Yes. In the UK, employers have a legal duty to ensure warehouse racking systems are safe, maintained, and do not present a risk to employees or others. While the law does not specify a single inspection method or frequency, regular racking inspections are a recognised and expected way of meeting this duty.
What the law requires
UK health and safety law places a general duty on employers to ensure that workplaces, work equipment, and systems of work are safe and do not present a risk to employees or others. This includes storage systems such as pallet racking used within warehouses.
Rather than prescribing detailed technical rules, the law requires employers to identify foreseeable risks, implement appropriate controls, and maintain equipment in a safe condition. Where racking is used to store goods at height, the risk of collapse, falling loads, or structural failure must be considered and managed.
Regular inspection of racking systems is a recognised way of demonstrating that these duties are being met, particularly where damage, overloading, or deterioration could reasonably occur.
What regulators expect in practice
n practice, regulators such as the Health and Safety Executive expect employers to be able to demonstrate that racking systems are actively monitored and maintained, rather than installed and left unchecked.
During inspections or investigations, enforcement officers typically look for evidence that:
- racking condition is checked regularly,
- damage is identified and acted upon,
- inspection findings are recorded,
- and responsibilities for checks are clearly defined.
The absence of any inspection regime, or reliance on informal and undocumented checks, is commonly viewed as a weakness in risk control.
Types of warehouse racking inspections
Warehouse racking inspections are generally carried out at different levels, each serving a different purpose.
Routine visual checks
These are informal checks carried out during normal warehouse activities. They are intended to identify obvious issues such as impact damage, leaning uprights, missing components, or displaced loads. Visual checks provide early detection of problems but are not sufficient on their own.
Planned internal inspections
These are more structured inspections carried out at defined intervals by designated personnel. They typically involve a systematic review of racking condition, damage classification, and confirmation that loads and configurations remain within design limits. Findings are usually recorded and tracked.
Independent expert inspections
These inspections are carried out periodically by a competent external person with specialist knowledge of racking systems. They provide an independent assessment of overall condition and compliance with design standards and are commonly used to supplement internal checks.
Each type of inspection supports the others; none replaces the need for ongoing monitoring.
Who is responsible for racking inspections
The legal responsibility for ensuring racking systems are safe rests with the employer or duty holder. While inspection tasks can be delegated to managers, supervisors, or competent individuals, accountability cannot be delegated.
Those assigned to carry out checks must be suitable for the role and understand what defects to look for, how to report them, and what actions to take when damage is identified. Clear allocation of responsibility is essential to avoid gaps in inspection coverage.
Common misunderstandings
Several misunderstandings commonly arise in relation to racking inspections:
- “There is no specific law, so inspections are optional.”
While the law does not specify exact inspection intervals, it does require risks to be controlled. Inspections are a recognised control measure. - “An annual inspection is enough.”
Annual expert inspections do not remove the need for more frequent internal and routine checks. - “Only external specialists can inspect racking.”
Internal inspections can be carried out by suitably competent personnel, provided their role and limits are clearly defined. - “Minor damage can be ignored.”
Even minor damage can compromise structural integrity if left unmanaged.
What happens if racking is not inspected
Where racking inspections are absent or ineffective, the risk of structural failure, falling loads, and serious injury increases significantly. In the event of an incident, lack of inspection records may also make it difficult to demonstrate that risks were being properly managed.
From a regulatory perspective, unmanaged racking risks may lead to enforcement action, improvement notices, or further investigation following near misses or collapses. Insurance and liability considerations may also be affected.
Summary
In the UK, employers have a legal duty to ensure warehouse racking systems are safe and properly maintained. Although the law does not prescribe a single inspection method or frequency, regular inspection is a recognised and expected way of controlling racking-related risks. Effective inspection arrangements combine routine checks, planned internal inspections, and periodic independent assessment, supported by clear responsibility and record-keeping.