According to Australian Standards, pallet racking must be inspected at least every twelve months. But why does the Australian Standard specify this and why is it important?

The main reason racking needs to be inspected regularly is safety.

Pallet racking goes through a lot on a day to day basis. Not only is it holding large weights, but it can also occasionally get damaged, especially through getting hit by equipment like forklifts. In relation to the weights that pallet racking holds, if overloaded, the racking can become damaged or risk collapsed.

Whether it’s damage, overloading, or just general wear and tear, all of this poses a safety risk. And because of this, it’s important that pallet racking is inspected regularly. If there is a problem, it can be rectified quickly so that it no longer poses a safety risk. This is the reason why the Australian Standard requires that pallet racking gets inspected every twelve months at a minimum.

Beyond safety, it’s also important that pallet racking is kept in good condition in order to avoid damage to stock and the warehouse in general. Poorly loaded or damaged pallet racking can collapse and, assuming no one is hurt, the stock that the pallet racking is storing will surely be damaged, not to mention other parts of the warehouse.

If a collapse like this happens, and you’re lucky that no body is hurt, it can still be a costly mistake. As a business, the damaged stock needs to be replaced, as well as repair to the damaged warehouse and replacement of the collapsed pallet racking. This doesn’t even mention the lost productivity from having to clean everything up.

All in all, damaged pallet racking poses a big risk to both safety and the general operation of a business. This is why regular inspections are needed.

What Happens At A Pallet Racking Inspection?

The good news is that a pallet racking inspection is usually pretty easy.

Our pallet racking inspectors aren’t there to catch a business out or get them in trouble. Instead, they’re there to find any potential hazards, damage, or safety issues, and putt a plan in place to have it rectified. This may involve requiring an immediate fix to some of the pallet racking, but it may also involve simply suggesting something be fixed in the near future before it gets worse.

For more serious pallet racking damage, the inspector may require that the pallet racking be unloaded until it’s fixed. This can be very inconvenient to a business but, as already mentioned, it’s less inconvenient that a pallet racking collapse that can injure or shut down a business!

After the pallet racking is inspected and anything that needs to be fixed is fixed, the pallet racking is then certified for another year.

What Happens If Pallet Racking Isn’t Inspected

If pallet racking isn’t inspected yearly and there’s an accident, there can be serious repercussions for business owners.

Business owners are ultimately responsible for the operation of a warehouse and the safety of everyone who works there. So, if a business owner isn’t doing what they’re obliged to do in terms of workplace safety or what’s described in the Australian Standard for pallet racking, they can be held responsible for injuries and deaths that occur in the workplace.

Because of this, complying with the Australian Standard on pallet racking is extremely important.

Book In A Racking Inspection Today

If you’re overdue for a racking inspection, get in touch with us today to book one in. We’ll inspect the racking then provide a quote on what needs to be done to get it fixed. From there, your pallet racking will be compliant and good for another year.