Securing Storage Racks
Potential standards: OSHA 5a1, 29CFR 1910.176(b), or ANSI MH16.1: 2012
Many companies don't comply with this rule because they don't seem to be aware of it. I'm asked about the requirement to secure storage racks often.
ANSI MH 16.1.2012 1.4.7 Column Base Plates and
Anchors
The bottom of all columns shall be furnished
with column base plates, as specified in Section 7.1. All rack columns shall be
anchored to the floor with anchor bolts, which shall be designed in accordance
with Section 7.3, to resist all applicable forces as described in Section 2.1
or Section 2.2.
You will not find that requirement
specifically stated in the federal OSHA standards. About the closest thing you
could cite from the OSHA regulations would be Subpart N – Material Handling and
Storage, paragraph 1910.176(b) – which states that “materials shall not
create a hazard”. But that would be a stretch at best.
There is, however, an appropriate reference
document that could be (and often is) used by OSHA in conjunction with
paragraph (5)(a)(1) of the OSH Act of 1970 (also known as the General Duty
Clause) to cite employers for pallet racks and other types of industrial steel
shelving (like pipe racks, bin storage racks, and parts shelves) that are not
adequately secured from falling over.
The document is ANSI/RMI MH16.1 –
Specification for the Design, Testing and Utilization of Industrial Steel
Storage Racks.
There is a copy of the October 2012 version of
this ANSI standard on the website of a university at the following web address:
The ANSI document contains recommendations for
securing storage racks of various types and heights to increase their stability
and decrease the chance they will be accidentally pushed or pulled over. This
is typically achieved by two means; first is to insert anchor bolts into the
floor through holes in the base plates provided by the steel storage rack
manufactures. And second is to secure the racks to either the wall (if a
single row is positioned along a wall) or to each other (if positioned
back-to-back) to provide additional stability (see examples in the
photos).
The exact means and methods to be used to
secure shelves and racks are usually dictated by several factors, including but
not limited to the height/base width ratio of the racks, whether or not the
racks are loaded/unloaded with forklifts, and even if there is a potential for
seismic activity in the area.
Two good training
videos you may want to consider including in your Material Handling Training:
Reach racking collapse
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Warehouse Rack Safety Standards
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