Storage racks and stacking (general industry) - California

California has adopted federal OSHA standards and has some unique standards that may be more strict than federal.

Cal/OSHA has its own version of the OSHA General Duty Clause, Cal. Lab. Code 6400. Like the federal clause, it requires every employer to “furnish employment and a place of employment that is safe and healthful for the employees therein.”

In addition, California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 8, 3241 says: “Material, wherever stored, shall not create a hazard. It shall be limited in height and shall be piled, stacked, or racked in a manner designed to prevent it from tipping, falling, collapsing, rolling, or spreading. Racks, bins, planks, sleepers, bars, strips, blocks, sheets, shall be used where necessary to make the piles stable.

“Storage racks shall be designed to safely support their intended loads and shall not be loaded in excess of their design capacity as recommended by the manufacturer.”

Similarly, CCR 3339 requires the following:

• “Cargo, materials or equipment found sufficiently broken or damaged as to afford a hazard shall be immediately repaired or shall be set aside at a safe distance away from the working area so that it can be repaired.
• "Safe means of access to high piles of materials or equipment shall be provided.”

Related information

• ezExplanation - Storage racks and stacking (general industry)
• What is ANSI MH 16.1?
• FAQ: Does OSHA require a rack’s load rating be posted?
• FAQ: Do storage racks need to be anchored or bolted to the floor or wall?

Citations

• Cal. Lab. Code 6400
• 8 CCR 3241
• 8 CCR 3339 
• 29 CFR 1910.176 - Handling materials general
• 29 CFR 1910.159 - Automatic sprinkler systems (vertical clearance)
• Federal regulation 29 USC 654 - General Duty Clause