Pallet Racking Damage Types

Home - Racking Inspections - Pallet Racking Damage Types

Need a Racking Inspection completed by a SEMA Approved Rack Inspector? Choose A-Z Rack Inspections Ltd with confidence and call us on 07917664940.

Contact Us

A-Z Rack Inspections Ltd

By adopting essential warehouse safety practices, you ensure that your employees are kept as safe as possible and that you remain legally compliant. All companies that have pallet racking, cantilever racking, and some types of shelving within their warehouse facility, should have an inspection carried out at least once a year by a qualified SEMA Approved rack inspector.

During a racking inspection, the following points are inspected as indicated in the SEMA Code of Practice, Guideline No. 6:

Conditions and types of pallets
Pallet locations on beams
Positioning of loads, and types of loads stored on pallets
General forklift truck operatives use of the racking
Condition and type of floor the racking is fixed on
General housekeeping of the installation
Possible changes from the original design requirements

Inspections are carried out from ground level with a visual examination of the exterior and other reasonably accessible racking components. If any damaged racking is identified, which requires immediate attention, the site contact will be informed of the racking component and its position within the installation.

Racking damage is usually categorised into three levels of risk:

The racking inspection is conducted following the SEMA “Guide to the Conduct of Pallet Racking and Shelving Surveys.” The extent of damage recommended within the SEMA guide classification of damage as RED RISK, AMBER RISK or GREEN RISK will be utilised.

Further information on the definitions of these categories are detailed below:

Red Risk:

Where a high level of damage is identified that exceeds twice the SEMA recommended limits. This warrants immediate offloading and isolation of the affected area until repair work can be carried out.

Amber Risk:

This is where the damage identified is greater than the SEMA limits. This warrants remedial work to be carried out however, the damage is not sufficiently severe to warrant the immediate offloading of the area. No additional loads shall be placed in the affected area, and once the pallet positions within this area are emptied then they should not be refilled until the repairs are carried out. If repairs are not carried out within 4 weeks, an Amber risk item automatically becomes a Red risk item.

Green Risk:

This highlights areas where damage is present however, the level of damage is designated as within the SEMA limits and therefore should be recorded for further consideration at the next inspection. Any damage will result in a reduced safety factor in the structure of the pallet racking and shelving, and deviations in excess of the SEMA limits should result in the affected area of the racking being offloaded.