[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1926.250]

[Page 212-213]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1926_SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart H_Materials Handling, Storage, Use, and Disposal
 
Sec. 1926.250  General requirements for storage.

    Authority: Sec. 107, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act 
(Construction Safety Act) (40 U.S.C. 333); Secs. 4, 6, 8, Occupational 
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Secretary of 
Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 
35736), or 1-90 (50 FR 9033), as applicable. Section 1926.250 also 
issued under 29 CFR Part 1911.


    (a) General. (1) All materials stored in tiers shall be stacked, 
racked, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent sliding, 
falling or collapse.
    (2) Maximum safe load limits of floors within buildings and 
structures, in pounds per square foot, shall be conspicuously posted in 
all storage areas, except for floor or slab on grade. Maximum safe loads 
shall not be exceeded.
    (3) Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear to provide for the 
free and safe movement of material handling equipment or employees. Such 
areas shall be kept in good repair.
    (4) When a difference in road or working levels exist, means such as 
ramps, blocking, or grading shall be used to ensure the safe movement of 
vehicles between the two levels.
    (b) Material storage. (1) Material stored inside buildings under 
construction shall not be placed within 6 feet of any hoistway or inside 
floor openings, nor within 10 feet of an exterior wall which does not 
extend above the top of the material stored.
    (2) 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 
this part.
    (3) Noncompatible materials shall be segregated in storage.
    (4) Bagged materials shall be stacked by stepping back the layers 
and cross-keying the bags at least every 10 bags high.
    (5) Materials shall not be stored on scaffolds or runways in excess 
of supplies needed for immediate operations.
    (6) 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.
    (7) 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.
    (8) Lumber:
    (i) Used lumber shall have all nails withdrawn before stacking.
    (ii) Lumber shall be stacked on level and solidly supported sills.
    (iii) Lumber shall be so stacked as to be stable and self-
supporting.
    (iv) Lumber piles shall not exceed 20 feet in height provided that 
lumber to be handled manually shall not be stacked more than 16 feet 
high.

[[Page 213]]

    (9) Structural steel, poles, pipe, bar stock, and other cylindrical 
materials, unless racked, shall be stacked and blocked so as to prevent 
spreading or tilting.
    (c) Housekeeping. Storage areas shall be kept free from accumulation 
of materials that constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion, or 
pest harborage. Vegetation control will be exercised when necessary.
    (d) Dockboards (bridge plates). (1) Portable and powered dockboards 
shall be strong enough to carry the load imposed on them.
    (2) Portable dockboards shall be secured in position, either by 
being anchored or equipped with devices which will prevent their 
slipping.
    (3) Handholds, or other effective means, shall be provided on 
portable dockboards to permit safe handling.
    (4) Positive protection shall be provided to prevent railroad cars 
from being moved while dockboards or bridge plates are in position.

[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 49 
FR 18295, Apr. 30, 1984; 54 FR 24334, June 7, 1989; 58 FR 35173, June 
30, 1993; 59 FR 40729, Aug. 9, 1994; 61 FR 5510, Feb. 13, 1996]