Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association

Matt Grierson, newly appointed President of SEMA the Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (2014-2016) reviews 12 more months of progress by the association.

In all of SEMA’s 50 year history, the phrase ‘Let The Buyer Beware’ has never been more appropriate than it is today in the drive to achieve a zero-accident working environment to meet an employer’s legal responsibilities.

Our five groups which comprise SEMA manufacturers, SEMA distributor companies  (SDCs), SEMA approved installation companies (SAICs), the SEIRS installer training programme and SEMA approved racking inspectors (SARIs) each have a clearly defined role in shaping  best practice at all stages of storage design, installation and maintenance.

But as SEMA members, we can only do our best. It’s up to end users and designers to make sure the ‘I’s are dotted and the ‘T’s are crossed on safety enforcement!

H & S 2014 Conference Highlights

Preventing falls from height by following the laid-down statutory hierarchy was high on the agenda at SEMA’s November Annual Safety Conference. HSE statistics still cite falls from height in the food and drink industries as the third highest cause of fatal injury, (20% of fatalities and around 80 major injuries each year).

SEMA’s technical committee (STC) chairman Steve Cowen addressed one other area of real concern; that of a method of rack repairs that straightens damaged uprights using a jig and a hydraulic ram without offloading pallets before undertaking the repair. SEMA’s technical committee believes that this method of repairing adjustable pallet racking could be extremely dangerous and flies in the face of health and safety best practice enshrined in the HSE’s guideline on Warehousing and Storage, HSG 76.

A copy of SEMA Technical Bulletin No.4: Rack Repairs by Straightening Damaged Uprights is downloadable at http://bit.ly/SEMATechnicalBulletin4

SEMA’s latest publications

Other new SEMA publications comprise the fully revised Code of Practice for the Design of Adjustable Pallet Racking (at £149) and the SEMA Guide to Erection Tolerances. The ever popular ‘Toolbox Talks’ now include Noise during Storage Equipment Installation and Personal Protection: Dust and the full set of 39 guidance notes is available on CD at £72. On SEMA’s 2015 agenda are a new Guide to Erection Tolerances for Installers and Users; a Code of Practice on Rack Protection; and Guidance on The Safe Design of Pallet Gates on Mezzanines.

SEMA Distributor Companies Audited

Only since 2014, has it been possible to check on a storage firm’s quality credentials by asking if they’re an audited SDC member. Their current certificate is proof that the correct health and safety standards are in place, only trained labour is used, storage is correctly designed and the firm carries appropriate insurance. Watch a short video at sema.org.uk/SDC. At the group’s AGM, Storax and Moresecure remained victorious in the SDC Supplier of the Year awards 2014.

Training

SEMA’s programme of courses secured RoSPA approval. CSCS backed SEMA’s requirement for refresher training for SEIRS installers training, the only storage training qualification which makes continuous learning mandatory.

Choose SARIs as qualified rack inspectors

The HSE’s guidance on rack safety to warehouse owners and staff recommends a three stage approach; immediate reporting of damage and defects; visual inspections at regular intervals; and ‘expert’ inspection to be carried out at intervals by competent persons. A qualified SEMA Approved Rack Inspector or SARI is deemed ‘competent’, commits to continual professional development, carries an ID card and can show SARI certification.

SEMA is the British Trade Association of the Storage Equipment Industry. It is committed to promoting and extending the safe design, installation and use of storage equipment manufactured and supplied by its members.

Phone: 0121 601 6359

Email: enquiry@sema.org.uk

Web: www.sema.org.uk