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.
The law does not set a single inspection method or frequency. However, regular racking inspections are the recognised and expected way of meeting this legal duty in practice.
If racking is damaged, overloaded, or poorly maintained, employers can be held liable.
What the law actually requires
UK health and safety law places a general duty on employers to ensure that:
- Workplaces are safe
- Work equipment is safe
- Systems of work do not expose people to risk
This duty includes warehouse storage systems, such as pallet racking.
Rather than prescribing technical inspection rules, the law requires employers to:
- Identify foreseeable risks
- Put appropriate controls in place
- Maintain equipment in a safe condition
Where racking is used to store goods at height, the risks of collapse, falling loads, or structural failure are foreseeable and must be actively managed.
Regular inspection of racking systems is a widely recognised way of demonstrating that these duties are being met, particularly where damage or deterioration could reasonably occur.
What regulators expect in practice
In practice, regulators such as the Health and Safety Executive expect employers to be able to demonstrate that warehouse racking systems are actively monitored and maintained, not installed and left unchecked.
During inspections or investigations, enforcement officers typically expect to see evidence that:
- Racking condition is checked regularly
- Damage is identified and acted upon
- Inspection findings are recorded
- Responsibilities for checks are clearly defined
The absence of a formal 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 usually carried out at different levels, each serving a distinct purpose. No single level is sufficient on its own.
Routine visual checks
These are informal checks carried out during normal warehouse activities.
They are intended to identify obvious defects, such as:
- Impact damage
- Leaning or distorted uprights
- Missing or displaced components
- Displaced or unstable loads
Routine visual checks provide early detection of issues but do not replace structured inspections.
Planned internal inspections
These are structured inspections carried out at defined intervals by designated personnel.
They typically involve:
- A systematic review of racking condition
- Damage identification and classification
- Confirmation that loads and configurations remain within design limits
Findings are normally recorded, tracked, and followed up to ensure corrective action is taken.
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
- Verification of compliance with design standards
- Assurance that internal arrangements remain effective
Independent inspections are commonly used to supplement, not replace, routine and internal checks.
Each level of inspection supports the others. Removing one layer weakens the overall control of racking-related risk.
Who is responsible for racking inspections
The legal responsibility for ensuring warehouse racking systems are safe rests with the employer or duty holder.
Inspection tasks may be delegated, but legal accountability cannot be delegated.
Those assigned to carry out inspections must:
- Be suitable and competent for the role
- Understand what defects to look for
- Know how to report damage
- Know what action to take when damage is identified
Clear allocation of responsibility is essential to prevent gaps in inspection coverage.
Common misunderstandings about racking inspections
Several misunderstandings regularly arise in relation to warehouse racking inspections.
“There is no specific law, so inspections are optional.”
While the law does not prescribe 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 routine and planned internal 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, the 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 result in:
- Enforcement action
- Improvement notices
- Further investigation following near misses or collapses
Insurance coverage and liability exposure 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 risk.
Effective inspection arrangements combine:
- Routine visual checks
- Planned internal inspections
- Periodic independent expert assessment
These must be supported by clear responsibility and proper record-keeping.