The US federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) administers a General Materials Handling Standard (29 CFR 1910.176) that provides general requirements to ensure safe management of materials, including provisions for storage, loading and unloading, and other operational hazards.The remainder of this note summarizes these longstanding requirements.
What safe storage requirements apply?
This Standard provides general requirements for safe materials storage. First, OSHA prohibits storage of any material in a manner that creates a hazard. Employers must make certain that bags, containers, bundles, and the like are stable and secured against sliding or collapse. This can be accomplished by a combination of the following:
- careful stacking
- block and interlock materials
- limit stacking height
In addition, storage areas must be kept free from accumulations of materials that might create hazards from tripping, fire or explosion (including flammables, combustibles, and combustible dusts), or that might harbor pests. Housekeeping may necessarily include control of plants.
In addition, any limited clearance points in materials storage areas must be identified by clearance signs.
What safe materials handling requirements apply?
This Standard also covers loading, unloading, and other handling of materials. Requirements apply to the areas where employees perform these tasks, and to the tasks themselves (remember that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the management of materials “in transportation,” which includes loading, unloading, onsite movement and onsite storage activities “incidental to movement”). These include requirements for:
- clearance signs and warnings
- guarding (e.g., covers, guardrails) to protect personnel from open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, and the like, in materials storage and handling areas.
- “safe” clearance around mechanical handling equipment such as forklifts, in aisles, loading docks, through doorways, and where turns or passage are necessary
Now what?
If materials are handled in a workplace, the employer should review materials handling procedures and protective measures to confirm they meet this Standard’s requirements.
Self-Assessment Checklist
Do any of my organization's workers work in situations where materials storage or handling may create hazards for operators and/or maintenance personnel, or for other workers in the area?
If so, are adequate protective measures in place?
Where Can I Go For More Information?
- OSHA
About the Author
Jon Elliott is President of Touchstone Environmental and has been a major contributor to STP’s product range for over 30 years.
Mr. Elliott has a diverse educational background. In addition to his Juris Doctor (University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1981), he holds a Master of Public Policy (Goldman School of Public Policy [GSPP], UC Berkeley, 1980), and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Princeton University, 1977).
Mr. Elliott is active in professional and community organizations. In addition, he is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the GSPP Alumni Association, and past member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California's Environmental Law Section (including past chair of its Legislative Committee).
You may contact Mr. Elliott directly at: tei@ix.netcom.com