MATERIALS HANDLING

MATERIALS HANDLING SUB-PART H 1926.250 Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Introduction This training information has been prepared by the Safety and Health Consultation Program at Georgia Tech with the technical collaboration of Mr. Juán C. Rodriguez and under the sponsorship of OSHA. Its content may be copied and distributed for free. The only request made to the user is that Georgia Tech’s Safety and Health Consultation Program be acknowledged as the source. All information contained in this training is believed to be correct by the authors, but it is important to point out that, this is not an official OSHA publication and has not been revised or approved by OSHA. The user should be aware that the recommendations provided in this training do not replace any OSHA standard or regulation. Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program Georgia Tech Research Institute 260 14th Street, Fourth Floor Atlanta, GA 30332-0837 Voice : (404) 407-7431 FAX : (404) 407-8275 Web: http://www.oshainfo.gatech.edu Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

SUB-PART H • General requirements for the storage of materials • Usage of rigging equipment (slings, fastenings, and attachments) for the moving of materials by hoisting • Disposal of waste materials (debris, scrap, rubbish) Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE • All materials should be stored in a secure and safe way to prevent sliding, falling or collapse (take into account the maximum safe load limits of the floors per square foot) • Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repair to provide for the free and safe movement of workers and the operation of material handling equipment • When a difference in road or working levels exist, the employer shall ensure the safe movement of vehicles between the two levels though the use of ramps, blocking, or grading Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE cont. • Materials stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoist way or inside floor openings • Materials should not be stored within 10 feet of an exterior wall that is being built, which does not extend above the top of the material stored • Each employee required to work on stored material in silos, hoppers, tanks, and similar storage areas shall be equipped with personal fall arrest equipment meeting the requirements of subpart M of the construction standard • Non-compatible materials shall be segregated in storage Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE cont. • Bagged materials shall be stacked by: • Stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every 10 bags high, or • Wrapping the stack with a strong plastic material to prevent their falling • Brick stacks shall not be more than 7 feet in height • When a loose brick stack reaches a height of 4 feet, it shall be tapered back 2 inches in every foot of height above the 4-foot level GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE cont. • When masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, the stack shall be tapered back one-half block per tier above the 6-foot level • Any cylindrical material (such as poles, pipes, and structural steel), unless raked, shall be stacked and blocked so as to prevent its spreading or tilting GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE cont. • LUMBER: • Pieces of lumber previously used shall have all nails withdrawn before stacking them • Lumber shall be stacked on level and solidly supported sills so that it remains in a stable and safe position • Lumber piles shall not exceed 20 feet in height • Pieces of lumber handled manually shall not be stacked more than 16 feet high GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

HOUSEKEEPING AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE MATERIALS • Storage areas shall be kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute hazards such as: • explosions, • fire, • tripping and falling of workers, and/or • harboring pests • Vegetation control measures should be exercised when necessary GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

INSPECTION OF RIGGING EQUIPMENT FOR MATERIAL HANDLING • In general : • Rigging equipment shall be inspected: • Each day prior to use on each shift, and • As necessary during its use to ensure that it is safe • Defective equipment shall be removed from service • Shall not be loaded in excess of its recommended safe working load (refer for tables tables H-1 thru H-20 of subpart 1926.251 for specific rated capacities) • Equipment shall be removed from the immediate work area when not in use • Special custom design grabs, hooks, clamps, or other lifting accessories, for such units as prefabricated structures and similar materials, shall be marked to indicate the safe working loads and shall be proof-tested prior to use to 125% of their rated load GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

INSPECTION OF RIGGING EQUIPMENT FOR MATERIAL HANDLING…cont INSPECTIONS OF SLINGS AND ALL ATTACHMENTS: • Sling and all attachments shall be inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer each day before use • Damaged or defective slings shall be immediately removed from service GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

ALLOY STEEL CHAINS • Welded alloy steel chain slings shall have permanently affixed durable identification stating: size, grade, rated capacity, and sling manufacturer • Any other additional attachment when used with this type of chain (such as hooks, rings, or oblong links), shall have a rated capacity at least equal to that of the chain GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

ALLOY STEEL CHAINS cont. • Alloy Steel Chains: • Shall be inspected at least once a year • Shall have a rated capacity (working load limit) that conforms to the values shown in table H – 1 • Should not be used with job or shop hooks and links, or makeshift fasteners, formed from bolts, rods, or other such attachments • The employer shall make and maintain a record of the most recent month in which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected, and shall make such record available for examination GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

WIRE ROPE • Tables H-3 through H-14 shall be used to determine the safe working loads of various sizes and classifications of improved plow steel wire rope and wire rope slings with various types of terminals • Protruding ends of strands in splices on slings and bridles shall be covered or blunted • Wire rope shall not be secured by knots, except on haul back lines on scrapers • An eye splice made in any wire rope shall have at least three full tucks. • This requirement shall not operate to preclude the use of another form of splice or connection if: • It can be shown to be as efficient, and • It is not otherwise prohibited GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

WIRE ROPE cont. • Must consist of one continuous piece except for eye splices in the ends of wires • Wire ropes shall not be used if, in any length of 8 diameters, the total number of visible broken wires exceeds 10% of the total number of wires, or if the rope shows other signs of excessive wear, corrosion, or defect • “Never saddle up a dead horse ” GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

WIRE ROPE cont. • Wire rope: • Shall not be kinked or permanently bent • Shall be protected from the sharp edges of its load • Shall not be pulled from under a load resting on it • Shock loading is prohibited • Be aware of the safe operating temperatures GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

SYNTHETIC WEBBING SLINGS (NYLON) • Shall be marked or coded to show: name or trademark of manufacturer, rated capacity for the type of hitch, and type of material • The manufacturer’s safe working load shall never be exceeded • If a red warning thread is visible, the sling must be removed from service GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

SYNTHETIC WEBBING SLINGS (NYLON) cont. • Shall never be used for hoisting materials with sharp edges unless protective measures have been taken • Shall not be used if there are visible defects are observed due to: • excessive operational temperatures, • burns/charring from chemical products, or • conditions such as punctures, tears, cuts or distortion of fittings GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

OTHER ATTACHMENTS • Any other additional attachment (such as hooks, rings, oblong links, etc.) shall be used following the manufacturer’s recommendations and the OSHA tables • All parts to be used for hoisting materials shall have a rated capacity at least equal or higher to that of the part with the lowest rated capacity in the whole assembly GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

DISPOSAL OF WASTE MATERIALS • All waste material shall be removed from the immediate work area as the work progresses and placed into waste containers • An enclosed chute shall be used when materials are dropped more than 20 feet to any point lying outside the exterior walls of the building • When debris is dropped through a hole in the floor without the use of a chute, the area onto which the material is dropped shall be completely enclosed with barricades not less than 42" high and not less than 6 feet back from the projected edge of the opening above GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

MATERIALS HANDLING