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What is an example of a workplace housekeeping checklist for stockpiling?
Lumber
- Lay lumber before stacking on a solid level sill.
- Use cross-piling or cross-stripping whenever the pile exceeds 1.2 meters (4 ft.) in height.
- Exercise care when cutting bands used to bundle lumber. Avoid being trapped by falling materials.
Reinforcing steel
- Use wooden spacers to separate piles of reinforcing steel.
- Unload reinforcing steel by mechanical means whenever possible.
- Check all bundles for broken or weak tie wires before attempting to unload.
Pipe
- Stack pipe on solid, level sills only. Block pipes to prevent them from rolling.
- Place lagging between layers to reduce the pressure and prevent the pile from spreading.
- Remove pipe from ends of the pile.
- Do not stack pipe higher than 1.5 meters (5 ft.).
Structural steel
- Pile structural steel to prevent tipping and slipping.
- Give special attention when loading structural steel from trucks.
- Place slings on steel before releasing binder chains.
Bagged and stacked material
- Maintain stability.
- Do not allow piles to exceed ten bags in height unless the face of the piles are supported by the walls of a storage bin or enclosure.
- Cross-pile bagged materials on skids and pile only to a convenient height. The height depends on the nature and ability of the mechanical aids used and the weight of the bagged materials.
Bricks, Blocks, Tiles
- Pile bricks, blocks or tiles on a solid, level surface only.
- Use extreme caution when removing metal bands.
- Do not stockpile material on a scaffold beyond the safe loading capacity.
Document confirmed current on June 23, 2008
Document last updated on April 13, 1999
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