WARNING : MOBILE SHELVING CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH

by Noelene Wevell
reprinted from New Zealand Archivist, Summer 1996

A recent accident in the Manawatu region highlights the dangers of mobile shelving. a worker sustained crushed ribs when a fellow worker accidentally closed the aisle in which the hapless victim was standing, by moving a shelving stack. Although the victim did not have to be off work, the injury caused severe bruising, and shock. In other organizations people have been hit in the back because another person moving the shelving did not check first if anyone was standing in the aisle.

In one organization, two hazards have been identified: raised rails for the mobile shelving (i.e., not set into the floor) which cause tripping, and the consequent larger gap under the bottom shelf in each bay, which permits feet to be wedged underneath when a staff member is kneeling to use lower shelves and someone else starts to close the aisle by moving the stack.

There is another hazard if staff are standing on a step-ladder to push files or boxes onto the top shelf: if the aisle was not sufficiently opened, the whole stack may move, causing neck and shoulder strain when the person is forced to move forward suddenly.

And what happens in a severe earthquake? Top-heavy shelf-loading could cause the shelving to topple. It is a grim scenario.

But there are a few useful tips to save bruising and strains. When working in mobile shelving:

• Put a small step-ladder or stool into the aisle to prevent the stacks being moved together.
• Put out a little triangular "hazard" sign, similar to a traffic hazard sign.
• See if you can get bars fitted across the tops of the stacks that will lock into place across the aisle when it is open.
• Keep clear of the shelving if there is an earthquake!

When installing mobile shelving:

• Ensure all shelving is properly braced to walls and other shelving.
• Obtain shelving technical advice -- employ a structural engineer or shelving consultant, who can inspect and sign off the installation. Make this part of the contract with the movers/installers.
• Take out public liability insurance!