerous being highlighted and the racking itself being off-loaded.

Even if your racking is new, an inspection is still required to keep it in the best condition possible. The day to day wear and collisions from forklifts can lead to damage on the racking, this will show up on the racking inspection report and given a rating based on the severity. After the inspection has taken place a certificate is provided to comply with SEMA guidelines.

Your external provider for racking inspections needs to work closely with your PRRS (Person Responsible for Racking Safety) to ensure the inspection records are up to date and managed correctly. This person in charge is responsible for the regular maintenance and upkeep of the storage racking. Any problems should be identified and reported immediately to prevent any future problems.

What happens during a racking inspection?

A racking inspection starts from the ground level with the shelves still loaded with pallets. The risk is identified using a colour-coded classification system.

Red – This is the most severe type of damage and the racking itself should be unloaded and not used until repair work is carried out.

Amber – The racking is damaged, but it is not serious enough to warrant an immediate off-loading. Repairs should be carried out the next time the racking is off-loaded and not used until completed.

Green – Future monitoring needs to be carried out with items marked as green. This racking is only slightly damaged and is within the limitation of the SEMA code.

The actual inspection can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on the warehouse. After the inspection is completed, a detailed report will be sent over to the customer. Recommendations will also be suggested for any areas with high traffic to prevent any future damage.