Document Store Storage Systems

Issue

Hazard

Possible solutions

Check it

Freestanding shelves

• Lifting files on or off shelves above head height.
  
  
  
  
  

• Climbing on lower shelves to reach documents stored on higher shelves.

• Provide a ladder or stepladder to allow employees to work safely at any shelf level.
• Plan storage to locate heaviest or most frequently used documents on lower shelves.
• Ensure that single rows of freestanding shelving are secured to prevent overturning.
• Limit height of freestanding shelving bays to permit reach to top shelf whilst standing normally.

Compactus

• Excessive force needed to operate heavily loaded shelving bays.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Ensure Compactus is not loaded beyond its design capacity, and check capacity periodically.
• Remove and archive old or little-used files.
• Check ease of operation periodically and arrange maintenance and lubrication for moving parts.
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• Gripping shelves to gain extra leverage may cause fingers to be trapped when they close up.

• Post warning signs to alert employees to dangers of getting their fingers trapped between shelves.

• Employee may be working out of sight between shelving bays when another employee closes up the Compactus.

• Instruct employees to check that no other employee is working inside Compactus before operating it.

Filing cabinets

• Tightly packed drawers require excessive force to remove or insert files.
• Cabinet unstable if heavily loaded top drawer is pulled open to its full extent.
• Cabinet drawers slide open when cabinet is not level and is left unlocked.

• Review contents periodically and archive any old or little used files.
• Distribute files to keep centre of gravity as low as possible to minimise risk of cabinet tipping.
• Check that all cabinets are standing level and use rubber wedges to stabilise any unsteady cabinet. Test to ensure drawers do not open when cabinet is unlocked.

Obstructing
walk ways

• File storage cabinet placed where its open doors obstruct a passageway.

• If cabinets border on passageways, select cabinets which have slide-away or roller doors, which do not protrude when open.