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Racking & Shelving ■
Is this
your problem?
This month, SEMA – the Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association – brings you a
question and an answer relating to refurbishing used pallet racking.
Refurbished Pallet Racking
who knows very little about cars buying a
Qualification
second hand car from a dealer. Sometimes
This qualification is aimed at professionals
Q. Is it possible for you to forward me the
this can work very well - however
who conduct rack surveys as an integral and
details and guidelines used for refurbishing
unfortunately at other times it works badly
significant part of their duties. It involves
used pallet racking?
perhaps because the history of previous use is
delegates in undertaking an in-depth SEMA
I am in the process of relaying out my
not revealed which can then pose a big
Course, together with an examination and
warehouse facility and about to purchase
problem to the unwary purchaser.
practical assessment. CPD will be an
from a supplier that works within your
Using this analogy we would suggest that
important part of the qualification,
guidelines.
as perhaps the inexperienced purchaser of a
demonstrating to end users that SEMA
Unfortunately at present I have been
second hand car might use the services of an
Approved Inspectors maintain a high
unable to find any data on the actual
organisation such as the AA or RAC to vet the
professional standard.
process they work with to satisfy the
used vehicle before purchase you might
Directors of our company and to move this
employ the services of an independent
Date for Your Diary –
purchase on I need some assistance. At
specialist consulting engineer who would be
SEMA Annual Safety Conference
present they would like details of how this
prepared to offer a professional opinion on
This year’s Safety Conference, the fifth in the
process and criteria is done to ensure the
what you are purchasing. Unfortunately the
series, is scheduled for Thursday, 1st
safety and reliability of the racking that is
cost of so doing would likely remove some of
November, and will continue the theme of
refurbished.
the attraction of purchasing 'Used' in the first
Safety in the Storage Industry. For further
instance and indeed like the AA or RAC
information on the event and details of the
A. SEMA is not aware of any published
check on the used car it is not a guarantee
new venue in the Midlands visit the SEMA
standards for the refurbishment of Used Pallet
there will never be any future problem.
website, www.sema.org.uk
Racking and anyone offering such products as
There is of course lots more that we could
far as we are aware will be doing so on the
write on the possible benefits and risks SEMA Publications
basis of their own internal specification rather
involved however we hope that this sets the
SEMA has 26 publications in stock – Codes
than any generally accepted Code of Practice.
basic picture.
of Practice, ‘Guides’ and European
Any purchaser of Used Racking does so on
SEMA Technical Enquiries documents – all of which are available from
the basis of the detailed responsibilities in the
We hope you find the above article, and those
our Offices. For further information on these
contract existing between him and his
in previous editions, interesting. If you have a
supplier. If things do go wrong (perhaps in the
documents contact SEMA or visit our
query, send it to us by fax or email and we
area of safe carrying capacity which might be
website, www.sema.org.uk. and click on
will do our best to have it answered by one of
one of the more dangerous areas) and the
‘Codes of Practice’.
our technical experts.
product fails to live up to expectations then
the only recourse is through the courts to the
SEMA Rack Safety Awareness and SEMA’s New Office
supplier of the material as the original
Inspection Courses With effect from December 2006 SEMA’s
manufacturer of the racking product will
SEMA runs a one-day safety course on Rack
new contact details are:
undoubtedly deny all knowledge and
Safety Awareness and Inspection. These
SEMA
responsibility. If the contract is not detailed
courses are aimed at end users, giving an in-
The National Metalforming Centre
then the court might have difficulty in
depth look at the need for inspections, how to
47 Birmingham Road
allocating responsibility. This is very much a
conduct an assessment and what actions to
case of 'buyer beware' and care needs to be
take when this is completed. These courses
West Bromwich
taken to deal with companies of 'substance' in
are normally held at the SEMA headquarters
West Midlands, B70 6PY
this regard.
but arrangements can be made to hold them at
Tel: 0121 601 6350
Some very good deals are of course
the delegates’ premises.
Fax: 0121 601 6373
possible involving Used or Refurbished
Email: enquiry@sema.org.uk
product however this is rather like someone
SEMA Approved Rack Inspectors www.sema.org.uk
www.PressOnShD.com
April 2007 ShD 63
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