Monthly Rack Inspection Checklist
CSA A344 expects routine visual inspections monthly, carried out by trained staff on site, alongside the annual expert inspection. This checklist covers what those monthly checks should look at and what to record. It is free to download.
What should a monthly rack inspection cover?
Six areas, in the order an inspector walks them.
Upright columns for impact damage, particularly at the base. Baseplates and anchors for loose, missing or lifted fixings. Frame bracing for bent, missing or disconnected members. Beams for visible deflection and for connectors that have lifted out of the upright. Floor condition at the baseplate, for cracking or settlement. And loading practice -- pallets overhanging, loads exceeding the plaque rating, damaged pallets in service.
Who should carry out the monthly check?
Trained in-house staff. CSA A344 distinguishes between the routine visual inspection, which is an internal task, and the annual expert inspection, which requires a competent person assessing structural condition against the standard.
Training matters more than seniority. Someone who knows what a lifted beam connector looks like will find more than a supervisor working from a generic form.
What should be recorded?
The date, who carried out the check, what was found, and what was done about it. A check that finds nothing is still recorded -- the log demonstrating twelve months of clear checks is what shows the duty was being met.
Records with gaps are worse than no records, because they establish that inspection was expected and did not happen.
What should trigger immediate action rather than a note?
Anything affecting load-bearing capacity. Visible buckling in an upright, a beam connector that has come out of its slot, a missing or lifted baseplate anchor, or damage to a frame carrying loaded bays above.
Monthly checks identify; they do not classify. If something looks structural, the bay comes out of service and the finding goes to the annual inspector for classification under CSA A344.
How is this different from the annual inspection?
Scope and authority. The monthly check is a visual walk looking for change since last month, carried out internally. The annual inspection is a structural assessment against measured criteria, carried out by a competent person, and it produces the damage classification.
One catches things early. The other decides what they mean.
Does the monthly check satisfy provincial requirements?
It contributes to them but does not discharge them on its own. Provincial regulation requires racking to be maintained in safe working condition -- Ontario Regulation 851, Alberta's OHS Code Part 12, and Manitoba's Workplace Safety and Health Regulation each frame it slightly differently.
Meeting that duty means both intervals: routine checks monthly and expert inspection annually, with records for both.
What is in the download?
A one-page checklist covering the six inspection areas, with space for date, inspector, findings and action taken. Formatted to print on a single sheet and to be filed as a record.
Frequently asked
Common questions about the monthly checklist
Can we use this checklist for the annual inspection?
No. This covers the monthly routine visual check. The annual expert inspection under CSA A344 requires a competent person assessing structural condition against measured criteria, and it produces the damage classification.
How long should a monthly check take?
It scales with the number of bays. A small facility is a walk of fifteen or twenty minutes; a large distribution centre takes an hour or more and is often split across zones.
Do completed forms need to be kept?
Yes. The record is what demonstrates the maintenance duty was met, and a log showing twelve months of clear checks is worth more than any single report.
Who should sign the checklist?
The person who carried out the check, not their supervisor. The signature records who looked, which matters if a finding is later questioned.