Warehouse & Storage FAQs | Equipment Inspections

How often should warehouse access equipment be inspected?

Regular inspections should be part of a warehouse’s safety protocol. Stairs, ladders, guardrails, and access platforms should be checked routinely, ideally monthly or quarterly, and after any incident that could have caused damage.

The frequency of inspections should be determined by risk assessment (the frequency may be determined by a number of factors, such as the extent of use and the environment). Inspections should also be carried out after an incident that may have affected the equipment’s integrity.

You should ensure that the equipment user undertakes pre-use checks for any defects that might adversely affect strength or stability. 

If you operate ladders or stepladders for work purposes, it’s your legal duty to ensure they are suitable and safe for work and to conduct statutory and pre-use inspections of them as required. It’s therefore essential for you to ensure that ladder inspections are conducted regularly and in the correct way.

Records of the system operating and maintenance arrangements and copies of invoices and reports by inspection, maintenance and repair contractors should be kept.

Tadweld can offer an annual inspection and written safety report of all our own installations, as well as operational inspections and repair service to our Ajax safe access equipment.  Best practice is achieved when an external service provider is used to complement your own in-house inspections.

Find our full series of warehouse and storage safe access FAQs here.