Audits and Inspections

Inspection is Crucial to a safe warehouse

Safety in your warehouse is critical for its daily operations, efficiency and productivity.

The design and installation of your racking should be Inspected regularly and audited at least every 12 months (According to AS4084:2023) by a competent person.

Pallet racking inspections are essential to maintaining a safe work environment for you and your staff.

SSO Blend out knowledge of materials handling and safety equipment with over 30 years of Pallet racking installation experience to provide you with a blended inspection experience, delivering above expectations.

Our experience will guarantee you:

A safe and productive design
Installation accomodating your warehouse practices
Independent advice on multiple systems

Why Perform a Racking Inspection?

Pallet racking is often one of your biggest assets. You rely on your racking to provide space saving, convenient storage and inventory management. Inspection should then play a big role in your maintenance of this asset. Inspection by staff should occur regularly, Weekly, monthly or bi-monthly depending on how much you use the system. Audits should occur at least every 12-months by an independent inspector, This will ensure anything skimmed over in regular inspections can be picked up and corrected.

Independent inspections are also crucial for making sure any changes made to the racking post-installation meet design criteria for that system and that the safe workloads are still correct.

Excerpt from AS4084:2023.2

General

Inspections of racking and unit loads shall be conducted to check that racking is being used as specified and damage is being reported and rectified.

Inspections, reports and repairs relating to racking shall be documented and retained by the end-user until the racking is removed from service.

Damage incurred, however minor, shall be reported and documented immediately to enable the effect on safety to be immediately assessed.

Hazardous situations involving the operation or maintenance of the racking installation shall be reported, actioned and documented immediately.

Informal inspections

Informal inspections are the responsibility of the end user.

NOTE: The end user may nominate a person to conduct these inspections.

Informal inspections should be conducted at a frequency based on —

the results of a risk assessment (e.g. daily or weekly); or
at intervals recommended by a competent person.

Informal inspections are predominantly conducted visually from ground level with the aid of simple gauges and measuring tools.

Informal inspections should be conducted using the checklist given in the Inspection Checklist

Formal inspections

Formal inspections shall be conducted by a competent person.

Formal inspections shall be conducted at intervals not exceeding 12 months.

The actual frequency of such inspections, if less than 12 months, should be based on —

the results of a risk assessment; or
the recommendation of a competent person for formal inspections.

Formal inspections of racking systems that are under 8 m in height may be conducted visually from ground level.

Formal inspections of racking systems above 8 m in height should be conducted using systems and equipment such as elevating work platforms or other ground-based technologies.

Formal inspections shall be conducted using the Inspection Checklist

The results of the formal inspection shall be documented and include observations and proposals for any corrective action.

Inspection checklist

Inspections, both formal and informal, shall —

determine if storage equipment is being applied and used as specified;
determine if working load limits for unit and bay loads are current and being adhered to;
determine if unit loads adhere to specified dimensions such that operating clearances are maintained as specified;
determine if unit loads are stable;
determine if the racking installation has been modified using the information specified on the load sign or configuration drawings held on site;
check that all signage is current, legible and free from damage and obstruction.
determine if all racking components including, frames, beams, floor fixings, bracing and ancillary devices are consistent with the design;
assess for damage to racking uprights, beams, baseplates and frame bracing caused by impact, see Racking Damage;
check for out-of-plumb (non-vertical) racking uprights in both the cross-aisle and down-aisle directions;
check for absence of pallet beam safety locks and for disengagement of beam connectors from racking uprights;
examine beam connectors for deformation or signs of weld cracking;
identify any corrosion of racking components, see Corrosion;

NOTE: Components include upright frames, beams, beam connectors, safety clips (beam clips) frame, plan and spine bracing, baseplates and floor fixings.

inspect base plates and floor fixings
examine the floor condition, checking for signs of deformation, out of level and cracks; and
check that racking is –
- not attached to a building; or
- if attached to a building, has approval for such attachment from a structural engineer.