NOM-006-STPS-2023, Storage and handling of materials using machinery - Occupational safety conditions

Whereas, pursuant to article 46, section I, of the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare submitted to the National Advisory Committee for Standardisation on Occupational Safety and Health, at its Second Extraordinary Session held on 29 November 2017, the Draft Official Mexican Standard PROY-NOM-006-STPS-2017, Storage and handling of materials using machinery - Occupational safety conditions, for approval, and whereas that Committee found it in order and agreed that it be published as a Draft in the Official Gazette of the Federation; Whereas on 1 July 2020 the DECREE issuing the Quality Infrastructure Law and repealing the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, entering into force 60 days after its publication; however, as regards the Regulations to the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation, it was established that they shall continue to apply in so far as they are not inconsistent, until such time as the Federal Executive issues the corresponding Regulations; Whereas the Fourth Transitional article of the Quality Infrastructure Law provides that Proposals, Preliminary Drafts and Drafts of Official Mexican Standards and Standards that are in process on the date the Decree enters into force and that have not been published shall comply with the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation, its Regulations and other secondary provisions in force at the time of their preparation and until their conclusion; Whereas, in accordance with articles 69 and 71 of the General Law on Regulatory Improvement, this Standard was submitted for the consideration of the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement, which issued a favourable opinion; Whereas, pursuant to article 78 of the General Law on Regulatory Improvement, NOM-101-STPS-1994, Safety - Chemical foam fire extinguishers, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on 8 January 1996, shall be repealed; Whereas, pursuant to article 47, section I, of the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation, the Draft Official Mexican Standard PROY-NOM-006-STPS-2017, Storage and handling of materials using machinery - Occupational safety conditions, was published for public consultation for sixty calendar days in the Official Gazette of the Federation on 26 December 2017, so that during that period interested parties could submit their comments to the National Advisory Committee for Standardisation on Occupational Safety and Health; Whereas, having received comments from five submitters, that Committee proceeded to study them and resolved upon them in due course, so that this department published the respective responses in the Official Gazette of the Federation of 25 June 2018, on the basis of article 47, section III, of the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation; Whereas, as a result of incorporating the admissible comments submitted on PROY-NOM-006-STPS-2017, Storage and handling of materials using machinery - Occupational safety conditions, and of the final review of the draft itself, various amendments were made so as to provide clarity, consistency and legal certainty as to the provisions applicable in workplaces; Whereas, in view of the foregoing considerations, the National Advisory Committee for Standardisation on Occupational Safety and Health granted its approval at its Second Ordinary Session of 2018; Whereas, given the time elapsed since the approval by the National Advisory Committee for Standardisation on Occupational Safety and Health and the reforms undergone by various legal instruments, it is necessary to update the year in the code of this Official Mexican Standard, to add to the bibliography section the official Mexican standard on ergonomic risk factors at work, as well as editorial text and new terms and articles, and Whereas, in view of the above, the National Advisory Committee for Standardisation on Occupational Safety and Health, at its Third Ordinary Session of 2023, ratified the approval of NOM-006-STPS-2023, Storage and handling of materials using machinery - Occupational safety conditions, the following is hereby issued: OFFICIAL MEXICAN STANDARD NOM-006-STPS-2023, STORAGE AND HANDLING OF MATERIALS USING MACHINERY-OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY CONDITIONS

Appendix I Non-mandatory General aspects to be considered in training for crane operation

To establish the occupational safety and health conditions that shall be complied with in workplaces so as to prevent risks to workers who carry out storage and handling of materials using machinery.

This Official Mexican Standard is in force throughout the national territory and applies in all workplaces where storage and handling of materials using machinery is carried out.

For the correct interpretation of this Standard, the following official Mexican standards in force, or those replacing them, shall be consulted:

3.1 NOM-002-STPS-2010, Safety conditions - Fire prevention and protection in workplaces.

3.2 NOM-004-STPS-1999, Protection systems and safety devices on machinery and equipment used in workplaces.

3.3 NOM-017-STPS-2008, Personal protective equipment - Selection, use and management in workplaces.

3.4 NOM-025-STPS-2008, Lighting conditions in workplaces.

3.5 NOM-026-STPS-2008, Safety and health colours and signs, and identification of hazards from fluids conveyed in piping.

3.6 NOM-030-STPS-2009, Preventive occupational safety and health services- Functions and activities.

For the purposes of this Standard, the following definitions apply:

4.1 Storage: The act of placing materials or containers, in an orderly manner, on structural components, racks, platforms or in a stack, by means of machinery or manually.

4.2 Anchorage: The physical place, on the floor or on some structure, where the hoist or winch is fixed.

4.3 Labour Authority: The competent administrative units of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare that carry out inspection functions (verification in terms of the Quality Infrastructure Law) in matters of occupational safety and health, and the corresponding units of the federal states and of Mexico City acting in support of the former.

4.4 Standardising Authority: The competent departments or agencies of the Federal Public Administration that have express powers or authority to carry out standardisation activities.

4.5 Assistant: The support worker attached to the operator of machinery used for materials handling, whose function is to assist the operator by means of signals or other means.

4.6 Loop: The curl-shaped curve that a wire rope forms as a result of twisting.

4.7 Load capacity: The weight in kilograms or tonnes that a machine or mechanical device is able to raise and lower without any of its parts suffering damage, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

4.8 Working load limit (WLL): The load capacity specified by the manufacturer that a machine is able to withstand, in kilograms or tonnes.

4.9 Front loaders: Powered machinery fitted with a front bucket or shovel that is used to raise, lower and/or move loads.

4.10 Kink: The deformation of a wire rope produced by twisting, which creates a point of failure in the rope that warrants its replacement.

4.11 Lifting magnet: The electromagnetic device mounted on a crane, consisting of a coil of conducting wire wound around a soft iron core, used to raise and lower ferrous materials or containers. When an electric current is passed through the wire, a magnetic field is generated and the core becomes magnetised, and it is demagnetised when the current is cut off.

4.12 Sling: The webbing, rope or cable of flexible, strong material that secures the connection between the hook of the crane, hoist or winch and the load to be lifted.

4.13 Stack: The piling of materials or containers one on top of another in an orderly manner at floor level, or on pallets, structures or platforms.

4.14 Crane: The machine designed to raise, lower and/or move suspended loads laterally, by means of an attachment component.

4.15 Winch: The lifting and hauling device that, by means of a mechanism, exerts a force with reciprocating travel on a rope so as to pull or hold it.

4.16 Materials handling: The act of raising, lowering, pulling, pushing, moving, transporting and/or stacking materials with the aid of machinery.

4.17 Machinery: The set of machines, vehicles or equipment with their own locomotion that are used to raise, lower, pull, move, transport and/or stack materials. For the purposes of this Standard, hoists, winches, forklift trucks, cranes, conveyors, front loaders or a combination of these are included as such.

4.18 Forklift truck: The self-propelled vehicle that travels over the ground and is intended to raise and move loads generally placed on pallets, having two openings into which the arms of the forks are inserted.

4.19 Rope clamps: The mechanical components of a machine that serve to grip a rope by means of pressure.

4.20 Hoist: The manual or powered machine made up of two or more pulleys and a rope, cable or chain, used to raise or move a load.

4.21 Rollers: The cylindrical supports on which the load or the belt of a conveyor travels and rests, or which are placed beneath heavy objects handled manually by workers.

4.22 Conveyor: The horizontal, inclined or vertical machine that serves to move bulk material, boxes or objects on a belt, rollers, screws, hooks, buckets, among others, along a predetermined path, with fixed loading and unloading points.

5.1 To have a specific programme for the inspection and maintenance of the machinery used for the storage and handling of materials, in accordance with clause 7.1 of this Standard.

5.2 To have procedures for the installation, operation, inspection and maintenance of the machinery used in materials handling, as well as for emergency response during its use and for the storage of materials, in accordance with clauses 7.2 to 7.6 and 9.1 of this Standard.

5.3 To carry out materials-handling activities, through the use of machinery, in accordance with Chapter 8 of this Standard.

5.4 To comply with the safety measures and conditions for carrying out materials-storage activities, laid down in Chapter 9 of this Standard.

5.5 To supervise that the storage and handling of materials is carried out under safe conditions, in accordance with clauses 5.2 to 5.4 of this Standard, and supervision shall also be exercised to ensure that contractors carrying out these activities comply with this Standard.

5.6 To provide workers with the personal protective equipment required for storage and materials-handling activities using machinery, according to the risks to which they are exposed, and in accordance with NOM-017-STPS-2008, or those replacing it.

5.7 To have a first-aid manual for emergency response, based on the type of risks to which the workers who carry out the storage and handling of materials through the use of machinery are exposed.

5.8 To inform workers of the risks to which they are exposed in the storage and handling of materials by means of machinery.

5.9 To train and instruct the workers involved in the storage and handling of materials through the use of machinery, according to their activity or job position, and in accordance with Chapter 10 of this Standard.

5.10 To keep the records on the inspection and maintenance of the machinery used in the storage and handling of materials, on the basis of the programme drawn up for that purpose.

6.1 To observe the preventive occupational safety and health measures provided for in this Standard, as well as those established by the employer for the prevention of risks.

6.2 To give immediate notice to the employer, to the safety and health committee and to the preventive occupational safety and health services of any unsafe conditions they observe in the operation of the machinery used in materials handling and/or in the storage areas, as well as of any occupational accidents that occur, and to cooperate in their investigation.

6.3 To use and keep in good condition the personal protective equipment provided by the employer.

6.4 To operate safely the materials handling and storage machinery assigned to them.

6.5 To operate only the machinery for which they have been trained and instructed and for which they hold the employer's authorisation.

6.6 To keep their workplaces and common areas tidy and clean.

6.7 To conduct themselves safely in the workplace so as to avoid any risk.

6.8 To take part in the training, instruction and information events provided by the employer.

6.9 To inform the employer of any limitations they may have in carrying out their activities.

materials handling

7.1 Workplaces shall have a specific programme for the inspection and maintenance of the machinery used for the storage and handling of materials, together with a record of its implementation, taking the following into account: a) The machinery subject to inspection and maintenance and, where applicable, its identification number; b) The activity to be carried out; c) The frequency at which it is performed; d) The type of inspection carried out and, where applicable, the type of maintenance performed; e) The dates of performance, and f) The person responsible for carrying it out. The specific programme for the inspection and maintenance of the machinery shall be established in accordance with the recommendations made in that regard by the manufacturer, as well as with the operating conditions -time and intensity of use- and the environmental conditions to which it is subjected.

7.2 In storage and materials-handling activities in workplaces using machinery, there shall be safety procedures for its installation, operation and maintenance, drawn up in accordance with the manuals, instructions or recommendations of the manufacturer or supplier.

7.3 The procedures for the installation of the machinery used for the storage and handling of materials in workplaces shall take the following into account, as applicable: a) The conditions of stability, anchorage and strength of the floor or ground of the zone, area or place where it is to be located; b) The minimum safety clearances to be maintained from buildings, structures, live electrical lines or other machinery operating at the site, for its operation and maintenance. The minimum clearances to be maintained from live electrical lines are set out in Table 1 below: Table 1 Minimum safety clearances from live electrical lines Phase-to-phase line voltage (kV) Minimum safety clearance (m) 50 or less 3.04 Over 50 and up to 200 4.57 Over 200 and up to 350 6.10 Over 350 and up to 500 7.62 Over 500 and up to 750 10.67 Over 750 and up to 1 000 13.72 c) The safety measures indicated by the manufacturer, as applicable, for: 1) The assembly and disassembly of its components; 2) The fastening of its components; 3) The mounting and suspension of ropes, chains and moving parts; 4) The power supply or fuel supply; 5) The demarcation or signposting of the operating area; 6) The earthing connection; 7) Safe access for the operator, and 8) Communication between the operator and the workers involved in the operations, where applicable.

7.4 The safety procedures for operating the machinery used in the storage and handling of materials shall take the following into account, as applicable: a) The state and presentation of the materials: 1) In bulk, such as powders, solids, liquids, gases and gels; 2) As loose items; 3) Bottled or canned; 4) Packed, and/or 5) In containers; b) The risks inherent in the machinery used, as well as in the materials to be handled; c) The risks inherent in the loading, unloading, moving or transport, and stacking or unstacking of the materials; d) The attachment components for the materials or containers; e) The location of the transit zones of workers or persons not involved in the materials-handling work, so as to prevent any accident; f) The identification of hazardous conditions and risk factors such as: 1) The location of structural or other components with which a collision may occur; 2) Proximity to electrical installations; 3) The simultaneous operation of other machinery used for materials handling, at the same or at different levels, so as to avoid collisions or other types of accident, and 4) Those arising from meteorological phenomena; g) The safety measures for handling the materials; h) The use of signal codes and/or communication instruments between the machinery operator and the assistant; i) The criteria for avoiding or interrupting materials-handling operations using machinery, where the safety of workers is compromised, such as: 1) Deterioration of or damage to the machinery, control equipment, steel wire ropes, slings, chains, hooks or other ancillary accessories; 2) Inappropriate meteorological and geological conditions, such as rain, strong winds, insufficient lighting, earthquakes, among others, for carrying out this type of work; 3) Impaired health conditions of the personnel involved in this work, and 4) Activation of the emergency plans; j) The possible emergency situations that may arise and place the physical integrity of workers at risk, such as: overturning; failure of the control system; failures of the braking system; rupture of the packaging or wrapping of the loads; entrapment; being struck by vehicles; among others, as well as the measures to prevent them, and k) The employer's authorisations that shall be obtained by operators of cranes, forklift trucks, lifting magnets and front loaders.

7.5 The safety procedure for the inspection and maintenance of the machinery used in the storage and handling of materials shall take the following into account, as applicable: a) Signposting in accordance with NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it, and demarcation of the area where the inspection and maintenance is carried out; b) The use of suitable tools; c) The application, before the activities begin, of means of energy isolation, through the use of tags and padlocks, in accordance with NOM-004-STPS-1999, or those replacing it; d) Confirmation that the connections of the load ropes and terminals comply with the manufacturer's specifications; e) Verification of the free operation of the pushbutton panels or control devices and that their identification is permanently marked on them; f) The maintenance manual provided by the manufacturer; g) The risk factors present in the workplace, and h) The specific safety measures that shall be adopted.

7.6 Workplaces shall have a general procedure for emergency response arising from the storage and handling of materials, covering the following, as applicable: a) The types of emergency that may arise; b) The way to activate the alarm to warn of the emergency situation; c) The instruction to place the machinery involved in a safe position; d) The first-aid kit, manual and personnel trained to give first aid, based on the type of risks to which the workers who carry out materials handling are exposed. The first-aid kit shall have the following characteristics: 1) Be easy to access and to carry; 2) Be located in a visible place; 3) Be identified and its location signposted, in accordance with NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it; 4) Not be fitted with padlocks or devices that hinder access to its contents; 5) Contain the dressing materials, in accordance with the risks identified and the number of workers exposed, and 6) Have a list of the dressing materials it contains. e) The intervention of the emergency response teams, in accordance with the manual, where applicable; f) The directory of the competent emergency services; g) The means of transport available so that the injured can be taken to a medical care centre, and h) The person(s) responsible for its implementation and coordination, who shall have the training and instruction necessary for that function.

Workplaces shall comply with the safety measures set out below, as applicable, for the machinery used to carry out storage and materials-handling activities:

8.1 General safety measures a) To carry out at the start of each shift a visual inspection and functional test of the machinery, as applicable, so as to verify the good condition and operation of the following components: 1) Operating and emergency controls; 2) Safety devices; 3) Pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical and combustion systems; 4) Warning and control signals; 5) The physical condition of the structure in general, and 6) Any other component specified by the manufacturer; b) To have emergency stop devices for the machinery, and notices showing its maximum load capacity; c) To have at least one fire extinguisher of the type and capacity specific to the class of fire that may occur, in accordance with NOM-002-STPS-2010, or those replacing it, and d) To demarcate the machinery operating areas and prevent access to them by workers or persons not involved in the materials-handling work, and to keep those areas free of obstacles; e) To have signposting on the maximum travelling speed of the machinery used in materials handling, in accordance with NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it, particularly at crossings or on sloping routes; f) To place convex mirrors at the crossings of corridors, aisles or lanes where machinery used in materials handling travels and, where necessary, physical means on the floor to reduce its speed; g) To supervise that workers use personal protective equipment while carrying out their activities; h) To follow up the specific inspection and maintenance programme for the machinery; i) To earth, as applicable, the non-conducting metal parts of the machinery; j) To have the machinery inspected by trained personnel in the following cases: 1) Where abnormal conditions are detected during its operation; 2) After the replacement or repair of any part subject to stress, and 3) On the basis of the specific inspection and maintenance programme established, in accordance with the frequency indicated by the manufacturer; k) To have guards on the parts of the machinery that may create risks to workers, in accordance with NOM-004-STPS-1999, or those replacing it; l) To prohibit exceeding the working load limit of the machinery used in materials handling; m) To prohibit leaving a suspended load unattended without the operator present; n) To prohibit workers from using the machinery intended for materials handling as a means of transporting personnel, and o) To prohibit persons under 18 years of age and pregnant women from carrying out installation, operation or maintenance activities on the machinery.

8.2 Safety measures for the use of hoists and winches

8.2.1 Safety measures for the installation of hoists and winches: a) To prevent the location and anchorage points from constituting a risk factor; b) To consider, as the case may be, their fastening on the trolley; their assembly and disassembly; the mounting and suspension of the rope or chain; the fastening of the receiving box, and the power supply, including the wiring diagrams; c) To confirm that the stops are installed at the limits of the operating area, where a hoist is mounted on a monorail trolley; d) To provide free access and the space necessary for its operation; e) To verify that every electric hoist is earthed; f) To ensure, for rope hoists, that: 1) The number of turns of the rope around the drum is at least two when it is fully unwound, and 2) The maximum winding of the rope on the drum does not exceed 75% of its outer side diameter, and g) To identify on the hoist, in a place visible to operators: 1) The working load limit, and 2) The electrical voltage or air pressure specified on the data plate, in the case of electric or pneumatic hoists respectively.

8.2.2 Safety measures for the operation of hoists and winches: a) To inspect physically the integrity of their components before starting the shift, so as to detect signs of breakage, fatigue, deformation or any other condition that could create risks to workers or to the installations; b) To inspect the equipment and confirm that they do not exceed the working load limit; c) To use the air pressure indicated on the data plate, in the case of pneumatic hoists; d) To verify that the lashing is such that the load is properly secured and balanced; e) To avoid lifting a single load where two or more hoists are used simultaneously. Where this is necessary, the load centre shall be calculated and the operation carried out in a coordinated manner; f) To raise the load to the lowest possible height when the hoist is started up, so as to verify that it does not slip and to prevent it from tilting while being moved; g) To verify that the load is lifted vertically or that the anchorage and attachment points are in the same line so as not to damage the equipment; h) To ensure that the hoist is subjected to a stress no greater than 50% of the working load limit, where the ambient temperature is below -15 ºC; i) To prevent inadvertent operation of winches and hoists, where these are placed at rest and left suspended; j) To have a person responsible for operating the holding pawl on manually operated drum winches; k) To ensure, for drum winches, that the lowering of the load is secured by applying the brake, so as to prevent unexpected acceleration of the load and any manoeuvre going out of control; l) To limit the number of starts per hour and the operating time to those specified by the manufacturer; m) To verify that the steel wire rope: 1) Is not used as an earth conductor; 2) Is kept lubricated; 3) Does not rub against surfaces that may cut or damage it when it is under tension, and 4) Is protected and prevented from coming into contact with moisture, gases and substances that may corrode it; n) To verify that the hoist chain: 1) Is kept lubricated; 2) Shows no deformation, impact damage, twisting, among others, and 3) Has no welded links, and o) To suspend the lifting of the materials immediately where excessive manual effort arises in operating the hand chain, cranks or hauling levers or where any other risk is detected.

8.2.3 Safety measures for the inspection and maintenance of hoists and winches: a) To inspect the load chain and the hand chain or lever; the electrical system; the terminals; the limit switch; the receiving box; the load sheaves; the brakes; the hooks; the gears; the motor, and the casing, at the frequency indicated by the manufacturer; b) To adjust the brake and the clutch or the limit switches on powered hoists, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions; c) To inspect ropes, connecting rods, clamp blocks and support hooks of manually operated and powered winches, on the basis of the manufacturer's instructions; d) To confirm that all screws and nuts are not loose; e) To check that the load hooks have a safety latch in good condition; f) To verify that the steel wire rope: 1) Is lubricated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions; 2) Is replaced only by another of the same type and characteristics, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, where any of the following conditions arises:

8.3 Safety measures for the use of slings

8.3.1 Safety measures for the operation of slings: a) To use only slings marked or labelled with the load capacity data and to make certain that this is greater than the weight of the load to be lifted; b) To grease the slings, where applicable, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications; c) To prevent the sling from being fitted on the nose or tip of the anchorage and load hooks; d) To confirm that the stitched area of the webbing sling never comes into contact with the load; e) To use slings with thimbles or protective sleeves on loads that have sharp edges; f) To consult the manufacturer, where necessary, on the exposure of textile slings to chemical agents; g) To store textile slings in clean, dry, ventilated places away from sources of heat, ultraviolet rays or sunlight; h) To suspend the lifting operation if: 1) Rotation of one of the ends of the steel wire rope sling occurs, or 2) Deformations arise in the steel wire rope slings that could cause the load to rotate, and i) To prohibit the use of damaged slings; the tying of knots in slings; dragging the load to be lifted over the slings, and the use of textile slings above 100°C or below -40°C.

8.3.2 Safety measures for the inspection of slings: a) To confirm that the inspection is carried out periodically, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, so as to ensure that they retain their safe conditions of use; b) To mark or label those that have been inspected so as to indicate that they may be used, with the validity period of the inspection, and c) To withdraw from service the slings that show signs of breakage, fatigue, deformation or any other condition that could cause harm to workers or to the installations.

8.4 Safety measures for the use of cranes 8.4.1 Requirements for cranes: a) To confirm that the cab: 1) Ensures good visibility of the work area and is ventilated; 2) Has shatterproof glass; 3) Has electric or pneumatic windscreen wipers, in working condition, where it operates in the open air; 4) Has ladders or another means of safe access to the driving cab; 5) Has a comfortable seat and a retractable seat belt; 6) Has controls positioned so that the operator has sufficient space to manoeuvre them, and 7) Keeps the control levers guarded so as to prevent inadvertent operation; b) To have automatic braking devices for when the maximum weight is exceeded, which shall not be deactivated, and c) To have ballast or counterweights consistent with the loads to be supported and with the manufacturer's specifications.

8.4.2 Safety measures for the operation of cranes: a) To be operated only by personnel trained and authorised by the employer; b) To confirm that the operator uses the seat belt; c) To have a sign visible both to the machinery operator and to the personnel involved in the load manoeuvre, showing the working load limit, in kg where it is 1 000 kg or less, and in tonnes where it is greater; d) To use a signal code or communication system for the operators and assistants involved in materials handling; e) To place the assistant in a position allowing maximum visibility of all the crane's operating paths, and to carry out operations in accordance with the signal code or communication system, where so required; f) To ensure that the operator does not move the crane until they have understood the signal or instruction from their assistant; g) To inspect, as applicable, the wheel tyres at the start of each shift so as to verify that they are free of any damage or defect and are at the correct pressure, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions; h) To use, where applicable, outriggers on mobile cranes, on the basis of the manufacturer's instructions; i) To confirm that the outriggers are in safe condition for carrying out the lifting operation; j) To verify that the load is secured before lifting it; k) For the operator to keep the suspended load in view at all times; l) To comply, where a mobile crane travels carrying the suspended load, with the following: 1) That the boom is oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the crane, unless it has been designed to carry the load laterally; 2) That it is not lowered or extended to the point where the suspended load equals or exceeds the maximum safe load corresponding to the inclination of the boom, and 3) That it is kept at the minimum height necessary for the load not to strike the floor as a result of the swinging of the boom, and if the load is difficult to handle because of its size, tag lines are tied to it to hold it steady, especially in windy conditions; m) To move the loads at a height above that at which workers are located or travelling and, as far as possible, for the loads not to be suspended or moved above the zones where workers, vehicles or other passers-by are located or travel; n) To have buffer materials that come into contact in the event of a collision, where several cranes travel on the same runway, or more than one crane trolley on the same bridge; o) To take into account for its operation the risks arising from overloading due to rain or wind that may be present in materials handling; p) To disconnect the main switch and leave it locked off, so as to prevent unauthorised operation, on completing the crane operation, and q) To prohibit workers from climbing onto or down from a crane while it is in motion.

8.4.3 Safety measures for the inspection and maintenance of cranes: a) To have a general protective switch that disconnects the electric current to the crane when inspection and maintenance operations are carried out, where applicable, in accordance with the energy isolation procedure laid down in NOM-004-STPS-1999, or those replacing it, and b) To subject cranes to the corresponding load tests indicated by the manufacturer, after their structure, accessories, mechanisms, counterweights, stabilising components or any other part that alters the operating conditions has been modified and before returning them to operation.

8.5 Safety measures for the use of forklift trucks

8.5.1 Requirements for forklift trucks: a) To verify that the cab complies with the following: 1) Provides the operator with protection against falling objects; 2) Provides protection against the weather; 3) Ensures a good view of the work area; 4) Has a rear-view mirror; 5) Allows easy access to the workstation; 6) Has a non-slip floor; 7) Is ventilated; 8) Has a comfortable seat and a retractable seat belt, and 9) Is fire-resistant in its construction materials; b) To have a horn and an audible device that is activated automatically while reversing; c) To have marked on it the data showing the maximum load capacity and the tyre pressure; d) To have a device emitting a flashing or rotating amber light that operates when the equipment is in motion, positioned in such a way that it does not dazzle the operator, and e) To have front and rear lights that illuminate in the direction of travel.

8.5.2 Safety measures for the operation of forklift trucks: a) To be operated only by personnel trained and authorised by the employer; b) To confirm that the operator uses the seat belt; c) To brake and chock the wheels of the vehicles being loaded or unloaded; d) To ensure that the working load limit indicated on the manufacturer's plate is not exceeded; e) To switch on the front and rear lights, or the beacon, during operation, where so required; f) To travel with the fork arms at a maximum height of between 0.15 and 0.20 metres above the ground, or in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions; g) To observe the speed limits of the area in which they travel; h) To use protective barriers or stops on the platforms or docks on which they operate, so as to avoid the risk of falls; i) To carry out fuel filling or battery changing and charging in a ventilated area and to have equipment available for responding to fire emergencies that may arise; j) To have a specific area for handling batteries and to have safety procedures for handling them, where applicable; k) To park the forklift truck with the fork arms resting on the ground, or in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and l) To deactivate the ignition mechanism on completing its operation so as to prevent unauthorised use.

8.5.3 Safety measures for the inspection and maintenance of forklift trucks: a) To carry out inspection and maintenance at the frequency indicated by the manufacturer, and on the basis of the specific programme drawn up for that purpose, and b) To withdraw from service the forklift trucks that show anomalies in their operation.

8.6 Safety measures for the use of lifting magnets

8.6.1 Requirement for lifting magnets: a) To have an auxiliary electrical power source to ensure that it comes into service automatically in the event of failure of the main supply source, so that the load can be kept suspended for as long as necessary until it is lowered safely.

8.6.2 Safety measures for the operation of lifting magnets: a) To be operated only by personnel trained and authorised by the employer; b) To apply the electrical voltage only once the lifting magnet is in contact with the load to be lifted; c) To fit padlocks and safety tags warning of the danger of disconnecting or, where applicable, connecting the supply switch of the lifting magnet during operation or a temporary stoppage, as appropriate; d) To ensure that the lifting magnet has an effective earthing connection; e) To disconnect the power supply when it is not in use, and f) To prohibit its use near machines, steel components and ferrous materials, so that operation is not affected by the unforeseen magnetic attraction of such components and materials.

8.7 Safety measures for front loaders

8.7.1 Requirements for front loaders: a) To verify that the cab complies at least with the following: 1) Provides the operator with protection against falling objects and against the weather, where they are used outdoors; 2) Has a comfortable seat with a retractable seat belt; 3) Has shatterproof glass; 4) Has electric or pneumatic windscreen wipers, in working condition, where it operates in the open air; 5) Has ladders or another means of safe access which, in an emergency, allows rapid evacuation; 6) Ensures good visibility of the work area, and 7) Has controls positioned in such a way that the operator has sufficient space to manoeuvre.

8.7.2 Safety measures for the operation of front loaders: a) To be operated only by personnel trained and authorised by the employer; b) To confirm that the operator uses the seat belt; c) To verify the good condition of the devices and accessories for its operation, such as: rear-view mirror, fire extinguisher and seat belt; d) To have an audible warning signal that is activated automatically when the front loader moves in reverse; e) To verify that the load does not exceed the working load limit indicated on the load capacity plates; f) To prevent the load from being larger in size than the bucket or shovel; g) To observe the speed limits of the area in which it travels; h) To sound the horn at hazardous crossings; i) To avoid abrupt or rapid movements; j) To carry out fuel loading in a ventilated area and to have equipment available for responding to fire emergencies that may arise, according to the type and quantity of fuel used; k) To park the front loader with the bucket or shovel resting on the ground, and l) To deactivate the ignition mechanism on completing its operation so as to prevent unauthorised use.

8.7.3 Safety measures for the inspection and maintenance of front loaders: a) To carry out inspection and maintenance at the frequency indicated by the manufacturer and in accordance with the specific programme drawn up for that purpose; b) To use supports resting on blocks that guarantee the safety of the workers involved in these manoeuvres, where it is necessary to raise the machine so as to maintain it, and c) To withdraw from service the front loaders that show anomalies in their operation.

8.8 Safety measures for conveyors

8.8.1 Safety measures for the installation of conveyors: a) To verify that the start and stop devices are visible, easy to access and free of obstacles so as to be reachable by the operator; b) To be fitted with electrical or mechanical devices such that, if one of the conveyors stops, all the others are also interrupted, where they operate in series; c) To install guards at the entrance of the suction lines that feed materials to the conveyor belts, so as to prevent a worker from being drawn in; d) To protect the openings, where conveyors pass through different levels of the building, in such a way that the accidental fall of the load is prevented and they do not represent a fall risk for workers; e) To use skirts on the hoppers, discharge areas and bends of the conveyor, so as to prevent materials from falling over the sides, and f) To have walkways for crossing over or under the conveyors, and to prohibit workers from crossing through them, unless they have been designed to allow workers to pass without exposing them to risks.

8.8.2 Safety measures for the operation of belt conveyors: a) To be operated by trained workers; b) To have an audible and visual alarm indicating that the belt conveyor is running; c) To have an emergency stop pull-cord along the whole length of the belt conveyor; d) To keep the conveyor mechanism permanently clean; e) To keep clean and free of obstacles all the areas around the conveyor and in particular the aisles or walkways, as well as those around the drive, the safety devices and the control stations; f) To ensure that the workers carrying out their activities in the vicinity of the conveyors wear their hair short or tied back and do not wear chains, rings, bracelets, loose clothing or other objects that could be a risk factor during operation; g) To prevent workers from entering the areas where there is a risk of falling material and to demarcate them by means of railings and signposting, in accordance with NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it; h) To verify that the chutes remain closed and to place fall warning signs at the discharge end of the conveyor, on the basis of NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it; i) To check the operation of the mechanical or electrical devices that give a signal to the operator when a load is about to reach the end of travel, especially if it cannot be seen during lowering; j) To keep the doors at each station closed, except at the moment of loading; k) To remove the load, deactivate the start interlock devices and verify the safety of the activity before starting it up again, where a conveyor stops because it is overloaded; l) To verify that, at the loading stations, the guarding of railings, revolving doors or grilles is in good condition, and m) To prohibit exceeding the working load limit and the maximum belt speed established by the manufacturer.

8.8.3 Safety measures for the operation of screw conveyors: In addition to the safety measures contained in the preceding clause, the following shall be complied with: a) To secure the covers, grilles and guards before operating the conveyor; b) To verify that the screws and nuts are correctly tightened; c) To cover the feed opening with a grille and not to step or walk on the covers, grilles or guards, where the conveyor feed opening is required to be open, and d) To disconnect and set the main switch to the off position before removing the covers, grilles or guards.

8.8.4 Safety measures for the inspection and maintenance of conveyors: a) To lock, where applicable, the central electrical control in the stop position, before inspecting and maintaining the conveyor, and to fit padlocks and safety tags to prevent it from being operated, in accordance with NOM-004-STPS-1999, or those replacing it; b) To have inspections and maintenance carried out only by trained personnel, and c) To lubricate all parts of the conveyor and provide maintenance, in accordance with the specific programme drawn up for that purpose and with the manufacturer's instructions.

8.9 For machinery similar to, or a combination of, that listed in clauses 8.2 to 8.8, as well as for machinery not covered by this Standard, the employer shall determine the safety measures equivalent to those described in those clauses that shall be adopted so as to carry out the storage and handling of materials.

9.1 So as to carry out the storage of materials there shall be a safety procedure taking at least the following into account: a) The safe way of carrying out stacking and unstacking operations; b) The technique used to pile up and remove the materials or containers from the structural components, racks or platforms; c) The maximum height of the stacks, according to the characteristics of the materials and of the storage area; d) The instructions for giving stability to the stack, in accordance with the dimensions of the materials or containers; e) The weight, shape and dimensions of the materials or containers; f) Visual verification that the attachment or support components of the stacked materials do not create risks; g) The prohibitions applying to manoeuvres for placing or removing materials from the stack so as to avoid the risk of falls, crushing, cuts, among others, and h) The safety measures that shall be adopted so as to carry out the activity safely.

9.2 Workplaces shall have specific spaces for the storage of materials.

9.3 Materials storage areas shall have: a) Order and cleanliness; b) Firm floors; level, flat and of adequate mechanical strength, based on the weight of the stacks they will support; c) Demarcation of the storage zones; d) Traffic aisles with widths determined by the technique used for placing and removing the materials, in accordance with: 1) The greatest width of the machinery or load travelling along them, and 2) The largest dimension of the materials, containers or boxes; e) Ventilation according to the type of materials to be stored; f) The lighting levels required for the activities to be carried out, in accordance with NOM-025-STPS-2008, or those replacing it; g) Notices on the maximum load capacity; the maximum number of products, containers or boxes to be stacked on the racks; structural components or platforms, as applicable; h) Signposting, on the basis of NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it, showing: 1) The maximum height of the stacks; 2) The personal protective equipment to be used; 3) The maximum travelling speed of vehicles, where applicable; 4) The evacuation routes and emergency exits, and 5) The alarm, fire-fighting and emergency systems; i) Convex mirrors, where the height of the materials is greater than 1.8 metres, at the crossings of corridors, aisles or lanes where vehicles used for materials handling travel, and j) Physical means on the floor to reduce their speed, where applicable.

9.4 For the storage of materials the following safety conditions shall be complied with: a) To ensure that the structural components, racks or platforms have the capacity to support the fixed or moving loads, in such a way that their strength prevents possible structural failures and impact risks; b) To establish the maximum height of the stacks, on the basis of the mechanical strength, shape and dimensions of the materials and, where applicable, of the packaging or wrapping, as well as the way of placing them, so as to ensure their stability; c) To prevent the stacks from: 1) Blocking the lighting and ventilation of the premises or building, and 2) Obstructing access to evacuation routes and emergency exits, as well as to alarm systems; fire-fighting and rescue equipment, among others, provided for emergencies; d) To have structural components, racks or platforms: 1) With components fastening them to the structures of the building or premises where they are located, where applicable, and 2) With a base-to-height ratio that provides stability, in accordance with the weight of the materials and the stresses to which they will be subjected; e) To have guards at least 30 centimetres high and strong enough to absorb impacts, painted yellow or yellow with black stripes, so that their location is highlighted at the outer corners of the structural components, racks or platforms where vehicles travel; f) To place at the rear of the structural components, racks or platforms more than 1.8 metres high, components preventing the materials from coming loose or falling; g) To pile up the materials in such a way that the heaviest are always placed at the bottom; h) To carry out the unstacking of materials from the top, so as not to compromise the stability of the pile; i) To place chocks in the bottom layer, where cylindrical materials or containers are piled up lying horizontally, so as to prevent accidental rolling; j) To prohibit materials from projecting with sharp or pointed edges towards the traffic aisles; k) To prevent materials from being leaned against the walls of the buildings or premises, and l) To prohibit the loading of materials onto structural components, racks or platforms that are damaged or undergoing maintenance.

9.5 Prior to the storage of materials, inspections shall be carried out on the structural components, racks or platforms so as to identify: a) Unsafe conditions or damage; b) Falling of materials or of components of the materials onto aisles or work zones; c) Deformation of the structural components, racks or platforms; d) Modifications or improvised alterations to those components, without consulting the manufacturer or the design specifications, and e) Instability caused by ground failures.

9.6 The structural components, racks or platforms used for the storage of materials shall have a maintenance programme: a) At least annually, so as to detect deformed, damaged or worn components; their lack of verticality; instability; cracks or subsidence in the ground, or any condition that may create risks, and b) After the occurrence of an event that could damage them and, where applicable, once adjustments, modifications or repairs have been carried out, so that they do not represent a risk.

9.7 The records on the results of the maintenance programme for the structural components, racks or platforms shall contain at least the following information: a) The dates on which the activity was carried out; b) The results of the maintenance; c) The preventive or corrective actions taken, and d) The person responsible for carrying out the activity.

10.1 Newly recruited workers shall be given an induction course on the general occupational safety and health conditions that shall be complied with in storage and materials-handling activities and in the areas where these are carried out.

10.2 Workers involved in the storage and handling of materials through the use of machinery shall be given training, with emphasis on risk prevention, in accordance with the tasks assigned, and on the emergency response procedure. Reference guide I suggests some of the aspects to be considered in training for crane operators.

10.3 The training and instruction given to installers, maintenance personnel and machinery operators, as well as to their assistants, shall consist of theoretical instruction, practical training and assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired. It shall also take the following into account, as applicable: a) The general operating principles of the machinery to be operated; b) The safety procedures for the installation, operation and maintenance of the machinery, as well as for the operation of its controls, systems and safety devices; c) The capabilities and limitations of the machinery, as well as the conditions and situations that create risks; d) The safety measures provided for in this Standard, which shall be adopted in carrying out the activities; e) The routine inspections of the safety and operating conditions of the machinery, before each shift, and periodic inspections, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions; f) The unfavourable weather conditions that would require the handling and storage of materials with machinery to be interrupted, and g) The emergency response procedure.

10.4 Training and instruction shall be refreshed at least every two years, or sooner where new machinery or equipment is introduced, or where the materials-handling procedures or the areas in which such machinery is operated are modified.

10.5 Workplaces shall keep a record of the training and instruction given to workers, which shall contain at least the following: a) The name and job position of the workers to whom it was given; b) The date on which the training was given; c) The topics covered, and d) The name of the instructor and, where applicable, their registration number as a training agent with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

11.1 The employer shall have the option of engaging an accredited and approved inspection unit, in terms of the Quality Infrastructure Law and the Regulations to the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardisation, so as to verify the degree of compliance with this Standard.

11.2 Inspection units that assess conformity with this Standard shall apply the compliance criteria laid down in the conformity assessment procedure, on the basis of Chapter 12 of this Standard.

11.3 Accredited and approved inspection units that assess compliance with this Standard shall issue an opinion, which shall contain: a) Details of the workplace verified: 1) The name, denomination or corporate name; 2) The Federal Taxpayers Register number; 3) The full address; 4) The telephone number, and 5) Its main activity; b) Details of the inspection unit: 1) The name, denomination or corporate name; 2) The accreditation number; 3) The approval number granted by the Ministry, and 4) Its full address, and c) Details of the opinion: 1) The code and name of the Standard; 2) The name of the assessed and approved verifier; 3) The date of verification; 4) The opinion number; 5) The period of validity of the opinion; 6) The place of issue of the opinion; 7) The date of issue of the opinion, and 8) The registration number of the opinion issued by the Ministry when the corresponding report is submitted.

11.4 The opinions issued by inspection units shall be valid for one year, provided that the conditions that served for their issue are not modified.

12.1 This conformity assessment procedure applies both to inspection visits carried out by the labour authority and to verification visits carried out by inspection units.

12.2 The valid verification opinion shall be made available to the labour authority when it so requests.

12.3 The aspects to be verified during the conformity assessment of this Standard shall be assessed, as applicable, by means of physical observation, documentary review, records or interviews, in accordance with Table 2 below: Table 2 Type of assessment and acceptance criteria Type of

5.1 and 7.1 Documentary, The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence It shall be valid for the

                                                inspection and maintenance of the machinery used forms      part    of
                                                in the storage and handling of materials;            the programme referred to
                                           ·      The specific programme for the inspection and in NOM-004-

5.3 and 8.1 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Serious workplace, it is established that, so as to carry out the storage and handling of materials using machinery, it adopts, as appropriate, the following general safety measures: · It carries out at the start of each shift a visual inspection and functional test of the machinery, as applicable, so as to verify the good condition and operation of the following components: - Operating and emergency controls; - Safety devices; - Pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical and combustion systems; - Warning and control signals;

5.3 and 8.2 Physical - The employer complies when, on carrying out a Applies only to those Serious walk-through of the workplace, it is established workplaces that use that, for the use of hoists and winches, hoists and winches. it adopts, as appropriate, the following safety measures: - For the installation of hoists and winches: - It prevents the location and anchorage points from constituting a risk factor; - It considers, as the case may be, their fastening on the trolley; their assembly and disassembly; the mounting and suspension of the rope or chain; the fastening of the receiving box, and the power supply, including the wiring diagrams; - It confirms that the stops are installed at the limits of the operating area, where a hoist is mounted on a monorail trolley; - It provides free access and the space necessary for its operation; - It verifies that every electric hoist is earthed; - It ensures, for rope hoists, that: - The number of turns of the rope around the drum is at least two when it is fully unwound, and - The maximum winding of the rope on the drum does not exceed 75% of its outer side diameter, and - It identifies on the hoist, in a place visible to operators: - The working load limit, and - The electrical voltage or air pressure specified on the data plate, in the case of electric or pneumatic hoists respectively; - For the operation of hoists and winches: - It physically inspects the integrity of their components before starting the shift, so as to detect signs of breakage, fatigue, deformation or any other condition that may create risks to workers or to the installations; - It inspects the equipment and confirms that they do not exceed the working load limit; - It uses the air pressure indicated on the data plate, in the case of pneumatic hoists; - It verifies that the lashing is such that the load is properly secured and balanced; - It avoids lifting a single load where two or more hoists are used simultaneously. Where necessary, it calculates the load centre and the operation is carried out in a coordinated manner; - It raises the load to the lowest possible height when the hoist is started up, so as to verify that it does not slip and prevents it from tilting while being moved; - It verifies that the load is lifted vertically or that the anchorage and attachment points are in the same line so as not to damage the equipment; - It ensures that the hoist is subjected to a stress no greater than 50% of the working load limit, where the ambient temperature is below -15 ºC; - It prevents inadvertent operation of winches and hoists, where these are placed at rest and left suspended; - It has a person responsible for operating the holding pawl on manually operated drum winches; - It ensures, for drum winches, that the lowering of the load is secured by applying the brake, so as to prevent unexpected acceleration of the load and any manoeuvre going out of control; - It limits the number of starts per hour and the operating time to those specified by the manufacturer; - It verifies that the steel wire rope: - Is not used as an earth conductor; - Is kept lubricated; - Does not rub against surfaces that may cut or damage it when it is under tension, and - Is protected and prevented from coming into contact with moisture, gases and substances that may corrode it; - It verifies that the hoist chain: - Is kept lubricated; - Shows no deformation, impact damage, twisting, among others, and - Has no welded links, and - It immediately suspends the lifting of the materials where excessive manual effort arises in operating the hand chain, cranks or hauling levers or where any other risk is detected, and - For the inspection and maintenance of hoists and winches: - It inspects the load chain and the hand chain or lever; the electrical system; the terminals; the limit switch; the receiving box; the load sheaves; the brakes; the hooks; the gears; the motor, and the casing, at the frequency indicated by the manufacturer; - Adjusting the brake and the clutch or the

5.3 and 8.3 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those Serious workplace, it is established that, for the use of workplaces that use

                     slings, it adopts, as appropriate, the following safety           workplaces    that   use
                     measures:                                                        slings.

5.3 and 8.4 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those Serious workplace, it is established that, for the use of cranes, workplaces that use it adopts, as appropriate, the following safety measures cranes. as follows: · For the requirements: - It confirms that the cab: o Ensures good visibility of the work area and is ventilated; o Has shatterproof glass; o Has electric or pneumatic windscreen wipers, where it operates in the open

5.3 and 8.4.2 a) Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence Applies only to those Serious that the cranes are operated only by personnel workplaces that use trained and authorised. cranes.

5.3 and 8.5 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those Serious workplace, it is established that, for the use of workplaces that use

                              forklift trucks, it adopts, as appropriate, the following       workplaces    that   use
                              safety measures:                                        forklift trucks.

5.3 and 8.5.2 Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence Applies only to those Serious a) that the forklift trucks are operated only by workplaces that use

5.3 and 8.6 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those Serious workplace, it is established that, for the use of workplaces that use lifting magnets, it adopts, as appropriate, the safety lifting magnets. measures as follows: · It has an auxiliary electrical power source to ensure that it comes into service automatically in the event of failure of the main supply source, so that the load can be kept suspended for as long as necessary until it is lowered safely, and · For operation: - It applies the electrical voltage only once the lifting magnet is in contact with the load to be lifted; - It fits padlocks and safety tags warning of the danger of disconnecting or, where applicable, connecting the supply switch of the lifting magnet during operation or a temporary stoppage, as appropriate; - It ensures that the lifting magnet has an effective earthing connection; - It disconnects the power supply when it is not in use, and - It prohibits its use near machines, steel components and ferrous materials, so that operation is not affected by the unforeseen magnetic attraction of such components and materials.

5.3 and 8.6.2 a) Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence Applies only to those Serious that the lifting magnets are operated only by workplaces that use personnel trained and authorised. lifting magnets.

5.3 and 8.7 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those Serious workplace, it is established that, for front workplaces that use

5.3 and 8.7.2 a) Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence Applies only to those Serious that the front loaders are operated only workplaces that use

5.3 and 8.8 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those Serious workplace, it is established that, for conveyors, workplaces that use it adopts, as appropriate, the following safety measures conveyors. as follows: · For the installation of conveyors: - It verifies that the start and stop devices are visible, easy to access and free of obstacles so as to be reachable by the operator; - They are fitted with electrical or mechanical devices such that, if one of the conveyors stops, all the others are also interrupted, where they operate in series; - It installs guards at the entrance of the suction lines that feed materials to the conveyor belts, which prevent a worker from being drawn in; - It protects the openings, where conveyors pass through different levels of the building, in such a way that the accidental fall of the load is prevented and they do not represent a fall risk for workers; - It uses skirts on the hoppers, discharge areas and bends of the conveyor, so as to prevent materials from falling over the sides, and - It has walkways for crossing over or under the conveyors, and prohibits workers from crossing through them, unless they are designed to allow workers to pass without exposing them to risks; · For the operation of belt conveyors: - It has an audible and visual alarm indicating that the belt conveyor is running; - It has an emergency stop pull-cord along the whole length of the belt conveyor; - It keeps the conveyor mechanism permanently clean; - It keeps clean and free of obstacles all the areas around the conveyor and in particular the aisles or walkways, as well as those around the drive, the safety devices and the control stations; - It ensures that the workers carrying out their activities in the vicinity of the conveyors wear their hair short or tied back and do not wear chains, rings, bracelets, loose clothing or other objects that may be a risk factor during operation; - It prevents workers from entering the areas where there is a risk of falling material and demarcates them by means of railings and signposting, in accordance with NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it; - It verifies that the chutes remain closed and places fall warning signs at the discharge end of the conveyor, on the basis of NOM-026-STPS-2008, or those replacing it; - It checks the operation of the mechanical or electrical devices that give a signal to the operator when a load is about to reach the end of travel, especially if it cannot be seen during lowering; - It keeps the doors at each station closed, except at the moment of loading; - It removes the load, deactivates the start interlock devices and verifies the safety of the activity before starting it up again, where a conveyor stops because it is overloaded; - It verifies that, at the loading stations, the guarding of railings, revolving doors or grilles is in good condition, and - It prohibits exceeding the working load limit and the maximum belt speed established by the manufacturer; · For the operation of screw conveyors, in addition to the safety measures for the operation of belt conveyors, it complies with the following: - It secures the covers, grilles and guards before operating the conveyor; - It verifies that the screws and nuts are correctly tightened; - It covers the feed opening with a grille and does not step or walk on the covers, grilles or guards, where the conveyor feed opening is required to be open, and - It disconnects and sets the main switch to the off position before removing the covers, grilles or guards, and · For the inspection and maintenance of conveyors: - It locks, where applicable, the central electrical control in the stop position, before inspecting and maintaining the conveyor, and fits padlocks and safety tags to prevent it from being operated, in accordance with NOM-004-STPS-1999, or those replacing it, and - It lubricates all parts of the conveyor and provides maintenance, in accordance with the specific programme drawn up for that purpose and with the manufacturer's instructions.

5.3 8.8.2 a) and Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence Applies only to those Serious

8.8.4 b) that trained workers: workplaces that use · Operate the conveyors, and conveyors.

5.3 and 8.9 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Applies only to those workplace, it is established that, for machinery similar workplaces that use to, or a combination of, that listed in machinery other than clauses 8.2 to 8.8, as well as for machinery not that indicated in covered by this Standard, the employer shall determine clauses 8.2 to 8.8. the safety measures equivalent to those described in those clauses that shall be adopted so as to carry out the storage and handling of materials

5.4 and 9.2 to 9.5 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the Serious workplace, it is established that so as to carry out storage activities it adopts the following safety measures and conditions:

5.4 and 9.7 Record The employer complies when it presents evidence that it has the records on the results of the maintenance programme for the structural components, racks or platforms, containing at least the following information: · The dates on which the activity was carried out; · The results of the maintenance; · The preventive or corrective actions taken, and · The person responsible for carrying out the activity.

5.5 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the workplace, it is established that: · It supervises that the storage and handling of materials is carried out under safe conditions, in accordance with the safety procedures referred to in clauses 5.2 to 5.4 of this Standard, and · It supervises that the contractors carrying out these activities comply with this Standard.

5.6 Physical The employer complies when, on carrying out a walk-through of the workplace, it is established that it provides workers with the personal protective equipment required for storage and materials-handling activities using machinery, according to the risks to which they are exposed, and in accordance with NOM-017-STPS-2008, or those replacing it. Interview The employer complies when, on interviewing the workers selected in accordance with the sampling criterion in Table 2 of clause 12.4, it is established that it provides workers with the personal protective equipment required for storage and materials-handling activities, according to the risks to which they are exposed, and in accordance with NOM-017-STPS-2008, or those replacing it.

5.7 Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence It is valid for the workplace that it has a first-aid manual for to have emergency response, based on the type of risks to a general manual with a section which the workers who carry out the covering the response to storage and handling of materials are exposed. the risks to which the workers who carry out the storage and handling of materials through the use of machinery are exposed.

5.8 Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence The information may

5.9 and 10 Documentary The employer complies when it presents documentary evidence The training shall that: be evidenced through the certificate of · It trains and instructs the workers involved in skills. the storage and handling of materials through the use of machinery, according to their activity or job position; · Newly recruited workers are given an induction course on the general occupational safety and health conditions that

5.10 Record The employer complies when it presents evidence that it It is valid for the has the records on the inspection and maintenance record of the inspection and of the machinery used in the storage and handling maintenance referred to of materials, on the basis of the programme drawn up in this clause,

12.4 For the selection of workers to be interviewed, so as to establish compliance with the provisions laid down in this conformity assessment procedure, the sampling criterion contained in Table 3 below shall be applied: Table 3 Sampling by random selection Total number of workers Number of workers to be interviewed 1-15 1 16-50 2 51-105 3 More than 105 1 for every 35 workers up to a maximum of 15

12.5 The documentary evidence or records referred to in this Standard may be presented in printed form or in electronic media, and shall be kept for at least one year.

Enforcement of compliance with this Official Mexican Standard is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

14.1 International Standard ISO 9926-1:1990. Cranes - Training of drivers - Part 1: General.

14.2 International Standard ISO 9927-1:2013. Cranes - Inspections - Part 1: General.

14.3 International Standard ISO 23815-1:2007. Cranes - Maintenance - Part 1: General.

14.4 International Standard ISO 11228-1:2003, Ergonomics - Manual handling - Part 1: Lifting and carrying.

14.5 NOM-036-1-STPS-2018, Ergonomic risk factors at work-Identification, analysis, prevention and control. Part 1: Manual handling of loads.

14.6 Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR, Part Number 1926 Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, Subpart CC Cranes & Derricks in Construction, Standard Number 1926.1427 Operator qualification and certification. USA.

14.7 Federal Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, Official Gazette of the Federation of 13 November 2014. Mexico.

14.8 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Preventing Electrocutions of Crane Operators and Crew Members Working Near Overhead Power Lines. 1995. USA.

14.9 National Safety Council, Mobile cranes and power lines. Data Sheet 743 Rev. May 2005. USA.

14.10 Fundación MAPFRE, Manual de Seguridad en el Trabajo. 2011. Spain.

This Official Mexican Standard is not equivalent to any international standard, as none existed at the time of its preparation.

FIRST. This Official Mexican Standard shall enter into force 180 calendar days after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation. SECOND. From the date on which this Standard enters into force, Official Mexican Standard NOM-006-STPS-2014, Handling and storage of materials-Occupational safety and health conditions, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation of 11 September 2014, shall cease to have effect. THIRD. During the period provided for in the preceding article, employers shall comply with Official Mexican Standard NOM-006-STPS-2014, Handling of materials-Occupational safety and health conditions, or may instead comply with NOM-006-STPS-2023, Storage and handling of materials using machinery - Occupational safety conditions. Mexico City, on the ninth day of February two thousand and twenty-four.- The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Marath Baruch Bolaños López.- Signature. Appendix I Non-mandatory General aspects to be considered in training for crane operation The content of this guide is a supplement for the better understanding of this Standard and is not mandatory. This guide is based on International Standard ISO 9926-1:1990 Cranes - Training of drivers - Part 1: General. I.1 Scope This guide addresses the minimum training that should be given to trainee crane operators, with the aim of developing basic operating skills and imparting the knowledge required for the proper use of such skills. This guide defines the overall training scheme within which specific training is to be given for each type of crane. For example, tower cranes, mobile cranes, overhead travelling cranes, among others. It is assumed that trainees have no previous practical experience in crane operation. This guide does not specify any procedure for assessing their capabilities or aptitudes. I.2 General The operation of cranes must incorporate the safety of persons and property located within their field of action. Cranes are normally installations of considerable value that occupy a key position in the work process. Operators must therefore be selected carefully and must receive basic training from experienced specialists. It is also essential that the persons making up the materials-handling team - slingers, signallers, supervisors - receive appropriate training. I.3 Prerequisites as to aptitude and knowledge Operators must be at least 18 years of age. They must be medically fit for the occupation. In this regard, the following aspects must be considered: a) Physically: 1) Visual and hearing ability; 2) No dizziness when working at height; 3) Free from any illness or ailment that would rule them out for the occupation, and 4) Free from alcohol or drug abuse problems. b) Mentally: 1) Control under stress; 2) Mental balance, and 3) Sense of responsibility. Tests may be carried out to determine the aptitude of trainees: manual dexterity, common sense, self-control, composure, precision, coordination of movements and reflexes. Trainees must be able to understand and read the language in which the crane documents and information labels are written. If operators have to transport the crane by road, they must know the relevant regulations, hold the appropriate documentation and have the corresponding authorisation from the competent traffic and transport authority. I.4 Training objectives The objectives of the training are: a) To provide complete knowledge of the safety measures for cranes and their environment, and to apply them at all times; b) To provide knowledge of hand signals and radio communication, as well as of load-handling equipment and techniques, sufficient to enable the operator to: 1) Carry out operations effectively and without endangering themselves or other persons, and 2) Carry out normal and emergency operations with the crane; c) To provide technical knowledge of cranes, their characteristics and load charts, mechanisms and safety equipment, sufficient to: 1) Operate different cranes of the same type; 2) Make optimum use of their characteristics; 3) Identify faults and defects; 4) Carry out daily checks, and 5) Know how to use the documentation, and d) The acquisition of operating skills, including: 1) Combination and precision of movements; 2) Determination of loads and distances, and 3) Optimum use of control devices and instruments in the operator's cab. I.5 Training procedure The duration and content of the training should be sufficient to achieve the objectives. Training should be directed essentially to practical aspects of operation, at least 75 % of the training time, and theoretical learning should be verified through operating skills. For practical training, the phase of taking control of the crane should be carried out with only one trainee per crane together with the trainer. For the following phases it is advisable to have no more than two trainees at the same time, except in the case of a training crane specially equipped for this purpose. A trainer should not have to monitor more than three cranes. Training should be assessed through theoretical and practical examinations designed to verify whether the objectives have been achieved. I.6 Training content The content of the training programme is the essential factor in meeting the objectives. This includes the assessment requirements and the programme. For each topic, the assessment requirements define the following: a) The level of knowledge that trainees should reach; b) The time allotted, and c) The recommended methods, resources, teaching materials and information media. The programme is the list of topics that should be developed. It is given by topic and not chronologically. I.7 Theoretical programme I.7.1 The operator a) Their aptitudes and responsibilities, and b) Their role within the materials-handling group: slingers, signallers and supervisors. I.7.2 Crane technology a) Terminology and characteristics; b) Different versions and their installation methods; c) Motors: operating principles; d) Mechanisms: kinematic chain, operating principles and appropriate control; e) Brakes, travel and speed limiters: operating principles and testing; f) Electrical remote control equipment: operating principles, safety functions, testing and adjustment; g) Hydraulic and pneumatic control equipment: operating principles, safety functions, testing and adjustment; h) Steel wire ropes: installation, periodic checks, discard criteria, and i) Safety devices: operating principles, testing and adjustment. I.7.3 Commissioning and decommissioning of the crane a) Earthing connections: outriggers, rails, anchor blocks; b) Specific installation: crane anchored to a building; c) Ancillary equipment and accessories; d) Electrical power: hazards, protection systems; e) Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and fuels: hazards and precautions; f) Assembly, commissioning, testing, dismantling and maintenance operations, and g) Moving the crane: on the worksite and on the road. I.7.4 Use of cranes and safety rules a) Load chart, crane configuration and rope reeving: selection procedure and optimum use; b) Rated capacity limiters and indicators: operating principles and testing; c) Forces acting on the crane: in-service and out-of-service conditions; d) Crane stability: influence of various configurations; e) Influence of atmospheric and environmental conditions. For example, low temperatures, ice formation, fog, wind, storms, lightning, dust, smoke, corrosive atmospheres, among others; f) Crane environment and its restrictions: live lines, prohibited or hazardous areas, presence or simultaneous operation of other cranes, radio transmitters, air traffic, noise or pollution limits; g) Start-up and shut-down procedures; h) Prohibited or hazardous operations; i) Limits on the use of cranes; j) Specific instructions for operating the crane or for the site where it is used, and k) Priorities for action. I.7.5 Crane operation a) Operator's cab: access, safety and features contributing to the operator's comfort; b) Control and monitoring equipment; c) Driving aids: indicators and interference detector; d) Ground-level operation: by cable or radio control; e) The proper use of movements and their combinations; f) Estimating and marking out distance, and g) Proper driving of the various mechanisms to obtain maximum performance. I.7.6 Communication a) Hand signals: direct or relayed signalling; b) Radio communication, and c) Video-circuit assisted control. I.7.7 Materials handling a) Slinging equipment: rules for use; b) Attachment components for lifting loads: rules for use; c) Manual load guidance; d) Loads: assessment, centre of gravity, balance, influence of wind; e) Common load-handling operations: moving or turning a load; f) Handling the load with more than one crane, and g) Transport of personnel. I.7.8 Inspection, maintenance and incidents a) Use of documentation; b) Regular inspections and pre-operation inspections; c) Reports on malfunctions, and d) Actions in the event of malfunction or power failure: how to lower the load. I.8 Practical programme The practical programme must include viewing the components, equipment and attachment components mentioned in the theoretical programme, together with the following: I.8.1 Operating exercises a) Use of controls, operating aids and monitoring instruments; b) Performing movements one by one, without a load, and subsequently with a load; c) Combining two movements without a load, and subsequently with a load; d) Reducing load swing; e) Combining three or four movements; f) Travelling on site, without a load, and subsequently with a load, as applicable; g) Preparing the crane and travelling by road; h) Target exercises to develop the abilities of: 1) Assessing distances in space; 2) Precision in picking up and setting down the load; 3) Speed of travel in space, and 4) Seeking the optimum handling cycle time; i) Operation when the load is out of the operator's sight, with a signaller or with radio communication; j) Operation of several cranes of the same family; k) Operation with interference from a fixed obstacle or from another crane, and l) Ground-level operation for crane types where this is applicable. I.8.2 Materials-handling exercises: picking up and setting down the load a) Handling common loads: boxes, containers, pallets, among others; b) Handling: 1) Long, flexible loads; 2) Tall loads; 3) Loads with a large horizontal area, and 4) Loads with a large vertical area; c) Handling loads with specific attachment components; d) Exercises in slinging and guiding the load, and e) Exercises in communication by means of hand signals and radio. I.8.3 Exercises on use, testing, maintenance and emergency situations a) Stabilising and starting up the crane, and checking the environment; b) Start-up and shut-down procedures; c) Regular inspections: brakes, safety devices and load status monitor; d) Change in rope reeving; e) Change of lifting attachment components; f) Lubrication and level checks, and g) Emergency escape. I.9 Follow-up of training The training is aimed solely at giving the trainee the knowledge and skills required for the proper and safe use of cranes. The operator's ability can be developed only through experience gained by working under real conditions and with adequate supervision. For these reasons, it may be useful for that experience in operating the different cranes to be recorded chronologically on a training form. It is also necessary to plan refresher sessions for operators, so as to retrain those who have temporarily ceased to carry out their activity, as well as to provide advanced training on technical changes and improvements. ______________________