HOW OFTEN SHOULD WAREHOUSE RACKING BE INSPECTED?

Typical Warehouse Racking Inspection Schedule

The answer to the question, “How often should warehouse racking be inspected?” depends on many factors. But on average, most warehouse racking should be inspected at least once a year.

Still, it’s important to consider your warehouse’s unique atmosphere, as some requirements will differ depending on the situation. Though warehouse racking should be inspected annually, this should be considered a minimum requirement. Racking should also be inspected after any workplace accident that might compromise it, such as a forklift collision or collapse of a stack.

If your warehouse has a high chance of racking damage, it should be inspected every month. Warehouses with a medium chance of racking damage should be inspected quarterly, and warehouses with a low chance of damage should be inspected bi-annually.

Factors that Influence Racking Inspection Frequency

So how do you know if your racking is at a high, medium, or low risk of damage? Here are some factors that will help you decide.

• Traffic: High traffic areas should be inspected more often.
• Climate: Warehouses without climate control should be inspected more frequently. Cold warehouses are more susceptible to racking damage since the products become denser.
• Aisle width: Narrow aisles offer less maneuverability, meaning accidents are more likely to happen, and should thus be inspected more often.
• Past damage: Has your racking been damaged in the past? If so, it will require more frequent inspections (even if you’ve repaired the damage).

Racking that has many of these characteristics would be considered high risk. (For example, if your racking has narrow aisles, is in a high traffic area, and has a cold climate.) If your racking has two or three of these characteristics, it is considered medium-risk. And if your racking has just one of these characteristics, it is considered to be low-risk.

Who Should Inspect Warehouse Racking?

Now you know how often you should inspect your warehouse racking—but it’s vital to have the right person do the job. Make sure to hire a company certified in warehouse racking inspections. This will ensure you pass off all requirements and keep your work environment as safe as possible.