The Pain in Storage: Work Safety in a High-Density Shelving Facility

An increasing number of academic and research libraries have built high-density shelving facilities to address overcrowding conditions in their regular stacks. However, the work performed in these facilities is physically strenuous and highly repetitive in nature and may require the use of potentially dangerous equipment. This article will examine work safety issues in a high-density shelving facility. The information will assist administrators who want guidance in designing a safer working environment or who want to improve working conditions and practices in their existing facility.