Materials

Handling and
Storage
OSHA 2236
2002 (Revised)
Contents
Introduction...................................................................1
What should your employees know before moving,
handling, and storing materials?..........................................................................1
What are the potential hazards for workers?................................................2
What precautions should workers take when
moving materials manually?..................................................................................2
What precautions should workers take when
moving materials mechanically?..........................................................................3
What precautions must workers take to avoid
storage hazards?.........................................................................................................4
What safeguards must workers follow when
stacking materials?....................................................................................................5

Important Safety Measures...................................... 7

What safety measures should employers take
regarding conveyors?...............................................................................................7
What safety measures should employers take
regarding cranes?......................................................................................................8
What must employers do to ensure the safe use
of slings?.....................................................................................................................10
What must employers do to protect workers who
operate powered industrial trucks?.................................................................10
What are the safety requirements for design?............................................11
What are the safety requirements for modification?................................11
What are the safety requirements for modification?................................11
What safety precautions should employers and
workers observe when operating or maintaining
powered industrial trucks?..................................................................................13
Are there any training requirements for operators
of powered industrial trucks?.............................................................................14

Basic Safety and Health Principles.......................16

iii
What is ergonomics?.............................................................................................16
What about fire safety?........................................................................................16
What about aisles and passageways?............................................................17

Training and Education............................................18

Should the prevention of some injuries receive special
emphasis?....................................................................................................................18
How can employers make their training programs
more effective?.........................................................................................................19

OSHA Assistance.......................................................20
What are safety and health system management
guidelines?..................................................................................................................20
What are state programs?...................................................................................21
How do I obtain consultation services?........................................................21
What are Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs)?...................................22
What is the Strategic Partnership Program?...............................................23
Does OSHA offer training and education?..................................................23
Does OSHA provide any information electronically?............................24
How do I learn more about related OSHA publications?......................25
How do I contact OSHA about emergencies, complaints,
or further assistance?............................................................................................25

Glossary.......................................................................26
Related Publications.................................................27
OSHA Office Directory............................................. 28
OSHA Regional Offices........................................................................................28
OSHA Area Offices................................................................................................29
State and Territories with Approved Plans...................................................32
OSHA Consultation Projects.............................................................................35

iv
Introduction
Handling and storing materials involve diverse operations
such as hoisting tons of steel with a crane; driving a truck
loaded with concrete blocks; carrying bags or materials
manually; and stacking palletized bricks or other materials
such as drums, barrels, kegs, and lumber.
The efficient handling and storing of materials are vital to
industry. In addition to raw materials, these operations
provide a continuous flow of parts and assemblies through
the workplace and ensure that materials are available when
needed. Unfortunately, the improper handling and storing of
materials often result in costly injuries.

What should your employees know before

moving, handling, and storing materials?
In addition to training and education, applying general
safety principles—such as proper work practices, equipment,
and controls—can help reduce workplace accidents involving
the moving, handling, and storing of materials. Whether
moving materials manually or mechanically, your employees
should know and understand the potential hazards associated
with the task at hand and how to control their workplaces to
minimize the danger.
Because numerous injuries can result from improperly
handling and storing materials, workers should also be aware
of accidents that may result from the unsafe or improper
handling of equipment as well as from improper work
practices. In addition, workers should be able to recognize
the methods for eliminating—or at least minimizing—the
occurrence of such accidents. Employers and employees
should examine their workplaces to detect any unsafe or
unhealthful conditions, practices, or equipment and take
corrective action.

1
What are the potential hazards for workers?
Workers frequently cite the weight and bulkiness of
objects that they lift as major contributing factors to their
injuries. In 1999, for example, more than 420,000 workplace
accidents resulted in back injuries. Bending, followed by
twisting and turning, were the more commonly cited
movements that caused back injuries.
Other hazards include falling objects, improperly stacked
materials, and various types of equipment. You should make
your employees aware of potential injuries that can occur
when manually moving materials, including the following:
■
Strains and sprains from lifting loads improperly or from
carrying loads that are either too large or too heavy,
■
Fractures and bruises caused by being struck by materials
or by being caught in pinch points, and
■
Cuts and bruises caused by falling materials that have
been improperly stored or by incorrectly cutting ties or
other securing devices.

What precautions should workers take when

moving materials manually?
When moving materials manually, workers should attach
handles or holders to loads. In addition, workers should
always wear appropriate personal protective equipment and
use proper lifting techniques. To prevent injury from oversize
loads, workers should seek help in the following:
■
When a load is so bulky that employees cannot
properly grasp or lift it,
■
When employees cannot see around or over a load, or
■
When employees cannot safely handle a load.

2
 Using the following personal protective equipment
prevents needless injuries when manually moving materials:
■
Hand and forearm protection, such as gloves, for loads
with sharp or rough edges.
■
Eye protection.
■
Steel-toed safety shoes or boots.
■
Metal, fiber, or plastic metatarsal guards to protect the
instep area from impact or compression.
See OSHA’s booklet, Personal Protective Equipment
(OSHA 3077), for additional information.
Employees should use blocking materials to manage loads
safely. Workers should also be cautious when placing blocks
under a raised load to ensure that the load is not released
before removing their hands from under the load. Blocking
materials and timbers should be large and strong enough to
support the load safely. In addition to materials with cracks,
workers should not use materials with rounded corners,
splintered pieces, or dry rot for blocking.

What precautions should workers take when

moving materials mechanically?
Using mechanical equipment to move and store materials
increases the potential for employee injuries. Workers must
be aware of both manual handling safety concerns and safe
equipment operating techniques. Employees should avoid
overloading equipment when moving materials mechanically
by letting the weight, size, and shape of the material being
moved dictate the type of equipment used. All materials-
handling equipment has rated capacities that determine the
maximum weight the equipment can safely handle and the
conditions under which it can handle that weight. Employers
must ensure that the equipment-rated capacity is displayed on
each piece of equipment and is not exceeded except for load
testing.
3
 Although workers may be knowledgeable about powered
equipment, they should take precautions when stacking and
storing material. When picking up items with a powered
industrial truck, workers must do the following:
■
Center the load on the forks as close to the mast as
possible to minimize the potential for the truck tipping or
the load falling,
■
Avoid overloading a lift truck because it impairs
control and causes tipping over,
■
Do not place extra weight on the rear of a counterbalanced
forklift to allow an overload,
■
Adjust the load to the lowest position when traveling,
■
Follow the truck manufacturer’s operational requirements,
and
■
Pile and cross-tier all stacked loads correctly when possible.

What precautions must workers take to

avoid storage hazards?
Stored materials must not create a hazard for employees.
Employers should make workers aware of such factors as
the materials’ height and weight, how accessible the stored
materials are to the user, and the condition of the containers
where the materials are being stored when stacking and
piling materials. To prevent creating hazards when storing
materials, employers must do the following:
■
Keep storage areas free from accumulated materials that
cause tripping, fires, or explosions, or that may
contribute to the harboring of rats and other pests;
■
Place stored materials inside buildings that are under
construction and at least 6 feet from hoist ways, or
inside floor openings and at least 10 feet away from
exterior walls;
4
 ■
Separate noncompatible material; and
■
Equip employees who work on stored grain in
silos, hoppers, or tanks, with lifelines and safety
belts.
In addition, workers should consider placing bound
material on racks, and secure it by stacking, blocking, or
interlocking to prevent it from sliding, falling, or collapsing.

What safeguards must workers follow when

stacking materials?
Stacking materials can be dangerous if workers do not
follow safety guidelines. Falling materials and collapsing
loads can crush or pin workers, causing injuries or death. To
help prevent injuries when stacking materials, workers must
do the following:
■
Stack lumber no more than 16 feet high if it is
handled manually, and no more than 20 feet if using a
forklift;
■
Remove all nails from used lumber before stacking;
■
Stack and level lumber on solidly supported bracing;
■
Ensure that stacks are stable and self-supporting;
■
Do not store pipes and bars in racks that face main aisles to
avoid creating a hazard to passersby when removing
supplies;
■
Stack bags and bundles in interlocking rows to keep
them secure; and
■
Stack bagged material by stepping back the layers and
cross-keying the bags at least every ten layers (to remove
bags from the stack, start from the top row first).

5
 During materials stacking activities, workers must also do
the following:
■
Store baled paper and rags inside a building no closer
than 18 inches to the walls, partitions, or sprinkler heads;
■
Band boxed materials or secure them with cross-ties or
shrink plastic fiber;
■
Stack drums, barrels, and kegs symmetrically;
■
Block the bottom tiers of drums, barrels, and kegs to
keep them from rolling if stored on their sides;
■
Place planks, sheets of plywood dunnage, or pallets
between each tier of drums, barrels, and kegs to make a
firm, flat, stacking surface when stacking on end;
■
Chock the bottom tier of drums, barrels, and kegs on each
side to prevent shifting in either direction when stacking
two or more tiers high; and
■
Stack and block poles as well as structural steel, bar stock,
and other cylindrical materials to prevent spreading or
tilting unless they are in racks.
In addition, workers should do the following:
■
Paint walls or posts with stripes to indicate maximum
stacking heights for quick reference;
■
Observe height limitations when stacking materials;
■
Consider the need for availability of the material; and
■
Stack loose bricks no more than 7 feet in height. (When
these stacks reach a height of 4 feet, taper them back 2
inches for every foot of height above the 4-foot level. When
masonry blocks are stacked higher than 6 feet, taper the
stacks back one-half block for each tier above the 6-foot
level.)

6
Important Safety Measures
To reduce the number of accidents associated with
workplace equipment, employers must train employees in
the proper use and limitations of the equipment they
operate. In addition to powered industrial trucks, this
includes knowing how to safely and effectively use
equipment such as conveyors, cranes, and slings.

What safety measures should employers

take regarding conveyors?
When using conveyors, workers may get their hands
caught in nip points where the conveyor medium runs near
the frame or over support members or rollers. Workers also
may be struck by material falling off the conveyor, or they
may get caught in the conveyor and drawn into the conveyor
path as a result. To prevent or reduce the severity of an
injury, employers must take the following precautions to
protect workers:
■
Install an emergency button or pull cord designed to stop
the conveyor at the employee’s work station.
■
Install emergency stop cables that extend the entire length
of continuously accessible conveyor belts so that the cables
can be accessed from any location along the conveyor.
■
Design the emergency stop switch so that it must be reset
before the conveyor can be restarted.
■
Ensure that appropriate personnel inspect the conveyor
and clear the stoppage before restarting a conveyor that
has stopped due to an overload.
■
Prohibit employees from riding on a materials-handling
conveyor.
■
Provide guards where conveyors pass over work areas or
aisles to keep employees from being struck by falling

7
 material. (If the crossover is low enough for workers to run
into it, mark the guard with a warning sign or paint it a
bright color to protect employees.)
■
Cover screw conveyors completely except at loading and
discharging points. (At those points, guards must protect
employees against contacting the moving screw. The
guards are movable, and they must be interlocked to
prevent conveyor movement when the guards are not in
place.)

What safety measures should employers

take regarding cranes?
Employers must permit only thoroughly trained and
competent workers to operate cranes. Operators should
know what they are lifting and what it weighs. For example,
the rated capacity of mobile cranes varies with the length of
the boom and the boom radius. When a crane has a
telescoping boom, a load may be safe to lift at a short boom
length or a short boom radius, but may overload the crane
when the boom is extended and the radius increases.
To reduce the severity of an injury, employers must take
the following precautions:
■
Equip all cranes that have adjustable booms with
boom angle indicators.
■
Provide cranes with telescoping booms with some means
to determine boom lengths unless the load rating is
independent of the boom length.
■
Post load rating charts in the cab of cab-operated cranes.
(All cranes do not have uniform capacities for the same
boom length and radius in all directions around the
chassis of the vehicle.)

8
■
Require workers to always check the crane’s load chart to
ensure that the crane will not be overloaded by operating
conditions.
■
Instruct workers to plan lifts before starting them to
ensure that they are safe.
■
Tell workers to take additional precautions and exercise
extra care when operating around power lines.
■
Teach workers that outriggers on mobile cranes must rest
on firm ground, on timbers, or be sufficiently cribbed to
spread the weight of the crane and the load over a large
enough area. (Some mobile cranes cannot operate with
outriggers in the traveling position.)
■
Direct workers to always keep hoisting chains and ropes
free of kinks or twists and never wrapped around a load.
■
Train workers to attach loads to the load hook by slings,
fixtures, and other devices that have the capacity to support
the load on the hook.
■
Instruct workers to pad sharp edges of loads to prevent
cutting slings.
■
Teach workers to maintain proper sling angles so that slings
are not loaded in excess of their capacity.
■
Ensure that all cranes are inspected frequently by persons
thoroughly familiar with the crane, the methods of
inspecting the crane, and what can make the crane
unserviceable. Crane activity, the severity of use, and
environmental conditions should determine inspection
schedules.
■
Ensure that the critical parts of a crane—such as crane
operating mechanisms, hooks, air, or hydraulic system
components and other load-carrying components—are
inspected daily for any maladjustment, deterioration,
leakage, deformation, or other damage.

9
What must employers do to ensure the safe
use of slings?
As an employer, you must designate a competent person to
conduct inspections of slings before and during use, especially
when service conditions warrant. In addition, you must
ensure that workers observe the following precautions when
working with slings:
■
Remove immediately damaged or defective slings from
service.
■
Do not shorten slings with knots or bolts or other
makeshift devices.
■
Do not kink sling legs.
■
Do not load slings beyond their rated capacity.
■
Keep suspended loads clear of all obstructions.
■
Remain clear of loads about to be lifted and suspended.
■
Do not engage in shock loading.
■
Avoid sudden crane acceleration and deceleration when
moving suspended loads.

What must employers do to protect workers

who operate powered industrial trucks?
Workers who handle and store materials often use fork
trucks, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other
specialized industrial trucks powered by electrical motors or
internal combustion engines. Employers must make these
workers aware of the safety requirements pertaining the
design, maintenance, and use of these trucks.

10
What are the safety requirements for
design?
All new powered industrial trucks, except vehicles
intended primarily for earth moving or over-the-road hauling,
must meet the design and construction requirements for
powered industrial trucks established in the American
National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks,
Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969. Trucks approved for fire safety
also must bear a label, or some other identifying mark,
indicating acceptance by a nationally recognized testing
laboratory.

What are the safety requirements for

modification?
You and your employees must not make modifications
and additions affecting capacity and safe operation of the
trucks without the manufacturer’s prior written approval. In
these cases, you must change capacity, operation, and
maintenance instruction plates and tags or decals to reflect
the new information. If the truck is equipped with front-end
attachments that are not factory installed, the user must
request that the truck be marked to identify these
attachments and show the truck’s approximate weight—
including the installed attachment—when it is at maximum
elevation with its load laterally centered.

What are the safety requirements for

designation?
There are 11 different designations of industrial trucks,
and each designation is suitable for use in certain locations
and under specific conditions. Workers must not use powered
industrial trucks in atmospheres containing hazardous
concentrations of the following substances:
■
Acetylene

11
 ■
Butadiene

12
■
Acetaldehyde
■
Cyclopropane
■
Ethylene
■
Isoprene
■
Hydrogen (or gases or vapors equivalent in hazard to
hydrogen)
■
Ethylene oxide
■
Propylene oxide
■
Diethyl ether
■
Unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine
In addition, workers may not use these trucks in
atmospheres containing hazardous concentrations of metal
dust, including aluminum, magnesium, and other metals of
similarly hazardous characteristics. In atmospheres
containing carbon black, coal, or coke dust, workers may use
only approved powered industrial trucks designated as EX.
Where dusts of magnesium, aluminum, or bronze may be
present, fuses, switches, motor controllers, and circuit
breakers of trucks must have enclosures specifically approved
for such locations.
Some powered industrial trucks are designed, constructed,
and assembled for use in atmospheres containing flammable
vapors or dusts. These include powered industrial trucks
equipped with the following:
■
Additional safeguards to their exhaust, fuel, and electrical
systems;
■
No electrical equipment (including the ignition);
■
Temperature limitation features; and
■
Electric motors and all other electrical equipment
completely enclosed.

13
 Workers may use these specially designed powered
industrial trucks in locations where volatile flammable liquids
or flammable gases are handled, processed, or used. The
liquids, vapors, or gases should be confined within closed
containers or closed systems and not allowed to escape.
These trucks are approved and generally designated as DS,
DY, ES, EE, EX, GS, or LPS. See Title 29 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.178(b) for more
detail on these designations.

What safety precautions should

employers and workers observe when
operating or maintaining powered
industrial trucks?
When operating or maintaining powered industrial trucks,
you and your employees must consider the following safety
precautions:
■
Fit high-lift rider trucks with an overhead guard
if permitted by operating conditions.
■
Equip fork trucks with vertical load backrest extensions
according to manufacturers’ specifications if the load
presents a hazard.
■
Locate battery-charging installations in designated areas.
■
Provide facilities for flushing and neutralizing spilled
electrolytes when changing or recharging batteries to
prevent fires, to protect the charging apparatus from being
damaged by the trucks, and to adequately ventilate fumes
in the charging area from gassing batteries.
■
Provide conveyor, overhead hoist, or equivalent materials
handling equipment for handling batteries.
■
Provide auxiliary directional lighting on the truck where
general lighting is less than 2 lumens per square foot.

14
 ■
Do not place arms and legs between the uprights of the
mast or outside the running lines of the truck.
■
Set brakes and put other adequate protection in place to
prevent movement of trucks, trailers, or railroad cars when
using powered industrial trucks to load or unload materials
onto them.
■
Provide sufficient headroom under overhead installations,
lights, pipes, and sprinkler systems.
■
Provide personnel on the loading platform with the means
to shut off power to the truck whenever a truck is
equipped with vertical only (or vertical and horizontal)
controls elevatable with the lifting carriage or forks for
lifting personnel.
■
Secure dockboards or bridge plates properly so they won’t
move when equipment moves over them.
■
Handle only stable or safely arranged loads.
■
Exercise caution when handling tools.
■
Disconnect batteries before repairing electrical systems on
trucks.
■
Ensure that replacement parts on industrial trucks
are equivalent to the original ones.

Are there any training requirements for

operators of powered industrial trucks?
Yes. Effective March 1, 1999, employers must develop a
training program specific to the type of truck to be driven and
the working conditions encountered. Employers must also
evaluate the operator’s performance in the workplace and
certify that each operator has successfully received the
training needed. The certification must include the name of
the operator, the date of training, the date of evaluation, and

15
 the identity of the person(s) performing the training or
evaluation. In addition, you must conduct an evaluation of
each powered industrial truck operator’s performance at least
once every 3 years.
You must also conduct such an evaluation as well as
refresher training if one of the following applies:
■
Operator is observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe
manner;
■
Operator is involved in an accident or near-miss incident;
■
Operator receives an evaluation revealing unsafe operation
of the truck;
■
Operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck; or
■
Condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could
affect safe operation of the truck.
For more information contact your Regional OSHA office
or visit our website at http://www.osha.gov/dte/library/
materials_library.html#poweredindustrialtrucks
For more detailed information on powered industrial trucks, overhead
and gantry cranes, and slings, see 29 CFR Part 1910.178 through
1910.184 Subpart N.

16
 Basic Safety and Health Principles
Employers can reduce injuries resulting from handling and
storing materials by using some basic safety procedures such
as adopting sound ergonomics practices, taking general fire
safety precautions, and keeping aisles and passageways clear.

What Is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is defined as the study of work and is based
on the principle that the job should be adapted to fit the
person rather than forcing the person to fit the job.
Ergonomics focuses on the work environment, such as its
design and function, as well as items—such as the design
and function of work stations, controls, displays, safety
devices, tools, and lighting to fit the employees’ physical
requirements and to ensure their health and well being.
Ergonomics includes restructuring or changing workplace
conditions, to make the job easier, and reducing stressors that
cause musculoskeletal disorders. In the area of materials
handling and storing, ergonomic principles may require
controls such as reducing the size or weight of the objects
lifted, installing a mechanical lifting aid, or changing the
height of a pallet or shelf.
Although no approach completely eliminates back injuries
resulting from lifting materials, you can prevent a substantial
number of lifting injuries by implementing an effective
ergonomics program and by training your employees in
appropriate lifting techniques.

What About Fire Safety?

In adhering to fire safety precautions, instruct employees
that flammable and combustible materials must be stored
according to their fire characteristics. Flammable liquids, for
example, must be separated from other material by a fire
wall. Also, other combustibles must be stored in an area

17
 where smoking and using an open flame or a spark-producing
device is prohibited. Dissimilar materials that are dangerous
when they come into contact with each other must be stored
apart.

What About Aisles and Passageways?

When using aisles and passageways to move materials
mechanically, workers must allow sufficient clearance for
aisles at loading docks, through doorways, wherever turns
must be made, and in other parts of the workplace. Providing
sufficient clearance for mechanically-moved materials will
prevent workers from being pinned between the equipment
and fixtures in the workplace, such as walls, racks, posts, or
other machines. Sufficient clearance also will prevent the load
from striking an obstruction and falling on an employee.
Employers must ensure that all passageways that workers
use remain clear of obstructions and tripping hazards.
Workers should not store materials in excess of supplies
needed for immediate operations in aisles or passageways,
and employers must mark permanent aisles and passageways
appropriately.

18
 Training and Education
OSHA recommends that employers establish a formal
training program to teach workers how to recognize and
avoid materials handling hazards. Instructors should be well-
versed in safety engineering and materials handling and
storing. The training should reduce workplace hazards by
emphasizing the following factors:
■
Dangers of lifting without proper training.
■
Avoidance of unnecessary physical stress and strain.
■
Awareness of what a worker can comfortably handle
without undue strain.
■
Use of equipment properly.
■
Recognition of potential hazards and how to prevent or
correct them.

Should the prevention of some injuries

receive special emphasis?
Yes. Because of the high incidence of back injuries, both
supervisors and employees should demonstrate and practice
safe manual lifting techniques. Training programs on proper
lifting techniques should cover the following topics:
■
Health risks of improper lifting, citing organizational case
histories, vs the benefits of proper lifting.
■
Basic anatomy of the spine, muscles, and joints of the
trunk, and the contributions of intra-abdominal pressure
while lifting.
■
Body strengths and weaknesses—determining one’s own
lifting capacity.
■
Physical factors that might contribute to an accident
and how to avoid the unexpected.

19
 ■
Safe postures for lifting and timing for smooth, easy lifting.
■
Aids such as stages, platforms, or steps, trestles, shoulder
pads, handles, and wheels.
■
Body responses—warning signals—to be aware of when
lifting.

How can employers make their training

programs more effective?
To have an effective safety and health program covering
materials handling and storing, your managers must take an
active role in its development. You must convince first-line
supervisors of the importance of controlling hazards
associated with materials handling and storing and hold them
accountable for employee training. An ongoing safety and
health management system can motivate employees to
continue using necessary protective gear and observing
proper job procedures. Instituting such a program, along with
providing the correct materials handling equipment, can
enhance worker safety and health in the area of materials
handling and storing. More training information is located a
thttp://www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/safetyhealth/index.html.
For more help, contact the OSHA Training Institute or the regional
or area office nearest to you. (See “How Can OSHA Help Me?”
at the end of this booklet.)

20
 OSHA Assistance
OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of
programs, including technical assistance about effective
safety and health programs, state plans, workplace
consultations, voluntary protection programs, strategic
partnerships, and training and education, and more. Safety
and health add value to your business, to your work, and to
your life.

What are safety and health system

management guidelines?
Effective management of worker safety and health
protection is a decisive factor in reducing the extent and
severity of work-related injuries and illnesses and their
related costs. In fact, an effective safety and health program
forms the basis of good worker protection and can save time
and money–about $4 for every dollar spent–and increase
productivity.
To assist employers and employees in developing effective
safety and health programs, OSHA published recommended
Safety and Health Program Management
Guidelines (Federal Register 54(16): 3904-3916,
January 26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines can be applied
to all places of employment covered by OSHA.
The guidelines identify four general elements that are
critical to the development of a successful safety and health
management system:
■
Management leadership and employee involvement,
■
Worksite analysis,
■
Hazard prevention and control, and
■
Safety and health training.
The guidelines recommend specific actions, under each of
these general elements, to achieve an effective safety and

21
 health program. The Federal Register notice is available
online at www.osha.gov.

What are state programs?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
(OSH Act) encourages states to develop and operate their
own job safety and health plans. OSHA approves and
monitors these plans. There are currently 26 state plans: 23
cover both private and public (state and local government)
employment; 3 states, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New
York, cover the public sector only. States and territories
with their own OSHA-approved occupational safety and
health plans must adopt standards identical to, or at least as
effective as, the federal standards.

How do I obtain consultation services?

Consultation assistance is available on request to
employers who want help in establishing and maintaining a
safe and healthful workplace. Largely funded by OSHA, the
service is provided at no cost to the employer. Primarily
developed for smaller employers with more hazardous
operations, the consultation service is delivered by state
governments employing professional safety and health
consultants. Comprehensive assistance includes an appraisal
of all mechanical systems, work practices, and occupational
safety and health hazards of the workplace and all aspects of
the employer’s present job safety and health program. In
addition, the service offers assistance to employers in
developing and implementing an effective safety and health
program. No penalties are proposed or citations issued for
hazards identified by the consultant. OSHA provides
consultation assistance to the employer with the assurance
that his or her name and firm and any information about the
workplace will not be routinely reported to OSHA
enforcement staff.

22
 Under the consultation program, certain exemplary
employers may request participation in OSHA’s Safety and
Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
Eligibility for participation in SHARP includes receiving a
comprehensive consultation visit, demonstrating exemplary
achievements in workplace safety and health by abating all
identified hazards, and developing an excellent safety and
health program.
Employers accepted into SHARP may receive an
exemption from programmed inspections (not complaint or
accident investigation inspections) for a period of 1 year. For
more information concerning consultation assistance, see the
list of consultation projects listed at the end of this
publication.

What are Voluntary Protection Programs

(VPPs)?
Voluntary Protection Programs and onsite consultation
services, when coupled with an effective enforcement
program, expand worker protection to help meet the goals
of the OSH Act. The three VPPs—Star, Merit, and
Demonstration—are designed to recognize outstanding
achievements by companies that have successfully
incorporated comprehensive safety and health programs into
their total management system. The VPPs motivate others to
achieve excellent safety and health results in the same
outstanding way as they establish a cooperative relationship
between employers, employees, and OSHA.
For additional information on VPPs and how to apply,
contact the OSHA regional offices listed at the end of this
publication.

23
 What is the Strategic Partnership Program?
OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the newest
member of OSHA’s cooperative programs, helps encourage,
assist, and recognize the efforts of partners to eliminate
serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker
safety and health. Whereas OSHA’s Consultation Program
and VPP entail one-on-one relationships between OSHA and
individual worksites, most strategic partnerships seek to have
a broader impact by building cooperative relationships with
groups of employers and employees. These partnerships are
voluntary, cooperative relationships between OSHA,
employers, employee representatives, and others (e.g., trade
unions, trade and professional associations, universities, and
other government agencies).
For more information on this program, contact your
nearest OSHA office, or visit OSHA’s website at
www.osha.gov.

Does OSHA offer training and education?

OSHA’s area offices offer a variety of information
services, such as compliance assistance, technical advice,
publications, audiovisual aids and speakers for special
engagements. OSHA’s Training Institute in Des Plaines, IL,
provides basic and advanced courses in safety and health for
federal and state compliance officers, state consultants,
federal agency personnel, and private sector employers,
employees, and their representatives.
The OSHA Training Institute also has established OSHA
Training Institute Education Centers to address the increased
demand for its courses from the private sector and from other
federal agencies. These centers are nonprofit colleges,
universities, and other organizations that have been selected
after a competition for participation in the program.

24
 OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations,
through grants, to conduct workplace training and education
in subjects where OSHA believes there is a lack of workplace
training. Grants are awarded annually. Grant recipients are
expected to contribute 20 percent of the total grant cost.
For more information on grants, training, and education,
contact the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and
Education, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018, (847)
297-4810. For further information on any OSHA program,
contact your nearest OSHA area or regional office listed at
the end of this publication.

Does OSHA provide any information

electronically?
OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available on its
website–www.osha.gov. These include e-Tools such as
Expert Advisors, Electronic Compliance Assistance
Tools (e- CATs), Technical Links; regulations,
directives, publications; videos, and other information for
employers and employees. OSHA’s software programs and
compliance assistance tools walk you through challenging
safety and health issues and common problems to find the
best solutions for your workplace.
OSHA’s CD-ROM includes standards, interpretations,
directives, and more and can be purchased on CD-ROM
from the U.S. Government Printing Office. To order, write to
the Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954,
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 or phone (202) 512-1800.
Specify OSHA Regulations, Documents and Technical
Information on CD-ROM (ORDT), GPO Order No. S/N 729-
013-00000-
5. The price is $53 per year ($66.25 foreign); $15 per single
copy ($18.75 foreign).

25
 How do I learn more about related OSHA
publications?
OSHA has an extensive publications program. For a
listing of free or sales items, visit OSHA’s website at
www.osha.gov or contact the OSHA Publications Office ,
U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA/OSHA Publications, P.O.
Box 37535, Washington, DC 20013-7535. Telephone (202)
693-1888 or fax to (202) 693-2498.

How do I contact OSHA about

emergencies, complaints, or further
assistance?
To report an emergency, file a complaint, or seek OSHA
advice, assistance, or products, call 1-800-321-OSHA or
contact your nearest OSHA regional or area office listed at
the end of this publication. The teletypewriter (TTY) number
is 1-877-889-5627.
You can also file a complaint online and obtain more
information on OSHA federal and state programs by visiting
OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
For more information on grants, training, and education,
contact the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and
Education, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, Il 60018, (847)
297-4810, or see Outreach on OSHA’s website at
www.osha.gov.

26
Glossary
Boom - A long, straight beam hinged at one end and used for
lifting heavy objects by means of cables and/or hydraulics.
Booms can be of lattice construction or be made of heavy
tubular material.
Boom radius - The horizontal distance from the axis of
rotation of a crane or derrick boom to the boom tip.
Bracing - A diagonal piece of structural material that serves
to strengthen something.
Chassis - The frame upon which a vehicle’s body is mounted.
Chock - A wedge or block for steadying a body and holding it
motionless, for filling in excess space, or for preventing the
movement of a wheel.
Competent person - one who can identify health and safety
hazards in the workplace and has the authority to correct
them.
Crib - To line or support with a framework of timber.
Cumulative trauma disorders - Injuries that result from
continuous or repetitive motions over prolonged periods of
time.
Outrigger - A projecting member that extends from a main
structure to either provide additional stability or support.
Powered industrial trucks - Forklift trucks, tractors, platform
lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, and other specialized
industrialized trucks powered by electrical or internal
combustion engines.
Rigger - A worker who prepares heavy equipment or loads
of material for lifting.

27
 Related Publications
Single free copies of the following publications can be
obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA/OSHA
Publications Office, P.O. Box 37535, Washington, DC 20013-
7535. Send a self-addressed mailing label with your request.
Publications may also be ordered from www.osha.gov.
All About OSHA – OSHA 2056
Concrete and Masonry Construction – OSHA 3106
Consultation Services for the Employer – OSHA
3047 Control of Hazardous Energy
(Lockout/Tagout) – OSHA 3120 Crane or Derrick
Suspended Platforms – OSHA 3100 Personal
Protective Equipment – OSHA 3077
Sling Safety – OSHA 3072
The following publications are available from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, P.O Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Phone
orders: 1-866-512-1800 (toll free); 202-512-1800 (Metro DC).
Or visit GPO online at www.gpo.gov/su_docs/ for current
ordering and pricing information.
Assessing the Need for Personal Protective
Equipment: A Guide for Small Business Employers
(OSHA 3151).
Ergonomics: The Study of Work (OSHA 3125).
Handbook for Small Business (OSHA 2209).
Job Hazard Analysis (OSHA 3071).
Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part
1900 to 1910.999 (General Industry Standards).
Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part
1910.1000 to End (General Industry Standards).

28
Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1926
(Construction)

29
OSHA Office Directory
OSHA Regional Offices

Region I Region VI
(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*)
(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)
JFK Federal Building, Room E340
525 Griffin Street, Room 602
Boston, MA 02203
Dallas, TX 75202
(617) 565-9860
(214) 767-4731 or 4736 x224
Region II Region VII
(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)
(IA,* KS, MO, NE)
201 Varick Street, Room 670
City Center Square
New York, NY 10014
1100 Main Street, Suite 800
(212) 337-2378
Kansas City, MO 64105
Region III (816) 426-5861

(DE, DC, MD,* PA,* VA,* WV) Region VIII

The Curtis Center
(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)
170 S. Independence Mall
1999 Broadway, Suite 1690
West Suite 740 West
PO Box 46550
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309
Denver, CO 80202-5716
(215) 861-4900
(303) 844-1600
Region IV Region IX
(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,*
(American Samoa, AZ,* CA,* HI,
SC,* TN*)
NV,* Northern Mariana Islands)
SNAF
71 Stevenson Street, Room 420
61 Forsyth Street SW, Room
San Francisco, CA 94105
6T50 Atlanta, GA 30303
(415) 975-4310
(404) 562-2300
Region X
Region V
(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)
(IL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)
1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715
230 South Dearborn Street,
Seattle, WA 98101-3212
Room 3244
(206) 553-5930
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-2220

*These states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved job safety
and health programs (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York plans cover
public employees only). States with approved programs must have a
standard that is identical to, or at least as effective as, the federal standard.

30
OSHA Area Offices

Birmingham, AL........................................................................................(205) 731-1534

Mobile, AL...................................................................................................(251) 441-6131
Anchorage, AK..........................................................................................(907) 271-5152
Little Rock, AR............................................................................(501) 324-6291(5818)
Phoenix, AZ................................................................................................(602) 640-2348
San Diego, CA.............................................................................................(619) 557-5909
Sacramento, CA.........................................................................................(916) 566-7471
Denver, CO..................................................................................................(303) 844-5285
Greenwood Village, CO..........................................................................(303) 843-4500
Bridgeport, CT...........................................................................................(203) 579-5581
Hartford, CT...............................................................................................(860) 240-3152
Wilmington, DE.........................................................................................(302) 573-6518
Fort Lauderdale, FL.................................................................................(954) 424-0242
Jacksonville, FL..........................................................................................(904) 232-2895
Tampa, FL....................................................................................................(813) 626-1177
Savannah, GA.............................................................................................(912) 652-4393
Smyrna, GA.................................................................................................(770) 984-8700
Tucker, GA .................................................... (770) 493-6644/6742/8419
Des Moines, IA..........................................................................................(515) 284-4794
Boise, ID........................................................................................................(208) 321-2960
Calumet City, IL........................................................................................(708) 891-3800
Des Plaines, IL............................................................................................(847) 803-4800
Fairview Heights, IL................................................................................(618) 632-8612
North Aurora, IL.....................................................................................(630) 896-8700
Peoria, IL......................................................................................................(309) 671-7033
Indianapolis, IN.........................................................................................(317) 226-7290
Wichita, KS..................................................................................................(316) 269-6644
Frankfort, KY.............................................................................................(502) 227-7024
Baton Rouge, LA.......................................................................(225) 389-0474 (0431)
Braintree, MA.............................................................................................(617) 565-6924
Methuen, MA..............................................................................................(617) 565-8110
Springfield, MA..........................................................................................(413) 785-0123
Linthicum, MD ........................................................ (410) 865-2055/2056
Bangor, ME..................................................................................................(207) 941-8177
Portland, ME...............................................................................................(207) 780-3178
31
August, ME.................................................................................................(207) 622-8417
Lansing, MI.................................................................................................(517) 327-0904
Minneapolis, MN.....................................................................................(612) 664- 5460
Kansas City, MO.......................................................................................(816) 483-9531
St. Louis, MO..............................................................................................(314) 425-4249
Jackson, MS................................................................................................(601) 965-4606
Billings, MT..................................................................................................(406) 247-7494
Raleigh, NC..................................................................................................(919) 856-4770
Omaha, NE..................................................................................................(402) 221-3182
Bismark, ND................................................................................................(701) 250-4521
Concord, NH..............................................................................................(603) 225-1629
Avenel, NJ.....................................................................................................(732) 750-3270
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ..........................................................................(201) 288-1700
Marlton, NJ.................................................................................................(856) 757-5181
Parsippany, NJ...........................................................................................(973) 263-1003
Carson City, NV.......................................................................................(775) 885-6963
Albany, NY..................................................................................................(518) 464-4338
Bayside, NY..................................................................................................(718) 279-9060
Bowmansville, NY.....................................................................................(716) 684-3891
New York, NY............................................................................................(212) 337-2636
North Syracuse, NY.................................................................................(315) 451-0808
Tarrytown, NY...........................................................................................(914) 524-7510
Westbury, NY..............................................................................................(516) 334-3344
Cincinnati, OH...........................................................................................(513) 841-4132
Cleveland, OH............................................................................................(216) 522-3818
Columbus, OH...........................................................................................(614) 469-5582
Toledo, OH..................................................................................................(419) 259-7542
Oklahoma City, OK.................................................................................(405) 278-9560
Portland, OR...............................................................................................(503) 326-2251
Allentown, PA............................................................................................(610) 776-0592
Erie, PA.........................................................................................................(814) 833-5758
Harrisburg, PA..........................................................................................(717) 782-3902
Philadelphia, PA........................................................................................(215) 597-4955
Pittsburgh, PA............................................................................................(412) 395-4903
Wilkes-Barre, PA......................................................................................(570) 826-6538
Guaynabo, PR...........................................................................................(787) 277-1560
Providence, RI............................................................................................(401) 528-4669

32
Columbia, SC.............................................................................................(803) 765-5904
Nashville, TN..............................................................................................(615) 781-5423
Austin, TX....................................................................................(512) 916-5783 (5788)
Corpus Christi, TX...................................................................................(361) 888-3420
Dallas, TX.....................................................................................(214) 320-2400 (2558)
El Paso, TX..................................................................................................(915) 534-6251
Fort Worth, TX.................................................................(817) 428-2470 (485-7647)
Houston, TX................................................................................(281) 591-2438 (2787)
Houston, TX....................................................................(281) 286-0583/0584 (5922)
Lubbock, TX................................................................................(806) 472-7681 (7685)
Salt Lake City, UT.....................................................................................(801) 530-6901
Norfolk, VA................................................................................................(757) 441-3820
Bellevue, WA...............................................................................................(206) 553-7520
Appleton, WI..............................................................................................(920) 734-4521
Eau Claire, WI............................................................................................(715) 832-9019
Madison, WI...............................................................................................(608) 264-5388
Milwaukee, WI..........................................................................................(414) 297-3315
Charleston, WV.........................................................................................(304) 347-5937

33
OSHA-Approved State Plans

Commissioner
Commissioner
Alaska Department of Labor
Indiana Department of Labor
1111 W. 8th Street, Room 308
State Office Building
P.O. Box 21149
402 West Washington Street -
Juneau, AK 99802-1149
Room W195
(907) 465-2700
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Director (317) 232-2378
Industrial Commission of Arizona
Secretary
800 W. Washington
Kentucky Labor Cabinet
Phoenix, AZ 85007
1047 U.S. Highway 127 South,
(602) 542-5795
Suite 4
Director Frankfort, KY 40601
California Department of (502) 564-3070
Industrial Relations
455 Golden Gate Avenue Commissioner
- 10th floor Maryland Division of Labor and
San Francisco, CA 94102 Industry
(415) 703-5050 Department of Labor Licensing and
Regulation
Commissioner MOSH
Connecticut Department of Labor 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 613
200 Folly Brook Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21201-2206
Wethersfield, CT 06109 (410) 767-2215
(860) 263-6505
Director
Director Michigan Department of
Hawaii Department of Labor and Consumer and Industry Services
Industrial Relations P.O. Box 30643
830 Punchbowl Street 7150 Harris Drive
Honolulu, HI 96831 Lansing, MI 48909
(808) 586-8844 (517) 373-7230
Commissioner Commissioner
Iowa Division of Minnesota Department of Labor
Labor 1000 E. Grand and Industry
Avenue Des Moines, 443 Lafayette Road
IA 50319 St. Paul, MN 55155
(515) 281-3447
(651) 284-5010

34
Commissioner
Secretary
North Carolina Department
Puerto Rico Department of Labor
of Labor
and Human Resources
4 West Edenton Street
Prudencio Rivera Martinez Building
Raleigh, NC 27601-1092
505 Munoz Rivera Avenue
(919) 807-2900
Hato Rey, PR 00918
Commissioner (787) 754-2119
New Jersey Department of Labor
Director
John Fitch Plaza - Labor Building
South Carolina Department of
Market and Warren Streets
Labor, Licensing and
P.O. Box 110
Regulation Koger Office Park,
Trenton, NJ 08625-0110
Kingstree Building
(609) 292-2975
110 Centerview Drive
Secretary P.O. Box 11329
New Mexico Environment Columbia, SC 29211
Department (803) 896-4300
1190 St. Francis Drive
Commissioner
P.O. Box 26110
Tennessee Department of Labor
Santa Fe, NM 87502
and Workforce Development
(505) 827-2850
710 James Robertson Parkway
Commissioner Andrew Johnson Tower
New York Department of Labor Nashville, TN 37243-0659
W. Averell Harriman State Office (615) 741-2582
Building-12, Room 500
Commissioner
Albany, NY 12240
Labor Commission of Utah
(518) 457-2741
160 East 300 South Street,
Administrator 3rd floor
Nevada Division of Industrial P.O. Box 146650
Relations Salt Lake City, UT
400 West King Street, Suite 84111 (801) 530-6901
400 Carson City, NV 89703
Commissioner
(775) 684–7260
Virginia Department of Labor and
Administrator Industry
Oregon Department of Consumer Powers-Taylor Building
and Business Services 13 South 13th Street
Occupational Safety and Health Richmond, VA 23219
Division (OR-OSHA) (804) 786-2377
350 Winter Street, N.E. Room
430
Salem, OR 97310-3882
(503) 378-3272
35
Commissioner
Administrator
Virgin Islands Department of Labor
Worker’s Safety and Compensation
2203 Church Street
Division (WSC)
Christiansted, St. Croix,
Wyoming Department of
VI 00820-4660
Employment
(340) 773-1990
Herschler Building, 2nd Floor East
Commissioner 122 West 25th Street
Vermont Department of Labor and Cheyenne, WY 82002
Industry (307) 777-7786
National Life Building—Drawer
20 120 State Street
Montpelier VT 05620-3401
(802) 828-2288

Director
Washington Department of Labor
and Industries
P.O. Box 44001
Olympia, WA 98504-4001
(360) 902-4200
(360) 902-5430

36
OSHA Consultation Projects

Anchorage, AK..........................................................................................(907) 269-4957

Tuscaloosa, AL...........................................................................................(205) 348-3033
Little Rock, AR..........................................................................................(501) 682-4522
Phoenix, AZ................................................................................................(602) 542-1695
Sacramento, CA.........................................................................................(916) 263-2856
Fort Collins, CO........................................................................................(970) 491-6151
Wethersfield, CT........................................................................................(860) 566-4550
Washington, DC........................................................................................(202) 541-3727
Wilmington, DE.........................................................................................(302) 761-8219
Tampa, FL...................................................................................................(813) 974-9962
Atlanta, GA..................................................................................................(404) 894-2643
Tiyam, GU ................................................................. 9 1-(671) 475-1101
Honolulu, HI..............................................................................................(808) 586-9100
Des Moines, IA..........................................................................................(515) 281-7629
Boise, ID.......................................................................................................(208) 426-3283
Chicago, IL..................................................................................................(312) 814-2337
Indianapolis, IN........................................................................................(317) 232-2688
Topeka, KS..................................................................................................(785) 296-2251
Frankfort, KY............................................................................................(502) 564-6895
Baton Rouge, LA......................................................................................(225) 342-9601
West Newton, MA....................................................................................(617) 727-3982
Laurel, MD..................................................................................................(410) 880-4970
Augusta, ME...............................................................................................(207) 624-6400
Lansing, MI.................................................................................................(517) 322-1809
Saint Paul, MN...........................................................................................(651) 284-5060
Jefferson City, MO....................................................................................(573) 751-3403
Pearl, MS......................................................................................................(601) 939-2047
Helena, MT..................................................................................................(406) 444-6418
Raleigh, NC.................................................................................................(919) 807-2905
Bismarck, ND..............................................................................................(701) 328-5188
Lincoln, NE.................................................................................................(402) 471-4717
Concord, NH..............................................................................................(603) 271-2024
Trenton, NJ..................................................................................................(609) 292-3923
Santa Fe, NM..............................................................................................(505) 827-4230

37
Albany, NY..................................................................................................(518) 457-2238
Henderson, NV..........................................................................................(702) 486-9140
Columbus, OH...........................................................................................(614) 644-2631
Oklahoma City, OK.................................................................................(405) 528-1500
Salem, OR.....................................................................................................(503) 378-3272
Indiana, PA.................................................................................................(724) 357-2396
Hato Rey, PR..............................................................................................(787) 754-2171
Providence, RI............................................................................................(401) 222-2438
Columbia, SC.............................................................................................(803) 734-9614
Brookings, SD............................................................................................(605) 688-4101
Nashville, TN..............................................................................................(615) 741-7036
Austin, TX...................................................................................................(512) 804-4640
Salt Lake City, UT.....................................................................................(801) 530-6901
Montpelier, VT..........................................................................................(802) 828-2765
Richmond, VA...........................................................................................(804) 786-6359
Christiansted St. Croix, VI...................................................................(809) 772-1315
Olympia, WA..............................................................................................(360) 902-5638
Madison, WI..............................................................................................(608) 266-9383
Waukesha, WI............................................................................................(262) 523-3044
Charleston, WV.........................................................................................(304) 558-7890
Cheyenne, WY...........................................................................................(307) 777-7786

38