What are the Costs of a Dangerous Warehouse?

Operating in a dangerous warehouse is the fastest way to make sure that your business fails. Without regular pallet racking inspections, your warehouse ceases to be a storage solution and instead becomes a storage problem. How much does all of this cost a business? Is it something that you can even measure in dollars, pounds, or euros?

Bad Safety Unravels Trust

An unsafe warehouse can be like a jumper with frayed cotton threads. If you pull just one loose end, then the whole thing can start to unravel. After the disastrous explosion in the warehouse in Tianjin, Greenpeace began investigating more warehouses in the same region. This mistrust is fatal for businesses and, in this case, the mistrust was entirely appropriate as the investigations led to the discovery of more warehouses violating rules on toxic materials.

Racking Inspection Courses and Pallet Racking Inspections vs. Cutting Corners

The government recommends that warehouses undergo a SEMA approved pallet racking inspection at least once a year and that every warehouse employs “technically competent” staff. Racking inspection training is a great way to ensure that your staff are “technically competent”. Investing a little money in racking inspection and racking inspection training is a much better use of your finances than spending a huge amount of money dealing with an inefficient warehouse, or worse, a workplace accident.

For this reason, it makes no sense to cut corners on safety training. Ignoring HSE advice is dangerous, expensive, and makes your warehouse harder to use. By contrast, staff who are “technically competent” are better at their job, as well as safer. Investing in your staff will earn you money in the long term, leaving them untrained will cost you big.

The Cold Hard Facts

The human and economic costs of dangerous British businesses are enormous. According to HSE’s most recent figures, 142 people were killed at work last year and 1.2 million people are currently suffering from a work related illness or injury. The monetary cost, of course, is not as important as the human cost. Though, at £14.3 billion per year, it is yet another reason why businesses should invest in safe workplace practice and safe warehouses.

Don’t let a dangerous warehouse cost your business. Call Storage Equipment Experts Ltd for a racking inspection training course from a SEMA qualified racking inspector.

A Summary of the SEMA Safety Conference: 5th November, 2015

The November 2015 SEMA Safety Conference was an event that had been highly anticipated by both the private and the public sectors. The day itself saw many talks from a range of people across the world of health and safety who helped to clarify what was happening in the present as well as give some insight into the future.

Who Was There and What Did They Say?

The event comprised of nine talks, and three of those were about racking. Specifically, racking inspections, racking protection, racking inspection training, cantilever racking, pallet racking, and the future of racking inspections were all subjects that were addressed on the day. Aside from racking, there was much else to talk about.

After some preliminary introductions from president Matt Grierson, Nina Day delivered the first talk of the conference and discussed ways to prevent supply chain accidents on the road. Following this, Craig O’Dea discussed how to best manage a modern warehouse and gave hints as to what technologies might be used in future warehouses. Rob Shaw then discussed slips, trips, and falls, detailing the difference between them.

Shaw, who literally wrote the book on slips, trips, and falls, criticised the “what can you do?” attitude of some businesses with regards to this issue. He argued that there was actually an awful lot that businesses can do to prevent these types of accidents.

Richard Heath spoke about the importance of recording accidents and near misses and how these reports are helping the health and safety industry towards its goal of a zero harm workplace. Stewart Howard added to this with his presentation on accident investigation. The final talk of the event was from Neil Sheehan, a nominee for Asda’s Act With Integrity Award. He spoke on behalf of Asda, and private business in general, as he outlined the responsibilities that retailers have with regards to “end user” warehouse safety.

The Importance of Racking Inspection Training and The Future of Pallet Racking Inspections

The second of the three talks on racking was from Steve Cowen of SEMA’s technical committee. In his talk, he championed the importance of SEMA approved racking inspectors (SARIs) and how they are there to spot the things that others may miss. Without racking inspection training, it is quite easy to miss rust on pallet racking if it’s been painted over.

Towards the end of his talk, he mentioned how SEMA are considering working with drones in order to perform racking inspections in the future. The benefits of using a drone are that SARIs can perform racking inspections in areas that they might otherwise consider too dangerous to approach. However, he conceded there are several legal and logistical hurdles to get over before this future dream of racking inspections becomes a reality.

Contact the SEMA approved racking inspectors who never miss a thing! Get in touch with Storage Equipment Experts Ltd for racking inspection training or for a racking inspection from a SEMA approved racking inspector.

The Future of Pallet Racking and Warehouses

Legal writer and academic Peter Drucker once said, “Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window”. The quote has two morals: the first is that predicting the future is hard, perhaps dangerous, and the second is that to predict the future we need to look at the past or “look out the back window”.

With regards to the modern warehouse and the future of pallet racking, those who wanted to predict the future would have to take note of its role in the Industrial Revolution. If another revolution is on its way, as some generational theorists predict, will the modern warehouse and pallet racking play a part? And what part will it play?

Safe and Sustainable: Pallet Racking Inspections, Racking Inspection Courses, and the Environment

The environment is the key issue of our times, and so the future of warehousing and logistics will need to recognise this. The recent warehouse explosions in Tianjin, China are a sign of what the warehouses of the future will look like if warehouse safety and the environment are ignored in the name of profit. Unsafe production and environmental disaster usually go hand in hand, as the lethal air pollution caused by palm oil production in Indonesia has made clear.

Future warehouses should be ones that invest in sustainable practices. More racking inspection courses and pallet racking inspections will ensure that businesses are safer and are looking to the future. Alongside this, businesses will need to be more environmentally friendly. After all, just as the problems related to workplace safety and the environment go hand in hand, so too do the solutions. As researcher Doug Morrow points out, sustainable business is a multifaceted concept.

Safe and cybersafe: pallet racking inspections, racking inspection courses, and digital technologies

The use of robots and digital technologies to increase the efficiency of warehouses is already happening. Amazon uses countless programs, codes, and machines to do a large amount of the work in its warehouse. This effect will only become more pronounced, and more widespread, in the future. Online shopping has lead to increased demand and increased supply. However, the speed of all of this has come at a cost. Online retail companies like Amazon rely on a system that is literally known as “chaotic storage” and workers have complained about mistreatment and lack of safety.

The future of warehouse use depends on combining the best elements of new technologies with a safe and sustainable business model. Whatever the future warehouse looks like, we at SEMA racking inspections will be there to ensure that it operates as safely and efficiently as possible. Just as pallet racking inspections have been a vital part of our warehouses in the past, pallet racking inspections are a vital part of our warehouses’ future.

Is your warehouse ready for the future? Contact Storage Equipment Experts Ltd today for racking inspection training or a pallet racking inspection from a SEMA approved racking inspector.

Pallet Racking

The History of Pallet Racking and Warehouses

From the industrial revolution to the rise of Amazon, warehouses have always been behind the scenes of a much greater historical narrative of business. But where did it all begin? How did we come to live in a world where warehouses and pallet racking are so essential to companies and economies?

The year 15,000 BW (Before Warehouses)

Warehouses, in different forms, have arguably been around as long as humans have had agriculture. Settling down in one spot meant that humans could harvest food rather than hunt for it. All this harvested food needs to be stored and so, in that sense, humans have been using warehouses for 15,000 years. Still, the warehouse as we know it today is a much more recent invention.

The Modern Warehouse, Pallet Racking Systems, and the Industrial Revolution

A planned and efficient warehouse with organised pallet racking systems that categorically stores items en masses has its roots in the industrial revolution. The modern warehouse meant that humans could produce huge surpluses that allowed for jobs beyond farming and making things from raw materials. This surplus has been hugely important in human history. As John Green puts it, if you live somewhere other than a farm, enjoy free education, eat blueberries during the winter, or live anything even resembling a modern lifestyle, then you have the Industrial Revolution to thank. And without warehouses or pallet racking systems, the Industrial Revolution could not have happened.

Warehouses Today and the Importance of SEMA Approved Pallet Racking Inspections

Since the Industrial Revolution, warehouses have gone through many changes. The first is that they became more functional, rather than being the aesthetically pleasing buildings that they once were. This increase in functionality is a sign of how warehouses have multiplied. Now, warehouses have a variety of uses. Some of the oldest once have become part of history, their architecture making them perfect for art installations or museums. More technologically advanced warehouses have helped fuel the rise of online shopping. Amazon, for example, prides itself on a well maintained warehouse and an excellent pallet racking system.

The current challenge for warehouses is not rapid growth, but steady growth. In less economically developed regions, we have seen the disastrous costs of valuing efficiency of business over safety when it comes to warehouse use. This is why SEMA approved pallet racking inspections and racking inspection courses are so important. The warehouse of today, and the warehouse of the future, should aim to be smart and safe in order to be profitable.

Make sure your business has the warehouse of the future! Contact Storage Equipment Experts Ltd today for a pallet racking inspection from a SEMA approved racking inspector.

Pallet Racking

How to do a Pallet Racking Inspection?

Pallet racking inspection cannot be performed by just anybody. HSE state that only people who are “technically competent” can perform pallet racking inspections, but there has been confusion in the past about what this means. Before the new CDM regulations came into place, the loose definition of “competence” led to the rise of over 300 different card schemes.

Pallet Racking Inspections and Racking Inspection Training

HSE have identified SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors (SARIs) as “expert inspectors” and recommend a pallet racking inspection from an “expert inspector” at least once every twelve months. HSE also recommends that the regular inspections are performed by a business’ staff. The best way to ensure that your staff are “technically competent” enough to do this is through racking inspection training and racking inspection courses.

Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist

If you are qualified to inspect pallet racking, you then need to consult a racking inspection checklist. The checklist details what parts of the pallet racking system you should be looking at, what counts as safe, and what counts as unsafe. There are many things to consider, but the most common sign of damaged racking is if it is bowed in the middle from too much weight. The level of bending should be measured, taken note of, and marked as safe or unsafe according to the regulations laid out on your racking inspection checklist.

It is important to be accurate as the difference between an acceptable and an unacceptable amount of bending can sometimes be less than a millimetre. However, if something is on the very edges of safe, then that “near miss” should not be ignored either. A pallet racking inspection requires constant diligence and high standards.

Pallet Racking Inspection LogBook

As you go through your checklist, you should mark each piece of racking as either red, amber, or green. HSE recommend using this system to avoid ambiguity: green means safe, amber means repairs are needed as soon as possible, and red means repairs are needed instantly. Ambiguity can cause a company to “suffer from inaction” and, when it comes to racking safety, inaction is toxic.

Contact Storage Equipment Experts Ltd today for racking inspection courses and racking inspections from a a SEMA approved “expert racking inspector”.

Pallet Racking

The Best Racking Inspection Training Course in the UK

At SEMA Racking Inspections, we believe in the importance of racking inspection training and it is because of this that we deliver the best racking inspection training course in the UK. That isn’t just hot air. We know that, to be the market leader in any industry, you need to have a unique selling proposition. Which is why we at SEMA Racking Inspections are proud to have three things that make us unique and separate us from our competitors…

Location, Location, Location

Even if you are eager to for your staff to learn more about how to perform pallet racking inspections, you might find it inconvenient to travel to far out cities. Time is money and having to take set aside two days for a journey to a training session can hurt your profits. Fortunately, SEMA Racking Inspections is based in the heart of London and our training centre is only 15 minutes from Kings Cross Station and Euston Station by London Underground. London itself is accessible from anywhere in the country. Even from Edinburgh, you can reach London with a direct train in under four and half hours.

Racking Inspection Training Course Delivered by a SEMA Approved Racking Inspector

At SEMA racking inspections, we have written at length about the importance of using a SEMA approved racking inspector for pallet racking inspections. HSE recommend a SEMA racking inspector for a pallet racking inspection at least once a year, and so a SEMA approved racking inspector is the perfect person to deliver racking inspection training.

Passion for the warehousing industry

Being a SEMA approved racking inspector is ongoing commitment that is assessed every year. A big part of this assessment is attending courses, seminars, and imparting knowledge. This is precisely why we at SEMA Racking Inspections attended the June 2015 SEMA seminar, SEMA’s July 2015 cantilever racking course, and have written articles about these events in order to impart knowledge. However, we have gone beyond the call of duty when it comes to sharing our wisdom by also writing articles for international publications, American publications, and British publications on a wide variety racking safety related issues. It is this same passion for racking inspection safety which lead us to develop our racking inspection training program.

Now that you know what makes us great, don’t settle for second best! Contact SEMA Racking Inspections today for racking inspection training delivered by the best SEMA approved racking inspector in the UK.

Racking Inspection Training

Behind the Racking: 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Warehouse Safety

To a casual observer, the world of warehouse safety may seem to be all about tape measures and high-vis jackets. However, there is a lot more to it than that. So here are three things that you probably did not know about warehouse safety.

1) Many of SEMA’s Racking Inspection Experts do Work in Their Free Time

SEMA’s technical committee are the highest authority when it comes to technical queries about SEMA codes and racking inspections. These codes affect everybody involved in warehouse safety and form a big part of HSE’s guide to warehouse safety.

Despite this though, the members of the SEMA technical committee respond to most queries about these codes in their spare time. Warehouse safety is an industry made up of people who are willing to go the extra mile to make sure that pallet racking is inspected safely, that forklifts are used correctly, and racking systems are never overloaded.

2) The Quality of Warehouse and Racking Safety can Depend a Lot on Personality

Warehouse safety is not the entertainment industry, but likable and approachable personalities still matter. Safety is a matter of following regulations, but employees will be less inclined to follow those regulations if the person explaining them is a bad motivator. If a manager is enthusiastic about safety protocols, and if they are a charismatic and confident communicator, then other people will be enthusiastic about these protocols too. According to business journalist Joyce. E. A. Russell, “enthusiasm is contagious”.

At SEMA racking inspections, we believe in sharing our passion and enthusiasm for safety. This is why we deliver training courses on racking inspection safety through SEMA approved racking inspectors who are excited by what they do.

3) Warehouse and Racking Inspection Safety Affects Everyone

Warehouse safety is the cornerstone of any supply chain, and changes to the nature of warehouse safety in country can create an international ripple effect. When the HSE makes cuts to spending in the UK, this can have a potential impact on the US and the rest of the world.

Most of us, consumers and businesses alike, interact with warehouses on a day-to-day basis. If you order something online, if you order more supplies for your company, or if you need to contact a wholesaler, then warehouse safety affects you.

High safety standards can speed up supply, which increases productivity and is good for an economy. Low safety standards, on the other hand, can cost businesses huge amounts of money in lawsuits. In the US, this cost is estimated to be around 170 billion dollars per year.

The profit margins of a business and the overall economy is something which everybody should be concerned about. And, though so much of it is tied to warehouse safety, many people have never set foot inside a warehouse, let alone knows what goes on inside. Warehouse safety is the silent guardian of our businesses, our economy, and our well being, so it is worthwhile knowing about it.

Don’t let warehouse safety be a mystery to you. Contact SEMA racking inspections for racking inspection training delivered by the best SEMA approved racking inspectors in the UK.

Warehouse Safety

How do HSE’s New CDM Regulations Affect You?

On the 17th September 2015, Tony Mitchell from HSE came to speak with SEMA about the new CDM regulations. These new regulations replace the old 2007 regulations which Mitchell conceded were “too complicated”. The idea of simplifying and streamlining the CDM regulations means that responsibilities have shifted and definitions have changed. So how does this affect SEMA approved racking inspectors and others involved in the warehousing industry?

Client Responsibility

In the old 2007 CDM regulations, responsibility for safety was shared between HSE middle management and the person in charge of a project. However, the biggest change to the CDM regulations was the clarification of who a “client” was and their role. Essentially, anybody who now starts a building project is a client and the client is responsible for all safety on site.

Putting the onus of responsibility on clients removes the need for a large number of middle managers within HSE. This stripping back of HSE personnel falls in line with the HSE’s promise to reduce spending and reduce overall regulations. However, whether or not this will benefit for the construction industry remains to be see, and HSE are always eager for feedback on how this affects your business.

SEMA Approved Racking Inspectors and Defining “Competence”

In the HSE’s Warehousing and Storage: A Guide to Health and Safety, they state that any person involved in any work in your warehouse needs to be “competent”. Moreover, they also state that a “technically competent” person should perform a racking inspection at least once every 12 months. HSE recommend SEMA approved racking inspectors calling them “expert inspectors”.

From this, it is clear that HSE regard SEMA approved racking inspectors as “technically competent”. By contrast, Mitchell argued at the SEMA seminar that a key problem with the 2007 CDM regulations was that competence was not as clearly defined. He claims that this gave rise to over 300 card schemes and a lot of confusion. In the new CDM regulations, judging the competence of the workforce is now entirely the client’s responsibility.

With that in mind, SEMA’s role is more important than ever. Ensuring that your staff receive racking inspection training from a SEMA approved racking inspector is a perfect way to guarantee their competence in the workplace.

Make sure that your warehouse is a technically competent workplace. Contact us for the UK’s best racking inspection training program delivered by the best SEMA approved racking.

SEMA Approved

What Would “Brexit” Mean for SEMA?

Businesses, politicians, and voters are all wondering what “Brexit” (British exit from the EU) could mean.

for them, and SEMA are no different. At the SEMA meeting on 17th September 2015, members of SEMA’s team as well as SEMA approved racking inspectors, and people from all areas of the construction industry, came together to discuss what Brexit would mean for SEMA. There are many things to consider.

What Kind of Brexit are We Talking About?

To quote one observer, the EU is a reflection of how much “Europe loves asterisks that add exceptions to complicated agreements”. For this reason, it is very hard for to debate about whether Brexit would be good or bad without deciding on what relationship the UK would have with the EU after its exit.

To begin with, the UK is already an exception to some EU rules. Most notably, we are not part of the Schengen Zone or the Eurozone.

Nigel Farage has often campaigned for a Brexit that would leave us within the European Economic Area (EEA) but outside of the EU. Countries in this position include Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Farage’s view is that this sort of position would be good for UK because it would mean a trade relationship with the EU but the ability to have more control over our own laws.

However, critics disagree and argue that it is not as simple as Farage believes. For a start, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland are all part of the Schengen Zone and so they have much less border control than Farage would like.

Added to that, all three countries still have to pay a membership fee. Then there are the problems of how the UK would look internationally without the EU and the economic concerns tied to that. For Brexit to look how Farage wants it to look, the UK would have to negotiate a deal that is wholly unique as well as address the issue of UK’s international position.

What Would Brexit Mean for the Racking Inspection and Warehousing Industry?

Some of those in favour of Brexit argue that in their dream scenario, the UK would still be able to trade with the EU but it would not have to obey EU laws. Most relevant to SEMA, it would not have to obey EU health and safety laws.

However, the likelihood of the EU agreeing to this relationship is debatable. Moreover, even if David Cameron is able to negotiate Brexit without alienating key trading partners, it could still be bad for business.

SEMA are currently the UK representative for the European Federation of Materials Handling (FEM) and a member of European Committee for Standardization (CEN). According to SEMA, CEN are “the official EU organization responsible for creating and maintaining European standards”.

Without the EU, it is unlikely that SEMA will continue to have this responsibility on the European stage. It is possible that this could weaken their influence.

Are We Having this Debate too Soon?

The problem with the EU debate is that the UK government has yet to finish outlining what Brexit might look like. Many of the key issues are still up for debate and so there is much conjecture. Still, that hasn’t stopped influential business figures from making their position clear. Whatever the future of the EU, SEMA and the whole of the racking inspection industry will be sure to continue delivering the highest safety standards.

Whatever the future may hold, be sure that your warehouse is safe. Contact SEMA Racking Inspections to for a visit from the best SEMA approved racking inspector in the UK.

Cantilever Racking or Pallet Racking: What’s Best for My Business?

Operations and logistics are a key part of any business plan, and so any budding entrepreneur who plans on owning a warehouse should take some time to think about the kind of storage solution they will want to use. Deciding between cantilever racking or pallet racking will have important implications for your business as the right choice will mean that your can store more product, more easily, and more safely. All of this, in turn, leads to higher profits and a better business.

Cantilever Racking

Cantilever racking is freestanding racking that gives your warehouse plenty of space and can be positioned in many different ways. The Cantilever racking can be stored back to back in whatever position best suits your warehouse or can be bolted to the floor against a wall. Their simplicity also means that they are easy to assemble. Moreover, the horizontal support arms are free from obstructive vertical or oblique braces means that cantilever racking is great for storing wide loads such as pipes, strips of metal, or planks of wood. Cantilever racking is accessible which will make regular inspections possible, whether it’s from within your company and from a SEMA approved racking inspector.

The Cons of Cantilever Racking

Cantilever racking can be expensive and requires a lot of planning. If your warehouse needs to store lots of wide items and you have limited floor space, then cantilever racking is a worthwhile investment. However, cantilever racking is inappropriate for the storage of pallets.

Pallet Racking

Pallet racking has the advantage of being a heavy duty system that bears a lot of weight. If your business requires the storage of bulky and weighty items, then this is the racking could be a solution for you. Much like cantilever racking, pallet racking is also accessible, making pallet racking inspections possible. Pallets are also design to work well with forklifts, and using a forklift in your business can be a great way to improve efficiency.

The type of racking system which best meets your needs will largely depend on the type of product that you need to store. Whatever racking system you choose, SEMA Racking Inspections can provide you with impartial advice on how best to maintain it and how to avoid damaging it.

Get in touch with SEMA Racking Inspections for a professional inspection of your pallet racking or cantilever racking system!

What are the Costs of a Dangerous Warehouse?