Stack timber and board materials
Overview
This standard covers the skills and knowledge required to stack round timber, sawn timber and board materials safely.
It includes:
- Safe stacking
- Stability of stacks
- Access to stacks
Because timber and board materials are heavy, when accidents occur they tend to be serious. Falling timber-based materials are one of the main causes of fatalities and serious accidents within the woodworking industry. Despite this, the risks posed by stacked timber are often not fully appreciated. Stacked timber is often given less attention than other more obvious risks such as those from machinery. A high proportion of falling timber-based material accidents involve propped up boards or doors. Injuries occur when the mass of boards or doors topple over as an attempt is made to withdraw a single board or door.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- comply with risk assessments, safe systems of work and relevant health and safety regulations and legislation at all times
- organise stacking/storage areas following standard operating procedures and health and safety regulations and legislation
- follow safe stacking procedures at all times following standard operating procedures
- follow safe unstacking procedures at all times following standard operating procedures
- use appropriate machinery and equipment to stack and unstack timber and board following standard operating procedures and health and safety regulations and legislation
- check that stacks are stable and packed following standard operating procedures and health and safety regulations and legislation
- rebuild stacks following health and safety regulations and legislation and standard operating procedures
- check stack height and quality meets health and safety regulations and legislation following standard operating procedures
- band packs following standard operating procedures and health and safety regulations and legislation
- use bearers and separating sticks following standard operating procedures and health and safety regulations and legislation
- use required personal protective equipment following health and safety regulations and legislation
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- relevant health and safety legislation and regulations
- safe working practices for safe stacking
- requirements for safe storage/stacking areas
- machinery and equipment used
- stability requirements
- access requirements
- rebuilding process
- height and quality requirements
- banding requirements
- bearing and separating stick requirements
- personal protective equipment used