Building codes help ensure that buildings are constructed with health, safety and basic comfort in mind. Codes are regularly updated to reflect new technology and consumer demand.
Code compliance can prevent costly legal and insurance problems, cancellation of utilities, or even imprisonment. The development of code standards is a process that involves openness, transparency and balance of interest. The ICC draws on the expertise of construction and design professionals, technical experts and product manufacturers.
Storage Racks
Rack systems boost the cube—or usable volume—of a structure, storing materials and goods without consuming large floor spaces. They are widely used in warehouses, factories, retail stores, and storage and distribution facilities.
Some varieties of storage racks include drive-in and carton flow rack systems. Drive-in racking uses adjustable rails to allow palletized products and materials to move easily from the back of the warehouse to the front or pick face. It is ideal for first-in/first-out inventory management. Carton flow, on the other hand, is a high-density storage solution for small unit loads such as cartons and boxes. The cartons flow by gravity to the picking aisle, requiring only a modest gradient.
Another type of storage rack is a cantilever rack system that lets workers stack materials several feet into the air. This allows them to see beneath overhead lighting systems and gives fire suppression systems easier access. Cantilever racking can also boost labor efficiency because it doesn’t require the use of lift trucks for product movement.
When choosing a storage rack, it is important to understand its load capacity and LARCs (load application and configuration drawings). Overloading can cause the structure to collapse, which may result in disabling injuries to employees or material damage to goods and products. Warehouse managers must also make sure the racking is in good condition and regularly inspected by qualified engineers to ensure it meets safety standards.
Safety Signs
Safety signs inform and instruct workers using boards, illuminated signs, colours, acoustic signals, and hand and verbal signals. They can also combine symbols or pictograms and supplementary text to provide information. They are primarily used when a hazard or danger cannot be avoided or reduced in another way. For instance, a sign might inform the workers of emergency supplies and their locations. It might also instruct them to take certain precautions, wear protective equipment, or evacuate the workplace in case of a fire or other disaster.
The standards for the shapes and colours of safety signs are established by ANSI regulations. For example, a red safety sign communicates prohibition signage and dangerous behaviour; yellow signs warn the workers to be careful or take precautions; blue signs indicate mandatory actions; and green signs tell of emergency facilities or equipment.
In addition to the colour and shape standards, the ANSI regulations specify the minimum sizes for letters, shapes, and colors used on these signs. They must be clearly readable and easy to understand at a distance of 5 feet (1.52 m). They must also be free from sharp edges, burrs, splinters, or projections that could constitute a hazard.
Employers must also conduct employee training on sound workplace safety practices and how to recognize the different safety symbols and messages. This will help ensure that every worker knows what the different colours and shapes of safety signs mean, and therefore they are better able to protect themselves in the event of an accident or potential hazard.
Fire Protection
Fire hazards threaten human safety and property damage, but it’s possible to mitigate the ramifications of fire with some proactive measures. Besides ensuring that flammable materials and liquids are safely stored, companies should take steps to ensure that their buildings can withstand the impact of fire damage and that they have a plan in place for evacuation in case of an emergency.
Buildings under construction often have large quantities of combustible plastics, paneling, paints, gases and refuse on site. To protect workers and occupants from fire, companies need to develop fire protection policies and hold regularly scheduled safety meetings and training sessions.
There are several types of active and passive fire protection systems that can be incorporated into the design of a building, or added to an existing structure. For example, steel structures can be coated with intumescent paint that swells when exposed to high temperatures and protects the steel from fire for up to an hour.
Passive fire protection features like compartmentation help to limit the spread of a fire throughout a building. To do this, designers incorporate fire-rated walls that can stop flames and smoke from passing through them. In addition, they build walls and cavities that provide insulation against the high temperatures of a fire. They also use fire stopping solutions to seal penetrations through these barriers.
Personal Protective Equipment
In any facility, personal protective equipment can help keep employees safe from hazards. These items include protective gloves, masks, earplugs, eye protection, and full body suits. They can also include hard hats, boots that are chemical resistant and steel toed, and other forms of fall protection.
A hazard assessment is the first step in determining what PPE must be used. The level of protection needed is based on what type of contamination could occur, the potential health risks and the likelihood of exposure to CBRN agents. For example, level D protection includes work uniforms, gloves, face masks, and safety shoes/boots. Level A protection requires a full body suit and respirator, while level B requires a complete suit plus mask and hood.
Once the PPE has been chosen, it must be properly inspected and maintained. This includes ensuring that it fits correctly and is in good working order. It is also important to make sure that employees understand how the equipment is to be used and the circumstances under which it should be worn.
Even though the use of PPE will slow down production in some facilities, it is necessary to keep workers safe and avoid costly lawsuits. It is better to spend a little time and money up front for the benefit of everyone in the long run.