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Thursday, November 2, 2017

Secure Storage Racks



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


Warehouse Rack Safety Standards

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