SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors (SARI)
Our SEMA-approved racking inspectors provide annual racking inspections with nationwide coverage. Both Pallet racking & Cantilever racking approved inspectors, helping you to achieve and maintain HSE Compliance and warehouse rack safety for your site.
Our ‘360’ racking training PRRS courses train and certify your staff to undertake internal inspections in between your annual SEMA-approved inspector inspections.
Raising racking safety standards and awareness across the UK
Our independent, SEMA-approved inspectors specialise in pallet and cantilever racking inspections, ensuring they meet the highest safety and compliance standards.
From single site rack inspections to multi site racking inspections, the UK rack inspection team are here to meet your needs.
Raising racking safety standards for warehouses up and down the UK, from our Midlands base.
Looking for rack awareness training?
Our racking awareness training “360” courses provide your team with the knowledge and expertise to undertake in-house inspections in between your annual professional rack inspections.
Our rack training “360” course is delivered by our own SEMA approved inspector, ensuring they are able to pass on experience, knowledge, hints and tips to your designated team of in-house rack safety inspectors. Delivered at your site for minimal business disruption and enabling our training to be delivered tailored to your site storage equipment.
Both APR (adjustable pallet racking) & Cantilever rack training courses undertaken, with candidates being certified for 3 years upon successful course completion.
With extensive experience in the storage industry, we provide impartial guidance to help minimize your costs while maximizing site storage safety. By conducting a rack safety inspection, we ensure that your racking system is installed according to manufacturer specifications and remains in optimal condition for continued use.
A racking inspection by one of our SARI-certified (SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors) professionals will set you on the right path to meeting HSE, PUWER, and HSG76 guidelines. Our goal is to ensure compliance and maintain structural safety, which is essential in today’s fast-paced warehousing environments.
From Annual rack inspections to monthly or weekly racking inspections we are fully adaptable to work with your site needs and requirements.
From a pallet rack inspection to mezzanine floor, cantilever racking, shelving, crane or automated storage system inspections, we have you covered. With the required working at height & harness training certificates in place for all of our inspectors, we are fully adaptable to meet all of your individual requirements.
Why Choose Us for Racking Inspections?
- Over 30 years of industry experience
- SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors (SARI)
- SEMA Approved Cantilever Racking Inspectors
- IOSH Certified
- Working At Height, Harness & IPAF Certified
- Single & Multi Site Inspections
- Automated Crane Racking Inspections
- Freezer/Cold Store Inspections (All PPE Provided By Ourselves)
- Racking Consultancy Services
- Mezzanine Floor Inspections
- Shelving Inspections
- Nationwide coverage
- Inspection prices fixed for 3 years
- Highest level of safety & compliance
Racking Inspections
Our SEMA-approved pallet racking inspectors conduct detailed inspections to ensure your warehouse racking systems meet safety and compliance standards.
We provide comprehensive SEMA & HSE compliant reports with clear, actionable recommendations. By using the required Red, Amber, Green SEMA damage classifications within our reports, this ensures our reports are able to be understood in a clear and concise manner with any related images also provided if permitted by site to do so.
Our team of SEMA approved rack inspectors ensure that you are fully aware of any issues highlighted and able to offer guidance on damage prevention techniques.
Our fully detailed racking audit will give you the full racking specifications of the systems on your site enabling you to complete any required remedial repairs with ease.
Racking "360" Awareness Training
Enhance your team’s knowledge and skills with our specialised training programmes. Our training courses include but are not limited to:
- The legalities of racking inspections & HSE requirements
- Component overview and breakdown of their structural importance
- Load notices, how to check they are correct and what they should be displaying
- PPE Requirements & essential inspection kit
- SEMA damage classifications
- Damage classification overview – Team classification exercise
- Damage prevention techniques
- Inspection frequency, recording & documentation
- Practical exercise to ensure candidates are of an adequate level of competence
Cantilever Racking Inspections
Our expert inspectors evaluate your cantilever racking systems, ensuring they meet industry standards and are optimised for your storage needs.
All of our inspectors hold the SEMA approved Cantilever racking qualifications, this along with our extensive knowledge of various Cantilever racking systems gives us the professional and expert edge to conduct your Cantilever racking inspections.
A full detailed HSE & SEMA compliant report will be submitted after our inspection listing exact system specifications as well as any recommendations or damaged locations that may have been found.
Our expert racking inspectors are able to offer you damage prevention techniques that would likely result in cost savings for years to come. Keeping your site safer, compliant and more efficient.
Rack Inspection Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a racking inspection a legal requirement?
Yes, racking inspections are a legal requirement in the UK under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other associated regulations, such as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). These laws mandate that all work equipment, including pallet racking systems, must be safe to use and regularly maintained. Failure to comply can lead to legal penalties, accidents, and downtime.
For a detailed overview of the regulations and why compliance is essential, read our comprehensive article on whether racking inspections are a legal requirement in the UK. It provides clear guidance on the standards you must meet to ensure safety and legality in your warehouse.
The benefits of using a SEMA approved inspector?
A SEMA approved rack inspector is a highly qualified individual that has been through intense and thorough training in order to achieve their SEMA approved inspector status. Our SEMA approved racking inspectors have inspected on thousands of sites up and down the UK, various storage types in all industries from the likes of Adidas, JCB, Mercedes Benz to NHS storage facilities. It is this variation and experience that give our inspectors the skills and knowledge to be able to provide you with accurate reports, thorough inspections and valuable tips for future damage & cost savings. Our racking inspectors will:
- Ensure compatibility and suitability of your storage equipment
- Fully Approved Inspectors as recognised by the HSE
- Carry out an in depth inspection process in order to provide you with a fully detailed report with locations and remedial actions listed
- Enable you to achieve and maintain compliance with regards to Health and safety legislations & PUWER regulations.
- Check that your racking installation has been installed to manufacturer specifications
- Ensure load notices are in line and relevant to the racking current configurations
- Offer guidance on areas that may be showing signs of repetitive damages, capturing areas before damages require replacement components
- Assess the pallet and pallet load suitability on site
- Offer guidance on rack related health and safety issues, keeping you up to date with regulations
- Give an in depth specification of the storage equipment
- Full client debrief following the inspection where recordings can be found and guidance given
Aren’t all racking inspectors SEMA approved anyway?
Our advice is to always ask for the inspector’s SARI number which is an individual identification number assigned to each SEMA-approved racking inspector, this should be identifiable on your racking inspection report. You are quite within your right to ask for certification of any rack inspector before the booking of your annual racking inspection, we will always send over all related documentation upon request.
We are aware of companies offering what appears to be a SEMA approved racking inspector inspection, however do not possess the qualification. These companies may be used by all means for the inspection, however in the instance of an audit or incident on site, they are very rarely accepted as legitimate documentation and therefore a liability and compliance issue may arise. We recommend always using a SEMA member for all things rack related as all SEMA members must work to within the strict rules and standards set out by SEMA & the Health and safety executive.
This said some companies do use inspectors that are currently in training and have not yet gained the SEMA approved inspector qualification. Although the inspector in training may have time spent in the industry, without the qualification an issue of liability and competence would likely arise. We advise it critical for your own safety & liability that the related certifications have been gained before requesting an inspection to ensure that the personnel possess the required skill set, qualifications and have been trained accordingly.
Our valuable rule to remember is always ask for the inspectors SEMA number, stay covered, stay compliant.
How often should a racking inspection be carried out?
A racking inspection should be undertaken on a minimum annual basis, or when racks have been moved, or reconfigured.
Should repairs or installations be undertaken by a none SEMA approved installer (SIERS) it is advised that an inspection be carried out before the system is used to ensure it has been built or repaired to standard.
In house racking inspections should also be carried out by your trained & certified on site PRRS (Persons responsible for rack safety) at regular intervals in between your professional annual SEMA approved inspector inspections. There are no given parameters on how often these regular inspections should be carried out, this is something that should be assessed by your site.
We are fully adaptable to work with our customers and are able to offer inspections at intervals to suit site needs. From annually to weekly or monthly inspections, we are able to offer inspection and training services to fulfil all requirements.
Why is regular pallet racking inspection essential?
Proper pallet placement is vital for maintaining the safety and efficiency of your racking systems. Incorrectly positioned pallets can cause uneven weight distribution, leading to instability and an increased risk of collapse. Additionally, poor placement practices can result in damaged racks and hinder the smooth flow of operations.
To learn more about the best practices for safe and effective pallet placement, you can check out our detailed guide on the importance of pallet placement in racking systems. This article provides practical advice and insights to help you optimise your storage setup and reduce potential risks in your warehouse.
Prioritising proper pallet placement keeps your racking systems safe and your operations running smoothly!
How does proper pallet placement improve racking system safety?
Regular pallet racking inspections are crucial to ensure workplace safety, compliance with regulations, and the longevity of your racking systems. Over time, racks can suffer from damage caused by forklifts, overloaded shelves, or general wear and tear, potentially leading to collapse if left unchecked. By conducting routine inspections, you can identify and address these issues early, avoiding costly repairs or downtime.
To make the process easier, we’ve created an essential pallet racking inspection checklist that outlines the key steps and areas to examine during inspections. This checklist is a valuable resource for maintaining safe and efficient storage systems, ensuring your operations run smoothly.
Will any guidance or assistance be given after the inspection?
We strive to offer a great aftercare service to our customers and in doing so have built relationships up and down the country.
We are always on hand to offer help and guidance to ensure you are always one step ahead of all things rack related.
Although we work as a fully independent racking inspection company we do have highly recommended contacts within the storage industry of whom are all certified SEMA members offering repairs and installations.
This information can be given should you request any repairs or installations after your rack inspection.
Why should I use UK Rack Inspection for my annual racking inspection?
The UK rack inspection team have been in the storage industry for over 30 years, building expertise, knowledge and assisting customers across the UK. We then looked to build something of our own to be able to offer a next level service we feel is vital for our customers. Our experience has enabled us to have an insight as to what we must do to be the best we possibly can.
We are and we will:
- Accredited In House SEMA Approved Inspectors (SARI)
- Offer clear and concise reporting to customers
- Communicate any immediate actionable findings whilst leaving a RED risk report with our site contact when required
- Independent SEMA Inspectors to prevent conflict of interest
- Inspect to detailed SEMA standards
- Offer damage prevention recommendations where necessary
- Ensure racking has been installed and is being used to manufacturer specifications and recommendations
- Be on hand for any assistance required after the racking inspection report has been submitted
What will happen on the day of my inspection and what do I need to do in preparation?
On the day of your inspection our SEMA approved rack inspector will attend site with their inspection equipment, ready to begin.
The vast majority of inspections will be carried out from ground floor level unless otherwise organised before hand.
We will require access to the racking bays/aisles to assess each component visually and record any findings on our tablet system.
We will not require you to empty racking bays before our attendance and would only ask for a location to be offloaded if we suspected it to be a risk to remain loaded or suspected damage may be present out of visibility.
Upon completion of the racking inspection we will give a detailed debrief to our site contact and discuss our findings whilst offering recommendations that will be listed within our report also.
Reports are generally submitted within 48 hours of the inspection completion date subject to site conditions.
What types of environments and industries do you cover?
We pride ourselves on our flexibility to work in all environments in all business sectors. As our time within the storage industry has demanded, we have gained the required certification for working at height, harness & fall restraint training & our IPAF to be able to offer racking inspections carried out at height, without the need to request an on site driver.
We cover rack inspections from ambient, down to cold store warehouses generally around -18 degrees. We are equipped with the full PPE to work in these environments along with all related risk assessments & insurances in place to enable us to keep all bases covered.
Need more assistance, get in touch to help us further assist you
My warehouse is very busy at all times, will I have to stop work?
Our experience within this industry has taught us that some business just simply cannot stop, especially for our arrival.
We understand you have lots to be done and will always do our very best to work around you, enabling you to carry on doing your jobs whilst we do ours. We always work to safe distances when MHE is involved so if there is MHE within an area we need to be, we will let the operative know that we require that area for inspecting and come to an agreement on which time is best to return.
Our way of working is based on respect for all, to us nobody is more important than others and everybody’s safety comes above all.
I have racking over multiple sites to be inspected can you still help?
Yes, we are always able to assist. Being situated in the midlands and with a history of looking after multi sites for customers up and down the country we can accommodate your needs at every turn.
We have previously looked after clients with in excess of 300 sites from inverness to Jersey. Its all in the planning, so if you would like to discuss multi site racking inspections get in touch to see how we can work together.
Do you offer inspections at height?
Our SEMA approved racking inspectors have undertaken their working at height training, and harness training and are IPAF 3a certified.
We are experienced inspecting within automated crane systems, VNA racking & mobile systems and do recommend on higher installations that an at-height inspection be undertaken to highlight any issues that may not be visible from ground floor level.
Racking inspections at height take longer than a ground-level inspection as we will make passes at various elevations to capture as much visibility of components as possible. We can arrange inspections at height to suit your needs and be of little disturbance to your business, please get in touch for more information.
How many delegates can attend your rack awareness training courses?
We can typically train up to 10 candidates on our PRRS rack awareness training courses. We are fully adaptable to your needs with this and always happy to discuss your individual requirements regarding course specifics and delegate numbers.
Do you offer Cantilever training courses?
We offer both Cantilever and APR (adjustable pallet racking) training courses.
As we hold both SEMA approved racking and Cantilever racking qualifications and with vast experience with both systems we feel our training courses cover all bases.
Our rack training courses cover all bases when it comes to Cantilever racking as these systems are in many ways an entirely different racking structure in comparison to standard pallet racking. Due to their intricate design it is vital that the correct training is provided to ensure that candidates fully understand the individual system elements, their structural duty & how to inspect Cantilever racks correctly.
Our training courses are specifically designed to suit your individual needs and requirements so if you would like to discuss this further just let us know.
What areas do you cover?
As the name suggests, we have full UK wide coverage.
We regularly conduct racking inspections in Scotland, Wales, Norfolk and down as far as Kent, Devon and Cornwall. We have covered the Outer Hebrides, Jersey, Guernsey and regularly inspect in Ireland. Let us do the travelling to keep your site safe.
Our Commitment
- Safety and Compliance: We ensure the compatibility and suitability of your storage equipment with the highest safety standards.
- Expert Guidance: We provide guidance on rack-related health and safety issues, keeping you updated with regulations and helping you address areas showing signs of repetitive damages before they require replacement components.
- Load Suitability: We assess the pallet and pallet load suitability on-site, ensuring everything is in line with current configurations and manufacturer specifications.
- Health & Safety: Our inspections help you achieve and maintain compliance with health and safety legislations, ensuring your racking installations meet manufacturer specifications and relevant load notices.