Seven Tips for Safe Stacking

Properly stacked and stored materials are readily accessible and less prone to becoming damaged, but the best reason for proper stacking is that it prevents injuries to workers and others. Here are seven tips for safe stacking.

Here are seven tips for safe stacking:

1. Ensure that materials are not stacked so high that they are in danger of toppling over. Heavy and unstable items should be stored as low as possible to the floor.
2. Ensure that loads are properly secured against movement on pallets, and that pallets are in good condition and of the appropriate size and type for the load.
3. Where possible, try to keep articles of the same size and weight together.
4. When stacking bags or bundles of material, alternate rows; for example, one row running lengthwise, the next running widthwise, the third lengthwise, etc.
5. Ensure there is adequate space to allow workers, forklifts and other lifting devices to work safely and efficiently.
6. Block or chock the bottom tiers of drums so that they don’t shift or roll. Pipes should be stored in secure racks.
7. Ensure that materials aren’t stacked so high that they block sprinklers, could come into contact with ignition sources, or could make contact with electrical wires.

Properly stacked and stored materials in your workplace are easily accessible and less prone to becoming damaged. But the most important benefit of proper stacking measures is that they protect your workers and others from injury.