Materials Handling and Storage

What are the hazards associated with materials handling and storage?

Depending upon the type of materials and the means used to move them, the hazards associated with materials handling and storage can result in serious injury or death due to employees being struck by or caught between materials or the material handling equipment, as well as musculoskeletal injuries due to repetitive movement or improper techniques used when lifting and moving materials.

What can I do to protect myself and others?

Do not walk under a suspended load. Do not store materials beyond the load capacity of the surface on which they are placed. In addition, do not store materials in an unsafe manner that creates a high center of gravity unless the load can be adequately secured and stabilized to prevent shifting and collapse. When bodily moving materials, be sure to utilize proper lifting techniques to prevent back injury.

Do not operate material handling equipment such as forklifts or cranes unless you have been trained in the use of that equipment. If you observe another employee operating material handling equipment in an unsafe manner, report it to your employer immediately.

What resources are available to assist employers?

Safety and Health Programs

An example forklift inspection program is available for employers to use in their workplace. It should be customized to fit the conditions and equipment used in the workplace.

Training and Outreach Services

Presentations on materials handling for general industry, powered industrial trucks, struck by/caught between and cranes and derricks in construction are available for workplaces to assist in training their staff. The presentations should be modified to address site-specific conditions and hazards.

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. 

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

A-Z Safety and Health Topics

More information related to material handling can be found in the cranes and derricks and powered industrial trucks A-Z topics pages. 

Consultation Services

The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards for materials handling and storage in North Carolina. Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic. 

General Industry

• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart N - material handling and storage
  • 29 CFR 1910.176 - handling materials - general
  • 29 CFR 1910.177 - servicing multi-piece and single piece rim wheels
  • 29 CFR 1910.178 - powered industrial trucks
  • 29 CFR 1910.179 – overhead and gantry cranes
  • 29 CFR 1910.180 - crawler locomotive and truck cranes
  • 29 CFR 1910.181 - derricks
  • 29 CFR 1910.183 - helicopters
  • 29 CFR 1910.184 - slings

Maritime, Shipyard Employment

• 29 CFR 1915 Subpart G - gear and equipment for rigging and materials handling
  • 29 CFR 1915.111 - inspections
  • 29 CFR 1915.112 - ropes, chains and slings
  • 29 CFR 1915.113 - shackles and hooks
  • 29 CFR 1915.114 - chain falls and pull-lifts
  • 29 CFR 1915.115 - hoisting and hauling equipment
  • 29 CFR 1915.116 - use of gear
  • 29 CFR 1915.117 - qualifications of operators
  • 29 CFR 1915.118 - tables
  • 29 CFR 1915.120 - powered industrial truck operator training

Maritime, Marine Terminals

• 29 CFR 1917 Subpart C - cargo handling gear and equipment
  • 29 CFR 1917.41 - house falls
  • 29 CFR 1917.42 - miscellaneous auxiliary gear
  • 29 CFR 1917.43 - powered industrial trucks
  • 29 CFR 1917.44 - general rules applicable to vehicles
  • 29 CFR 1917.45 - cranes and derricks
  • 29 CFR 1917.46 - load indicating devices
  • 29 CFR 1917.47 - winches
  • 29 CFR 1917.48 - conveyors
  • 29 CFR 1917.49 - spouts, chutes, hoppers, bins, and associated equipment
  • 29 CFR 1917.50 - certification of marine terminal material handling devices
  • 29 CFR 1917.51 - hand tools

Construction

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart H - materials handling, storage, use, and disposal
  • 29 CFR 1926.250 - general requirements for storage
  • 29 CFR 1926.251 - rigging equipment for material handling
  • 29 CFR 1926.252 - disposal of waste materials
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart O - motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, and marine operations
  • 29 CFR 1926.600 - equipment
  • 29 CFR 1926.601 - motor vehicles
  • 29 CFR 1926.602 - motor vehicles, mechanized equipment and marine operations
  • 29 CFR 1926.603 - pile driving equipment
  • 29 CFR 1926.604 - site clearing
  • 29 CFR 1926.605 - marine operations and equipment
  • 29 CFR 1926.606 - definitions applicable to this subpart
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC - cranes and derricks in construction
  • 29 CFR 1926.1400 - scope
  • 29 CFR 1926.1412 - inspections
  • 29 CFR 1926.1413 - wire rope - inspection
  • 29 CFR 1926.1414 - wire rope - selection and installation criteria
  • 29 CFR 1926.1415 - safety devices
  • 29 CFR 1926.1416 - operational aids
  • 29 CFR 1926.1417 - operation
  • 29 CFR 1926.1418 - authority to stop operation
  • 29 CFR 1926.1419 - signals - general requirements
  • 29 CFR 1926.1420 - signals - radio, telephone or other electronic transmission of signals
  • 29 CFR 1926.1421 - signals - voice signals - additional requirements
  • 29 CFR 1926.1422 - signals - hand signal chart
  • 29 CFR 1926.1427 - operator qualification and certification
  • 29 CFR 1926.1430 - training
  • 29 CFR 1926.1432 - multiple-crane/derrick lifts - supplemental requirements
  • 29 CFR 1926.1435 - tower cranes
  • 29 CFR 1926.1436 - derricks
  • 29 CFR 1926.1437 - floating cranes/derricks and land cranes/derricks on barges
  • 29 CFR 1926.1438 – overhead & gantry cranes
  • 29 CFR 1926.1441 - equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guides

• Industry Guide 48 – OSHA Construction Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, includes requirements for material handling and storage in construction.
• Industry Guide 49 – OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, includes requirements for materials handling and storage in general industry.
• Industry Guide 53 – OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards related to materials handling and storage in shipyard employment.
• Industry Guide 54 – OSHA Marine Terminal Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training provides requirements for standards related to materials handling and storage at marine terminals.

Fact Sheets

• NCDOL Investigates Material Handling Equipment, provides the investigation process for a fatality involving material handling equipment.
• NCDOL Investigates Struck by Truck, provides the investigation process related to a fatality involving worker being struck by a truck.

Compliance Documents

• Compliance Directive: CPL 02-01-014 Alloy Steel Chain Slings Proof-Testing
• Compliance Directive: CPL 02-01-028 Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training
• Compliance Directive: CPL 02-01-030 Chocking Tractor Trailers
• Standards Notice: SN 52 Conversion of, Modification of, and Additions to Powered Industrial Trucks
• Federal OSHA Directive: STD 1-11.6A Powered Industrial Trucks
• Federal OSHA Directive: STD 1-11.7 Securing Trucks or Trailers to Loading Docks

Technical Assistance

Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH through the online form, by email to ask.osh@labor.nc.gov, or by phone at 919-707-7876.