SEMA Insights
The newsletter for SEMA Members
Issue 7 | June 2025
President's Welcome
Welcome to our first SEMA newsletter of 2025!
What a busy year it's already been for all of us in the industry. It doesn’t seem long ago since we celebrated the new year!
Here at SEMA, we admit we’ve been on a roll and are very excited to share lots of those updates with you in this issue. We’ll recap some key takeaways from our annual SARI Conference in March, give you a sneak peek at our brand-new training facility, and share exciting plans for our upcoming Stay Racking Safe campaign, which we’d love for all of you to get involved in.
Of course, there’s certainly a lot for us to do this year, but amid the momentum, we want to wish our members a happy and safe year ahead.
*NEW* Members
First and foremost, let’s welcome our four new SEMA-approved members:
New Training Facility
Our training courses are proving so popular, we’ve opened up a brand new training warehouse!!
Adjacent to our current unit, within the new facility we’ve installed different racking systems available from our Manufacturing Members.
To provide the perfect training ground for racking inspectors on our SARI courses, the racking features different types of obvious and not-so-obvious damage typically found in a warehouse.
From the new facility we aim to run our SARI training, our new SARI refresher programme (which we’re rolling out in the not too distant future), as well as an expansion for the SEIRS courses.
SARI Conference 2025
Back in March, we were thrilled to welcome our SARI members from across the world – both in person and attending remotely.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended.
At SEMA, we know that our members can only keep delivering the highest standard in their work by ensuring their knowledge is up to date. The conference is the perfect opportunity to do just that and it also allows our SARI’S to earn valuable CPD points.
We had some fantastic presentations, including:
⬢ Joseph Cullen from Griffiths & Armour, who discussed the importance of checking professional indemnity insurance. He covered the key principles of insurance, risks faced by storage equipment inspectors, common coverage pitfalls, and shared practical examples to deepen our understanding.
⬢ Mirka Valovicova from Fischer Fixings, who gave an insightful presentation on floor anchors, covering the different anchor types, the risks of incorrect installation, and common mistakes to avoid. She also guided us on what to inspect, including spacing, edge distances, and head markings.
⬢ Paul Strange from Le Strange Services Ltd on forklift truck training, introducing us to the Accrediting Bodies Association for Workplace Transport and the Approved Code of Practice L11217. He also discussed the different types of forklift trucks available and highlighted key instructor teaching points.
⬢ Mark Thewlis from Alpine Fire Engineers on sprinkler systems, taking us through the different types of sprinkler systems, rack design requirements, different approaches to system design (including LPC and FM standards), and common on-site issues such as blocked flues.
⬢ Mike Savage on the new SEMA Mesh Deck Code, explaining the Code of Practice for wire mesh decks, what mesh deck load notices should cover, the correct use of them, and the types of damage to look for during inspections.
⬢ Danielle Coddington of Redirack started by outlining the various Redirack welded systems - SD, HD, and SHD and welded frame floor fixings, before moving on to frame bracing repairs, sacrificial leg frames, and their drive-in racking system.
⬢ Allan Worrell led a discussion on spine bracing, showing graphics of what they look like, explaining how they work and are designed, and covering details such as floor anchorage and plan brace connections.
⬢ A mini session on working in cold environments by Justin O'Sullivan. He covered the procedure you should take when working in a cold environment, the correct PPE you should be wearing and the important steps to take before starting an inspection, and the actions required after completing the inspection.
Do you know anyone fraudulently claiming to be a SARI?
We are becoming increasingly aware of inspectors out in the market who falsely claim to be qualified SARI or conduct SARI inspections.
We get it, SARIs are renowned within the industry for delivering inspections that deliver more for the customer and meet a high standard of quality. Falsely claiming to be a SARI inspector can cause serious problems.
Imagine if a customer had an inspector falsely claiming to conduct a SARI inspection, and then something goes wrong!! Not only could this put the end-user in danger, but it also damages the reputations of our SARIs. After all, it takes serious commitment to earn the SARI accreditation, and we shouldn’t let fraudulent inspectors risk it all.
We’re committed to cracking down on the misuse of the SARI name.
Some may be former SARI’s who didn’t continue earning their CPD points, others may be copying the process without completing our rigorous training. Either way, they don’t meet SEMA’s standards.
Our aim is to raise awareness on the subject by sending out news releases to leading industry magazines and sending out social media posts. We are also working on a SARI checker on the SEMA website – more details to follow soon.
How can you help?
If you come across anyone claiming to be a SARI who you believe isn’t approved, please contact SEMA immediately.
If a customer needs confirmation, you can direct them to our Find a SARI page or give us a call, we’re happy to confirm your credentials.
COMING S00N: Stay Racking Safe Campaign
Thanks to the support of our Marketing and PR team at AURA PR, we’re excited to share with you the upcoming launch of our brand-new Stay Racking Safe campaign, kicking off this June.
The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness among warehouse owners and managers about the risks associated with poor racking practices. Over the year, we’ll be rolling out three core themes, each designed to engage and educate the industry:
1) Your Racking, Your Responsibility: An eye-catching campaign which aims to grab the attention of warehouse owners and managers and explain how ignoring racking safety can lead to serious injuries among their employees.
2) Don’t be like Dave: An animated video taking the viewer on the journey of warehouse owner Dave who failed to get his racking repaired.
3) Advisory Visuals: Picture-based messages with phrases like “Let your employees go home safe” and “Does your racking look like this?”
To promote this important campaign, we’ll be sharing content across SEMA’s LinkedIn, publishing a blog, releasing a downloadable guide, securing a feature, and launching a brand-new landing page to pull it all together.
What can you do?
Our goal is to reach as many warehouse owners as possible, and we’d love your support in making that happen. If you spot a post or feature about the campaign, please share it, like it, and add your thoughts in the comments. Only this way can we boost visibility, spark conversations, and put racking safety at the forefront of the industry.
Media Roundup
This year, we’ve put a strong focus on boosting our media presence, from advertorials and web articles to features in industry e-newsletters. Here's a quick snapshot off where we’ve been.
W&LN - April 1st
We outline five steps to boost warehouse safety, from knowing your responsibilities to ensuring employees finishes their shift safely.
Factory & Handling Solutions - 31th March
We cover five key checks every warehouse should follow to keep racking safe and compliant.
Professional Builders Merchant - April 2025
Nick Betteley explains how SEMA can help business ensure their racking is safe.
