Putaway to Pallet Racking
Safe putaway of palletized product into selective pallet racking, covering pallet and load inspection before travel, beam and rack capacity limits, square placement without overhang, and confirmation of the storage location in the warehouse management system.
- Audience
- Certified forklift operators and putaway associates
- Review cycle
- annual
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-14
- Revision
- 1
What is in the procedure
7 sections. Regulatory language is fixed and passes through verbatim. Sections marked customized get rewritten around your facility, your equipment, and your job titles.
- 01
Purpose
FixedThis procedure establishes how palletized product is inspected, transported, and placed into pallet racking.
- 02
Scope
CustomizedThis procedure applies to every putaway of palletized or containerized product into pallet racking at the facility, from ground level beam positions through the highest storage level, and to every certified operator who...
- 03
Responsibilities
CustomizedOperators inspect the pallet and load before travel, verify that the load is within the posted capacity of the location, place the load squarely, and confirm the putaway in the warehouse management system.
- 04
Procedure: Pallet and Load Inspection Before Travel
FixedInspect every pallet and load before lifting it for travel.
- 05
Procedure: Rack Placement and Location Confirmation
CustomizedPlace the load only after the location and the approach are verified.
- 06
Exception and Damage Handling
CustomizedStop and escalate before placing the load whenever any of the following is found: a broken pallet or unstable load that cannot be re-wrapped or restacked safely, a load that exceeds the posted capacity of the...
- 07
References
Fixed29 CFR 1910.176 Handling materials, general.
OSHA references
Putaway to Pallet Racking: 29 CFR 1910.176(b)
Every SOP generated from this template cites the paragraphs below, with a plain-language summary of what each one requires. Citations are informational and are not legal advice.
| Standard | Title | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1910.176(b) | Materials handling: secure storage | Storage of material must not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, and other material stored in tiers must be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so that the storage is stable and secure against sliding or collapse. |
| 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1) | Powered industrial trucks: operator training | Each operator must be trained and evaluated, and the employer must certify competence, before the operator is permitted to operate a powered industrial truck without direct supervision. |
| 29 CFR 1910.176(a) | Materials handling: use of mechanical equipment | Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances must be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways, and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways must be kept clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard, and permanent aisles must be appropriately marked. |
Compliance checklist
What an inspector looks for
Stored loads are stable, secure against sliding or collapse, and do not overhang the beam into the aisle
29 CFR 1910.176(b)
Only trained, evaluated, and certified operators perform putaway with a powered industrial truck
29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)
Aisles are kept clear of staged pallets and obstructions during putaway
29 CFR 1910.176(a)
Posted beam capacity is verified before a pallet is added to a bay, and the bay is inspected for damaged or missing components before loading
The physical location of every pallet is confirmed in the warehouse management system before the operator leaves the aisle
Waitlist
Generate this SOP for your facility
At launch you answer the facility questionnaire once and this template comes back with your equipment, your titles, and your sign-off sheet attached.
This page is informational and is not legal advice. Have a qualified safety professional review any procedure before it goes into service at your facility.