Weighing up risk

In excess of 60% of the SADC group of countries combined GDP comprises goods that are weighed at some point in their transition to market, whether locally or as exports. Weighing is therefore profoundly important.

Risks are Higher in Industrial Sectors

Weighing breaks down into basically retail weighing, comprising goods sold through large and small retail outlets, and the much larger component termed industrial weighing The risks associated with decient weighing within the retail sector are comparatively low, but the same cannot be said for industrial weighing and these risks have been growing

Prior to the advent of the digital age, globalization, expanding trade within the SADC region, the introduction of axle weighing overloading regulations throughout SADC, the introduction of SOLAS regulations which has impacted all global containers exports by sea, industrial weighing was a mundane process involving trucks driving over weighbridges with the results being written down, and eventually captured into an accounting system.

In this “mundane age” of industrial weighing risks of decient weighing were low, and the scale companies providing industrial weighing equipment and services were equally mundane The business of these participants was essential the installation of scales and the maintenance and repair thereof

Changing Dynamics are Increasing the Risks

The term “decient weighing”, includes weighing done on devices that are unapproved, weighing done on devices that are inaccurate, weighing software that is not compliant and weighing software that does not enable real time weighing data to be supplied.

Understanding the signicant risks associated with “decient weighing” in today's rapidly changing market place requires one to dissect the associated risks that arise from directly from the new trade dynamics, laws and regulations and technologies that impact on and shape our industrial trade ows in today's global economy

Each of these dynamics and the associated risks can be summarized as follows:

1. Introduction of axle weighing overloading regulation: nd In South Africa, the Road Trafc Act 22 Amendment requires that, for every load, the transporter and or consignor must produce and retain proof that each vehicle in question is loaded to within permissible limits Government weighing stations both in South Africa and the rest of SADC then weigh vehicles to ensure they are within limits.

Failure to be able to prove full compliance with the Road nd Trafc Act 22 amendment will result in large potential nes for non- compliance, potential nes for overloading at government weighing stations, the possible required discharging of cargoes at government weighing stations so as remedy overloading causing resultant delays and added costs and nally the possibility of insurance cover being rendered null and void in the event of an accidents.

2. Compliance with SOLAS regulations on containers shipped by sea: