Pallet racks must be inspected because employers are legally responsible for workplace safety, and undetected rack damage is a leading cause of structural failures in warehouses. In the U.S., OSHA requires company management to provide a safe workplace to its employees. Canadian regulators, including CNESST in Quebec, WorkSafeBC in British Columbia, and Ontario's Ministry of Labour, impose the same obligation. Putting workers at risk of injury can expose employers to serious liability in case of an accident.
Despite the demands of daily operations, your racking systems must maintain their full structural integrity over time. Our annual pallet rack inspections are always performed by engineers, who certify that your racking complies with local rack design and safety standards.
Damotech is the only rack inspection company in North America where every inspection is performed by an engineer. Our engineers walk your facility and meticulously inspect your racking systems for compliance, collecting on-site information, taking photos, and recording any deficiencies, damage, or missing components. Each inspector holds an engineering degree and completes Damotech's internal certification program, specific to pallet racking, before conducting inspections on their own. Every pallet rack safety inspection follows the same engineer-led methodology, whether we are inspecting a single system or an entire distribution network.
Our pallet rack inspections are non-disruptive to your daily operations. Following our visit, we issue a detailed report with prioritized recommendations. Regardless of your industry, the type of pallet racks you use, or the damage found in your warehouse, we have the expertise and solutions to help you diagnose, report, and address deficiencies.
Most experts and governing bodies, such as OSHA, recommend a yearly independent inspection performed by third-party rack experts or engineers, complemented by monthly assessments by internal warehouse personnel. No regulation prescribes an exact frequency, so the right cadence depends on the velocity of your operations and how quickly rack-related issues arise in your warehouse. High-traffic facilities, cold storage environments, and warehouses with a history of forklift impacts often warrant more frequent independent inspections.
A thorough third-party inspection is highly recommended before an OSHA audit. A Damotech inspection report provides your business with an accurate assessment of the condition of your warehouse pallet racking systems, covering proper installation, unsafe modifications, hazardous damage, and unposted load capacities, and allows you to address issues before OSHA visits.
Non-compliant warehouses can face OSHA fines or be required to temporarily suspend operations, so identifying and correcting deficiencies ahead of an audit protects both your workers and your business continuity.
Every Damotech inspection report is stamped by an engineer and delivered within 30 days of receipt of the P.O. Each issue is rated by priority level and documented with photos, so your team knows exactly what to address first. The report is available in PDF format, and all its data can be accessed interactively through the Damotech Software Platform.
In the United States and Canada, there are well-defined standards for the safe use of pallet racks in all warehouses. In the U.S., pallet rack design and maintenance are governed by ANSI MH16.1, the rack design standard published by the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) and referenced by the International Building Code, as well as OSHA's general duty requirements. In Canada, the National Building Code references CSA S16 for steel structures, including racks, while several provinces continue to apply CSA A344; WorkSafeBC in British Columbia and Ontario's Ministry of Labour add jurisdiction-specific inspection requirements.
Sorting through the different rack safety standards and regulations can be challenging. At Damotech, we have the expertise to make the entire regulatory process as straightforward as possible. Whether you need a PSR review for Ontario, an OSHA audit preparation, or an engineer-stamped drawing with load capacities for local or municipal permits, Damotech has you covered.
Damotech is the only pallet rack inspection company that includes a software platform with every inspection. The Damotech Platform, available for free in the first year, gives you instant online access to your warehouses' most recent inspection data. The dashboard shares insightful statistics about inspected racking systems, and as reported issues are addressed, you can track your progress toward a safer warehouse.
Customers access a visual warehouse layout with all the recorded data for each rack location. They can view, filter, and sort data by current status or damage priority level, as well as photos taken by Damotech inspectors. By registering for the Premium Version, users can record new issues themselves or even perform their own routine assessments.
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