MATERIALS HANDLING
TOOL BOX SESSION
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, and
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
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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE
 All materials must be stored in a secure and safe manner that
prevents sliding, falling or collapse, and that takes into
account the maximum safe load limits of floors
 Aisles and passageways must be kept clear and in good repair
to provide for the free and safe movement of workers and the
operation of material handling equipment
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation
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Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STORAGE
 Non-compatible materials must be segregated in storage
 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
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
MATERIALS STORAGE
 Used lumber must have all nails withdrawn before stacking
 Lumber must be stacked on level support pads so that it
remains in a stable position
 Lumber piles handled by forklift must not exceed 20 feet in
height
 Lumber piles handled manually must not exceed 16 feet in
height
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation
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Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
MATERIALS STORAGE cont.
 Any cylindrical material (poles, pipes, structural steel)
must be stacked and blocked to prevent them from
rolling
 Materials must not be stored on scaffolds or runways in
excess of supplies needed for immediate operations
 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
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation
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Georgia 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 the harboring of pests
Vegetation control measures should be exercised when
necessary
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation
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Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
INSPECTION OF RIGGING EQUIPMENT FOR
MATERIAL HANDLING
 Rigging must be inspected prior to use on each shift
and defective equipment must be removed from
service
 Rigging must not be loaded in excess of its
recommended safe working load and welded alloy
steel chains must have a permanent identification tag
stating the size, grade, rated capacity, and sling
manufacturer
 Any other additional attachment (hooks, rings, oblong
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links, etc.) must have
a rated
capacity at least equal to
Program
that of the chain
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
INSPECTION OF RIGGING EQUIPMENT
cont.
 Wire Rope:
 Must consist of one continuous piece except for eye splices
in the ends of wires
 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
 Shall not be kinked or permanently bent
 Shall be protected from the sharp edges of its load
 Shock loading is prohibited
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation
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Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
INSPECTION OF RIGGING EQUIPMENT
cont.
 Synthetic webbing slings (nylon):
 Shall be marked or coded to show: name or
trademark of manufacturer, rated capacity for the
type of hitch, type of material
 The manufacturer’s safe working load shall never
be exceeded and the sling must not contact sharp
edges that could damage the webbing
 If a red warning thread is visible the sling must be
removed from service
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Georgia 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
 When materials are dropped more than 20 feet to any
point lying outside the exterior walls of the building, an
enclosed chute shall be used
 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
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation
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Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program