Maintaining a clean and organized facility goes a long way to impress inspectors when they come for a visit.
with ANSI/RMI MH16.1 is voluntary, not mandatory. Let’s discuss some frequently asked questions. What does ANSI/RMI MH16.1 say about signage? A permanent plaque must be installed with a minimum area of 50 square inches in one or more conspicuous loca- tions. The plaque should include the following: • Average unit load, max unit load and/or max uni- formly distributed load per level; and,
• Max total load per bay. Additionally, shelves allowing stacking of load units should be visibly identified. Load application and rack configuration drawings should be furnished with each rack and retained by the owner. Failure to do so is one of the most common OSHA rack citations.
What does ANSI/RMI MH16.1 say about rack stability? The bottom of all rack columns should have column base plates and be anchored firmly to the floor. Failure to anchor racks is another common racking citation from OSHA. If racks are connected to the building structure, then the location and magnitude of the maximum pos- sible forces imposed by the rack on the building must be given to the owner of the building for their review – if you are the owner of the building, you should review this with your structural engineer! What does it mean if my rack is ‘out-of-plumb’? How about ‘out-of-straight’? ‘Out-of-plumb’ means your rack is not exactly vertical – it’s leaning forward, backward,
Automotive Recycling
to one side, or the weight of its contents is causing it to buckle. ‘Out-of-straight’ means your rack is not level – one side is higher than the other. If your rack is ‘out- of-plumb’ or ‘out-of-straight,’ the rack should be safely unloaded and re-plumbed. How can I stay safe around my racks? Here’s a full list to help you protect yourself and your employees: • Know what your materials weigh and what your racks can handle – avoid overloading racks.
• Post plaques on your racks with correct information and ensure employees know the limits.
• Ensure aisles are kept clear of obstacles. • Routinely examine your racking for stress or damage. Have a professional take a look on occasion.
• DO NOT make repairs or modifications to racks unless you are qualified.
• DO NOT try to unload a damaged rack if stability is in question – hire a professional and keep employees away from the area.
• Consult ANSI/RMI MH16.1, a structural engineer, the owner of the building, the fire department, your rack’s manual, and the racking manufacturer for additional information.
PPE You have definitely heard of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before. PPE is used in all kinds of jobs,
September-October 2021 //59
Caryn Smith at Clearwater Auto Recycling
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
