Jake, where does it state "external inspection annually" ? It states :- ‘Expert’ inspections 646 A technically competent person should carry out inspections at intervals of not more than 12 months. A written report should be submitted to the PRRS with observations and proposals for any action necessary. 647 A technically competent person might be a trained specialist within an organisation, a specialist from the rack supplier, or an independent qualified rack inspector. I can't see any reference to external, just an expert, a technically competent person. Para 647 even states that they might be a trained specialist within an organisation, therefore it can be done internally, providing the person is technically competent.

It doesn't, I was providing a reference to racking inspections and stating what my former companies policy was on this (which was the industry recognise standard). The risk you face with an internal person carrying out your expert inspection is conflict of interest / lack of authority/impartiality - a liken it to PUWER statutory inspections vs equipment maintenance in that imo the annual expert examination should be conducted by someone completely separate to the operation and the weekly/monthly in-department checks.