What is SEMA Racking Inspection Training?

Approved SEMA Racking Inspection Training

There is often some confusion over what exactly SEMA racking inspection training refers to. We’re here to clear that confusion up.

SEMA is shorthand for the Storage Equipment Manufacturer’s Association, and SEMA racking inspection training is racking inspection training delivered by a representative from SEMA and/or in accordance with SEMA guidelines. This vague, non-technical definition refers to a few different kinds of racking inspection training. Firstly, there is training from SEMA itself.

Training from SEMA

SEMA offers a variety of different training courses and all of them are for different purposes. Though by far the most highly-regarded course is the SEMA approved inspector qualification. This course is specifically aimed at those who wish to become a SEMA approved racking inspector (SARI) and want to inspect warehouse racking as a career. This is a kind of SEMA racking inspection training but it is not aimed at warehouse owners. Rather, it’s aimed at those who want a job in warehouse safety.

This kind of SEMA racking inspection training is important. It’s why HSE identifies people who have passed this course, SEMA approved racking inspectors, as racking inspection “experts”. Moreover, they recommend that a racking inspection expert like a SEMA approved racking inspector inspects your warehouse’s racking at least once a year.

Racking inspections run by a SEMA approved racking inspector is a service we offer. This is alongside our free pallet racking inspection checklist and racking inspection training. But what are the different types of racking inspection training courses available to owners and others that are responsible for the safety of racking systems?

SEMA Racking Inspection Training Vs. Racking Inspections by a SEMA Approved Racking Inspector Training

At Storage Equipment Experts, we too offer what is often refer to as SEMA racking inspection training. Course run by an experienced SEMA approved racking inspector and provides detailed and important information on HSE and SEMA guidelines.

However, for the sake of accuracy, it’s sometimes also known as racking inspection training. This is because our course is not run by SEMA itself. Rather, it is run by our SEMA approved racking inspectors and is tailored specifically for businesses and warehouse-owning organisations.

Our course is designed for the express purpose of making sure that warehouse owners and their staff know how to perform internal racking inspections as per HSE’s recommendations.

HSE states that staff should “receive training, information and instruction on the safe operation of the racking system” & “perform internal racking inspections on a regular” basis using a green, amber, and red inspection system. But who should provide this training? And why does your business need racking inspection training?

Racking Inspection Training by a SEMA Approved Inspector

According to HSE’s new CDM guidelines, it is up to the “client” to decide who is and who is not “technically competent”. The client is the person ultimately responsible for the safety of others in a workplace and, more often than not, this person is often the business owner. In the case of warehouse safety, the client either refers to the warehouse owner or the business owner — depending on the situation.

What this means for racking inspection training is that it is up to the business owner to decide whether or not their staff need training to deliver the internal racking inspections HSE recommends.

Our stance is that it’s better to be safe than sorry, and that in order to follow HSE’s guidance as closely as possible, every warehouse-owning organisation in the UK needs racking inspection training.

Racking inspection training delivered by someone who is not a SEMA approved inspector is problematic. After all, in order to call your staff “technically competent”. You would want them to be trained in racking inspection by someone who HSE has identified as a racking inspection “expert”.

This is why businesses that have received racking inspections by a SEMA approved inspector and racking inspection training from Storage Equipment Experts have so many good things to say. After all, it’s not just HSE that knows we’re racking inspection experts…

  • “Ideally suited for our needs” — Dunlop
  • “The highest standard, with engaging content undertaken at an easy pace… and it works” — Oasis Foods
  • “No hesitation in recommending their services for all racking inspection training needs” — Crossland Tankers
  • “Superb service” — Hymns Ancient & Modern
  • “From start to finish the service provided was excellent, I would definitely recommend Storage Equipment Experts” — Giesecke & Devrient
  • “Overall very good value. Thanks again from all at MAHLE” — MAHLE
  • “Fantastic work, could not recommend enough” — Daler-Rowney Limited

Professionalism, peace of mind, accuracy, authority, and service: that, along many other reasons, is why a racking inspection training course from Storage Equipment Experts is more than just your standard racking inspection training. And there are many more great testimonials and reviews for our racking inspection training as well.

So for critically-acclaimed racking inspection training courses, delivered by a racking inspection expert, look no further than right here! Contact Storage Equipment Experts today.

Free Warehouse Racking Inspection Checklist: How to Claim Yours!

Claim your Warehouse Racking Inspection Checklist at Storage Equipment Experts website

Storage Equipment Experts are proud to offer the best free warehouse racking inspection checklist in the UK… For free! Here’s how you can get your hands on one.

A free warehouse racking inspection checklist is a vital part of any warehouse. Whether you’re a warehouse owner, a warehouse manager, or the Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS) in your company’s warehouse, a checklist is key to helping you to achieve optimum warehouse safety. We recognise how important a pallet racking inspection checklist is for anyone concerned with safety. That’s why we offer ours for free, and why we want to guide you through the process of claiming yours. But first…

What is a Warehouse Racking Inspection Checklist?

A pallet racking inspection checklist template is a document, usually printed or in a PDF format, which allows you to keep track of what parts of a racking system have been inspected. It’s designed for the regular internal, staff-performed racking inspections which HSE recommends. These inspections should be carried out alongside the annual, third-party racking inspections they recommend from a racking inspection expert, such as a SEMA approved racking inspector, for complete warehouse safety.

It’s a simple enough idea, but simple ideas can go a long way — especially when it comes to safety. Despite their simplicity, however, some warehouse racking inspection checklists are better than others.

What Makes a Good Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist?

A good pallet racking inspection checklist is a PDF document, organised into easy-to-understand columns with accurate terminology indicating which parts of your racking system should be inspected in a specific order. PDFs are the best to use because they are self-contained, secure files that are easy to compress.

Finally, the checklist should have been created by a racking inspection expert, preferably a SEMA approved racking inspector, and it should be designed to be useful for anyone — rack safety experts or otherwise.

What Makes Our Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist the Template for How All The Others Should Look?

Our template follows all of the above criteria to the letter. What’s more, we’ve even designed a supplementary infographic to go with the PDF document. The infographic explains what each piece of terminology listed on the warehouse racking inspection checklist is, where you can find it, what it looks like, and what it does (or should be) doing if your racking is working properly. So, now you know cialis 24 hr why ours is the best, here’s how you can claim it…

Claiming Your Free Pallet Racking Inspection Checklist PDF Document

  1. Go to our pallet racking inspection checklists page.
  2. Fill out the form on the right-hand side of the page

  3. Receive an email from Storage Equipment Experts with your free pallet racking inspection checklist; it will be sent in a PDF format

  4. Use your warehouse racking inspection checklist regularly and make your warehouse a zero-accident workplace!

And that’s all there is to it — apart from two extremely important details.

1. We Strongly Recommend Racking Inspection Training for Internal Racking Inspections

Internal racking inspections should not be carried out by just anyone. Person Responsible for Racking Safety in your business should be a capable person who understands the responsibility of their role.

As such, they should have racking inspection training from a racking inspection expert in order for them to use the warehouse racking inspection checklist properly.

We do not recommend that an untrained person uses a racking inspection checklist to perform an internal racking inspection. Even with our supplementary material, they wouldn’t have the training to know exactly what they were looking for. Pallet racking inspection training is vital for any staff member who intends on performing an internal pallet racking inspection.

And so, by far the best way of ensuring that your internal racking inspections are carried out as a safely as possible is by giving all of your staff racking inspection training from a SEMA approved racking inspector.

Free warehouse racking inspection checklist, we at Storage Equipment Experts also offer the best racking inspection training in the UK.

2. Warehouses Need Annual Racking Inspections from a Racking Inspection Expert, Too

In order to follow HSE’s advice, your warehouse will also need a pallet rack safety inspection from a racking inspection expert “at least once a year”. HSE labels SEMA approved racking inspectors as racking inspection “experts”. It’s also important to remember that HSE recommends these expert racking inspections “at least once a year”. You can never be too safe and so, if you are in any doubt whatsoever about the state of your racking, Storage Equipment Experts are only a phone-call away. We offer racking inspections by a SEMA approved racking inspector to businesses anywhere in the UK.

Be on the safe side! Download our warehouse racking inspection checklist, make sure your staff receive a racking inspection training course from a SEMA approved racking inspector so they can use it, and be sure your business also receives a visit from a SEMA approved racking inspector at least once a year.

SEMA Courses: Which One is Right for You?

Identify the right SEMA course in the UK

Our resident racking inspection expert has passed two different SEMA courses, but do you need a SEMA course yourself? And if so, which one?

SEMA, the British Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association, offer a wide variety of courses from their base in West Bromwich. Taking a SEMA course in the UK can have a wide variety of benefits, but which one is right for you?

All of that depends on what you want from a SEMA course. Are you looking to gain a better understanding of warehouse safety for the sake of your business? Or are you looking to become a SEMA approved racking inspector? Your answers to these questions will give you an idea of which SEMA course, or SEMA courses, will help you in your career.

Internal Racking Inspections? You Need Racking Inspection Training from a SEMA Approved Inspector!

HSE recommends that all warehouses in the UK carry out internal racking inspections on a regular basis. In other words, HSE is looking for everybody working in a British warehouse to have a basic level of rack safety knowledge. To achieve this, look no further than our very own racking inspection training course. These courses, run by a SEMA approved racking inspector, will give your employees the rack safety awareness and racking inspection knowledge to make them real assets to your company.

Work with Cantilever Racking Systems? There are a Couple of Options Available…

Both the SEMA cantilever rack safety awareness course and our own SEMA approved rack inspector run racking inspection training course offer insight and awareness into how warehouse owners and warehouse employees should safely work with cantilever racking. The SEMA cantilever rack safety awareness course can be challenging. However, at Storage Equipment Experts, our resident racking inspection expert has passed both the SEMA inspection course (giving him a SEMA approved inspector qualification) and the SEMA cantilever rack safety awareness course. As a result, he’s the perfect person to educate your staff on cantilever racking systems.

Do You Have What it Takes to Become a SEMA Approved Racking Inspector?

A SEMA approved racking inspector (SARI) is someone who has passed SEMA’s SARI course in order to receive a SEMA approved inspector qualification. This SEMA inspection course is specifically designed for the kind of person who believes that they have the intelligence, patience, and attention to detail to become a SEMA approved racking inspector.

SARIs are a vital part of warehouse safety in the UK. The average week for a SARI often consists of travelling from business to business in order to make sure they have SEMA approved rack inspector run racking inspection training course.

Choosing the Right SEMA Course is a Matter of Good Economics

Whatever SEMA course you choose to take, make sure it’s for the right reasons. The dreaded “buyer’s remorse” refers to more than just home-purchasing. It refers to any large purchase, and a SEMA course is certainly that. After all, you’re not just paying with money; you’re paying with time, too, and this opportunity cost is something that you should factor into your decision.

There are many ways to avoid buyer’s remorse, but by far the best is to go for the best option. So for a truly great safety training course, run by a SEMA approved racking inspector, look no further than Storage Equipment Experts. There are many, many reasons why our racking inspection training course is the best in the UK, so what are you waiting for?

When we say the best, we mean the best. Contact Storage Equipment Experts today for a racking safety training course from a SEMA approved inspector.

Do I need an inspection by a SEMA Approved Rack Inspector? Defining Warehouses and HSE Law

SEMA Approved Racking Inspection

HSE recommends that British warehouses receive an annual racking inspection from a SEMA approved racking inspector. But what counts as a warehouse in HSE’s eyes? Does your business need a an inspection by a SEMA Approved rack inspector?

At Storage Equipment Experts, we’ve written a lot about warehouse safety: from warehouse racking safety safety tips to how the EU has influenced warehouses and warehouse racking safety. However, what we’ve not done is define warehouses in the eyes of HSE.

This definition is extremely important. After all, HSE recommends that warehouses receive a racking inspection by a SEMA Approved inspector at least once a year. So what exactly is a warehouse, and does your business have one? The answer is not as simple as you might think.

What is a Warehouse?

“A warehouse is a large building where goods are stored, and where they may be catalogued, shipped, or received, depending upon the type.” That’s one definition, but when you really break it down, it’s actually quite vague and not entirely correct.

For one thing, not all warehouses are buildings in and of themselves. Argos warehouses are often attached to the main body of the building precisely because their business model depends on synchronising a consumer-friendly shop floor with an employee-friendly storage system. So if a warehouse can be attached to the building itself, how does a warehouse differ from a storeroom?

HSE’s Definition of a Warehouse

HSE does not give an absolute definition of a warehouse and, throughout their guide on warehouse safety, they refer to stockrooms and warehouses interchangeably. This is because HSE recognises that every storage system is different and a government definition of what counts as a warehouse and what doesn’t is not helpful. The important thing is safety.

HSE’s guide on warehouse safety comprehensively lists every possible risk that a warehouse or stockroom could have. It then makes safety recommendations based on those risks. For example, not all warehouses use fork-lifts, but those that do need to adhere to HSE’s guidelines on forklift safety, which includes forklift training.

So rather than defining what a warehouse is, HSE’s advice covers every possible aspect of the warehouse. They then recommend that warehouse owners follow the advice that applies to them. This is because, with the new CDM regulations, the responsibility ultimately lies with the warehouse owner. HSE’s advice is there as a guide, and it is the employer’s responsibility, not HSE’s, to follow the advice relevant to them in order to make their employees safe “as far as is reasonably practical”.

In other words, if tragedy strikes and a claimant can prove in a court of law that the accident occurred because HSE’s advice was not followed, then the claimant could argue that their safety was not assured as far as was “reasonably practical”.

So Does My Warehouse Need a Racking Inspection by SEMA Approved Inspector?

If your warehouse includes a racking system, then the answer is yes. Unlike forklifts, racking systems can be found in basically any incarnation of a warehouse. After all, if you don’t have a racking system, then your warehouse is essentially useless — that cialis generique is unless you are using your warehouse for artistic purposes.

However, the real semantic issue — with regards to a racking inspection by a SEMA approved inspector — concerns the term “racking”. In this instance, HSE is very specific:

The term “racking” is used to describe a skeletal framework, of fixed or adjustable design, to support loads generally without the use of shelves.

“Without the use of shelves” and “skeletal framework” are important parts of this definition. After all, the stockroom of a small bookshop certainly wouldn’t be considered a warehouse. And besides, no-one would argue that the shelves of said bookshop need a racking inspection by SEMA approved inspector.

However, the distribution centre for a large book supplier definitely does count as a warehouse. And its racking systems would require a yearly inspection from a SEMA approved racking inspector in order to adhere to HSE regulations.

Racking Inspections by SEMA Approved Inspectors are about Common Sense

As has been previously mention, the new CDM regulations mean that the bonus of responsibility is ultimately on the warehouse owner to ensure the safety of their staff “as far as is reasonably practical”. “Reasonably practical” is the important phrase. Do the shelves in the stockroom of your popup Christmas Card shop require a racking inspection by SEMA Approved inspector? Probably not. Unless your Christmas Card shop is — in fact — some enormous storage facility where people can buy cards in bulk, then you are likely in the clear.

Does your warehouse need a racking inspection by SEMA approved inspector? If you’re unsure, the answer is probably yes. Contact Storage Equipment Experts to make sure your warehouse receives the annual racking inspection by SEMA approved inspector it needs.

The G20 and Warehouse Racking Inspections: Warehouse Safety’s Role in Global Trade

Global Racking inspections

Many things will be discussed at 2016’s G20 summit, and this includes warehouse racking inspections.

This year’s G20 summit is special for many reasons. It will be the first G20 summit to take place in China, the first G20 summit for Prime Minister Theresa May, and the last G20 summit for President Barack Obama. With so much going on, it’s perhaps hard to imagine that the twenty most powerful people in the world will be discussing warehouse racking inspections. And yet there’s strong evidence to suggest that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

The UK’s Record on Workplace Safety and What it Means for the G20.

The UK can proudly state that it has a lower workplace fatality rate than any EU country. It can also state that it has been steadily decreasing workplace fatalities since 1997, though critics would rightly point out workplace fatality and injury rates have plateaued since the Conservatives took power in 2009. Voted in on a manifesto which openly admitted to cuts to public spending, the Conservative government have done just that with regards to HSE, which could in turn explain the plateauing of workplace fatalities and injuries.

The UK’s enviable track record on supply chain safety can be explained by HSE’s rigorous attitude towards warehouse safety and warehouse racking inspections. Without an annual warehouse racking inspection from a SEMA approved racking inspector, as per HSE’s advice, it is very likely that the British supply chain would not be as safe as it is.

All of this has a big impact on supply chain safety — an important part of trade — and will therefore be extremely relevant at the G20 when the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, begins trade talks with China and the US. With the UK leaving the EU, and with May herself outright stating that “Brexit means Brexit”, the UK will need to increase its trade relationships with its biggest importers outside the EU. Even the most ardent Brexit supporter will have to admit this will come with some challenges considering that, before the vote, seven of the ten biggest importers of British goods were all EU countries.

Outside the EU, the UK’s biggest trade partners are the US, who make up 11% of all overseas British trade, and China who make up 5.7%. Eurosceptics have reason to believe that this figure is likely to increase due to something called the “Rotterdam effect”, where UK goods that are exported to EU countries are then exported again overseas. Outside the EU, Eurosceptics would argue that the UK can cut out the middle-man, so to speak. Moreover, British trade with the EU has been steadily decreasing since 2009, as British trade with the rest of the world has been increasing. If this trend continues, the UK’s position in global trade will become stronger, not weaker, as a result of Brexit. At the G20, the world will see whether or not this is the case.

Warehouse Racking Inspections in China? A Cause for Concern.

However, by the far the biggest issue with regards to the UK trading with China is not the UK’s attitude towards warehouse racking inspections and supply safety, but China’s. Last year, two deadly warehouse explosions in Tianjin killed 173 people and raised major concerns about the country’s warehouse safety standards and workplace safety standards in general.

The tragedy would not be so bad were it a one off, but this is sadly not the case. Even China’s state-owned and heavily-censored newspaper, China Daily, admitted that workplace fatalities and accidents in 2015 were “too high”. With the death toll at 68,061 for the year 2015, “too high” might be something of an understatement.

To put it another way: in the US, less than 13 people die in accidents at work everyday. In China, this figure is 186. Even when you account for the difference in the population of the US and the population of China, the workplace fatality rate in China is still four times higher than in the US.

So should the UK seek to increase trade with a country where workplace fatalities are so high? One the one hand, the UK might want to steer clear of Chinese businesses. This is especially true considering the nuclear espionage charge hanging over the Chinese government-affiliated business with a one-third stake in building the controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power station.

On the other hand, the UK should not be put off with trading with a government that represents a sixth of the world’s population. China doesn’t have the best record with regards to workplace safety, but things are improving and the government certainly seems committed to increasing safety in its supply chain.

In fact, trading with the UK might well encourage China to change its approach to warehouse safety and warehouse racking inspections. After all, safe businesses make more money, and the Chinese government must be aware that making its businesses safer will be better for the country’s economy in the long term. Perhaps the G20 will inspire China to adopt the UK’s system of yearly warehouse racking inspections from a SEMA approved racking inspector.

Whatever the result of the G20 summit, we at Storage Equipment Experts will play our role in the UK’s continued high-standards of workplace safety. We will do so by continuing to deliver the best warehouse racking inspections in the UK!