Warehouse Aisle Space

[Brychan]

I work in a hospital warehouse where we store and retrieve medical supplies and solutions, the aisles where the solutions are stored are only approximately 18 inches wide, we have to pick some of the cases up from new 1 or 2 inch high plastic "pallets".

This is difficult as we are bumping into the items on the row behind us causing concern for our safety, not only from a product falling hazard but also the inability to lift the cases from the pallets properly. Are these aisles up to current industry standards? Thank You

[Geoff]

Subject: warehouse aisle space

:  I work in a hospital warehouse where we store and retrieve medical supplies and solutions, the aisles where the solutions are stored are only approximately 18 inches wide, we have to pick some of the cases up from new 1 or 2 inch high plastic "pallets". This is difficult as we are bumping into the items on the row behind us causing concern for our safety, not only from a product falling hazard but also the inability to lift the cases from the pallets properly. Are these aisles up to current industry standards? Thank You

[Zacchaeus]

: Based on your location as given in the question the reference in the Oregon OSHA standards that deals with aisle width is found in the section that applies to agricultural operations but could be used in any place of employment. As shown below it calls for a minimum of 22 inches wide.

"437-004-0310  Working Surfaces. Scope.  This section applies to all places of agricultural employment.  Measures to control toxic materials are outside the scope of this section.(2)(c) Aisles, passageways, and walkways must be wide enough for safe work but never less than 22 inches wide.  Passageways more than 4 feet above the ground or floor level must have standard guardrails."

See: http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/standards/div4/div4_d.doc - 2011-01-30

andhttp://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/pdf/rules/division_2/div2_d.pdf

The reference I find in the federal OSHA regulations is a letter dated from 1972 and calls for a recommended 36" minimum.

See: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_

My personal recommendation would be to follow the federal OSHA requirements and use a minimum aisle width of 36 inches. Before a final decision is made you need to check and ascertain what the local building and fire codes require as they can differ location by location even within a state. I hope this helps and if I" can be of further assistance, please feel free to ask.

Michael Brown, CSP Retired