(Atlanta, Georgia, May 2st, 2024) - Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) recently announced the addition of Jim Burian as Regional Practice Leader, Fire Protection Engineering. In this position, Burian will be responsible for the implementation of fire protection solutions and strategies serving TEC clients. Burian is a proven leader with over 13 years of experience and excels in key account management within the public safety and Testing, Inspection, Certification (TIC) industry. Known for his adept leadership and creative problem-solving, his expertise includes engineering, project management and compliance management. “We couldn’t be more excited to add Jim to our team,” says TEC Vice President – East, Keith Butler. “His ability to relate his experience in operational leadership to evaluation of the built environment adds tremendous value to both our firm and our clients moving forward. This leadership is essential as he will oversee our rapidly growing fire protection engineering practice across the Midwest.” Previously an Engineering Leader for UL Solutions, Burian managed key accounts across all built environment industries, creating enduring client relationships. In addition to analyzing business data and market trends, he also identified areas for expansion of services, while working directly with customers to drive business growth. Burian also collaborated cross-functionally with multiple teams and leaders, such as fire suppression, roofing, containment, building products, fire alarm control panels, initiating and indicating devices, fire, and smoke to provide a seamless project execution. Burian earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), and the Chicago Chapter of SFPE. About Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) is a full-service global engineering and risk mitigation consulting firm specializing in complex, multi-discipline public and private sector projects. TEC provides professional services related to the protection of people, property, information and organizational mission against preventable losses including full-scale fire testing, strategic/enterprise risk management, fire protection engineering, security, environmental health and safety, emergency management, operations continuity and construction administration services. Since 1985, TEC has worked hand-in-hand with clients such as architects, engineers, owners, developers, risk and facility management firms, construction teams and government agencies. TEC’s professionals are dedicated to delivering value through effective protection solutions that meet today’s risk challenges. In addition to a uniquely global perspective, the company also offers in-depth knowledge of local, state and federal compliance requirements.

BELTON, MO (May 29, 2026) – KPI Solutions (KPI), a leading supply chain consulting, software, systems integration, and automation supplier today announced that the company has been recognized in the Market Guide for Warehouse Automation Consultants and System Integrators, 2026 by Gartner.KPI Solutions is listed as a sample vendor for System Integrators, highlighting the company as providing a broad portfolio of services from planning and installation to ongoing maintenance, supporting every phase of the warehouse automation life cycle.In the report, Gartner states “With rising labor costs and shortages, automation is no longer just an option, it’s becoming essential, particularly for SMBs that cannot absorb high labor expenses. While large enterprises led early adoption, there is now a surge in demand from SMBs investing in flexible automation to boost efficiency and stay competitive. This shift is driven by the emergence of scalable, adaptable solutions tailored to the unique needs and budgets of smaller businesses.”KPI Solutions’ CCO, Roger Counihan said “This Gartner recognition is a testament to the hard work, focus and dedication of the entire KPI Solutions team, as we partner with our clients to deliver transformative automation implementations. Warehouse automation success isn’t just about technology—it’s about expertise and execution. We assess each client’s operation, design tailored solutions, and integrate the right technologies, powered by intelligent software, to optimize flow and efficiency.”Gartner, Market Guide for Warehouse Automation Consultants and System Integrators, 2026, By Abdil Tunca, Federica Stufano, 13 April 2026. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.About KPI Solutions™KPI Solutions provides end-to-end supply chain services and automation to transform our clients’ distribution operations. We analyze, design, implement, and support flexible and scalable engineered solutions that optimize order fulfillment, build capacity, and reduce reliance on labor. Our data-driven operations strategy delivers resilient designs and our technology-neutral approach allows a blend of automated technologies for a customized solution. Comprehensive offerings include consulting, network strategy, engineered facility design, material handling systems integration, robotics, intelligent warehouse software, and lifetime services. Visit us at kpisolutions.com.ContactPatti SatterfieldSr. Director, Marketing & Business Developmentpatti.satterfield@kpisolutions.com

Raleigh, NC -- October 6, 2025  -- Tompkins Solutions, a leading warehouse automation consulting and execution firm, is proud to announce the return of its founder, Dr. James A. Tompkins, as Chairman of the Board. Starting in Raleigh, N.C., Dr. Tompkins built Tompkins Solutions into a globally respected supply chain consulting firm, completing over 3,000 projects for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and logistics providers worldwide.In 2020, Dr. Tompkins retired from Tompkins Solutions and founded Tompkins Ventures, a B2B matchmaking firm focused on solving critical business challenges in capital, digital enablement, supply chain, organizational development, and procurement. Within five years, Tompkins Ventures has become a leading solutions network, connecting executives with innovative partners and strategies globally.Now, Dr. Tompkins is returning to Tompkins Solutions, owned by Grays Peak Capital and Valore Ventures, to help propel Tompkins Solutions toward new heights. "Tompkins Solutions has always held a special place in my heart, and I'm excited about the opportunity to guide its continued growth and relevance in a rapidly evolving supply chain environment. Together with the outstanding team at Grays Capital and the strong foundation we've built at Tompkins Ventures, I believe we're poised to create something truly extraordinary."Scott Stevens, Managing Partner at Grays Peak Capital, welcomed Dr. Tompkins' return. "Jim's legacy is woven into the very fabric of Tompkins Solutions," said Stevens. "Bringing him back into the organization not only reconnects us with our roots but also positions us for a bold and innovative future. We're confident that the synergies between Tompkins Solutions and Tompkins Ventures will unlock new value for our clients and partners across the supply chain landscape."As Chairman of both Tompkins Solutions and Tompkins Ventures, Dr. Tompkins will align the organizations to strengthen Tompkins Solutions' leadership in warehouse automation and supply chain consulting. His return signals a renewed commitment to innovation and excellence in the industry.About Tompkins SolutionsTompkins Solutions is a supply chain consulting and implementation firm that helps companies design, build and support integrated warehouse operations. With deep expertise in automation, strategy and execution, Tompkins Solutions enables clients to streamline operations, improve efficiency and drive competitive advantage in today's complex logistics environment.For more information please visit: www.tompkinsinc.comAbout Tompkins VenturesTompkins Ventures matches your enterprise's challenges with our network of hundreds of Commercial Partners, Capital Partners and Consulting Partners. Our toolbox is unlimited, as every Tompkins Ventures Partner has decades of experience helping companies address the five major factors for business success: Digital Enablement, Entrepreneurial Growth, Logistics/Supply Chain, Organizational Development, and Procurement. In today's business environment of continual disruption, even the best companies do not do everything great. Your core competency is your business. Our core competency is selecting the right Partner(s) to work with your executive teams to make good companies great. Business strategy and supply chain expert Dr. James A. Tompkins founded Tompkins Ventures in 2020. Our network is based in the U.S. but operates on all continents except Antarctica.For more information visit: www.tompkinsventures.com/ContactShaun Kelly407-305-8470https://www.tompkinsinc.com/

Consultants whose practice includes the areas of material handling and logistics possess varying degrees of technical expertise, ranging from business process advice and design to detailed engineering design services that lead to equipment and systems being bid and procured. Although a consulting firm may also perform system integration services, it is more the exception than the rule. See also Systems Integrator .

Integrated Systems and Controls (ISC) refers to a product section of the Material Handling Industry of America. An integrated system is a desired state that generally refers to at least one of the three possible characteristics of an installed material handling system. First, although mechanical automation of the material flow properties of a system may be evident, it is the automation of the information flow associated with what is taking place, concurrently with the physical flow, that is the most defining characteristic. Secondly, an integrated system can be characterized by an unbroken, highly coordinated material flow link between successive stages in a manufacturing or warehousing operation where continuous flow is emphasized, and delays, waiting and intermediate storage minimized. Thirdly, an integrated system characteristically interfaces two or more material handling devices in order to form the bridge between work stations or other discrete points of origin and destination within the material flow cycle, with the goal being a high degree of mechanical coordination and the precise timing of movements. See also System Integrator , Consultant , and Controls .

Every year, the demands on warehousing and distribution teams continue to grow while the resources remain limited. On this podcast, Greg Kelly and Glen Guernsey from JR Automation’s Warehousing team overview the advanced manufacturing technologies, such as robotics, combined with AI and other digital transformations, that must be in your material handling playbook moving forward.

Access to solutions is pivotal in resolving pressing challenges, driving innovation, and ensuring adaptability to changing circumstances in your material handling, warehousing and supply chain operations. The MHI Solutions Community can provide that critical access.

In this episode, we talk with John Reichert and John Ashodian about MHI’s Solutions Community, which recently held its fall meeting. Find out how Community members are using their unique perspectives to help the supply chain industry during the pandemic.

Discover the four main types of automation integrators and how each supports warehouse automation projects.

One of the best moves you can make to improve the efficiency & productivity of your warehouse is to add a warehouse management system (WMS).

In the Cloud Mythbusters episode, guests discuss the misconceptions and preconceptions of applying cloud solutions and SaaS subscriptions.

Want to know how to improve your workforce performance, enhance your data analysis, or speed up your delivery times? Come to the Tech Talk! MHI’s Tech Talk invites three panelists from SICK, Digital Consultant Manager Dave Gustafson, Systems Application Engineer Nick Kern, and Director of Business Consulting Industry 4.0 Divya Prakash to discuss how AI empowers warehouse automation in the supply chain. The panelists will detail AI-powered solutions from SICK, a major proponent in sensor technology. Supply chain professionals will receive first-hand information regarding everything they need to know to scale up their warehouse operations with artificial intelligence as a tool and have the chance to ask questions that the panel guests will answer.

The world of robotics and automation for intralogistics is advancing quickly. Suppliers are pushing into new frontiers as technical barriers fall and innovations come to market. Warehouse operators and solution designers are combining technologies in new ways. With a focus on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), piece picking, and learning systems, this session delivers insight into cutting-edge applications. Attendees will hear from experts representing practitioners, consultants, and integrators.

Hear from a panel that will include Pitney Bowes and thredUP! The world of robotics and automation for intralogistics is advancing quickly. Suppliers are pushing into new frontiers as technical barriers fall and new innovations come to market. Warehouse operators and solution designers are combining technologies in new ways. With a focus on mobile robotics, piecing picking, learning systems, participants will get insight into cutting-edge applications from industry experts representing consultants, integrators, and some traditional automation to boot. Panel of End-Users and Integrators/Consultant

The Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) has published a blog to supplement its latest video on safety at pick modules. The video can be viewed at mhi.org/progma/videos.Here at ProGMA, we have produced a series of educational videos on protective guarding equipment in the material handling industry. ProGMA members provide fixed protective guarding products to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. A variety of such items are designed for installation at pick modules, which are multi-level structures typically constructed out of pallet rack that allow multiple pallets of product to be stored, broken down, picked, and packaged into specific orders for shipping.Our video is targeted at end users, system integrators, material handling warehouse design consultants / engineers, distributors, and safety professionals in manufacturing and distribution centers in the material handling industry, as well as students studying the sector. Many household and industrial goods we interact with every day were once stored or passed through a pick module. At the distribution centers of companies like CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid Corporation, for example, goods are stored before being repackaged and shipped to individual stores.As the 2:23min-long video says at the outset, pick modules can have several elevated levels of materials that are handled by both automation and personnel. Although everything in the material handling industry is becoming more automated, separation of full stored cases into smaller, individual shipments is still being completed manually. The size of pick modules has been increasing over the years; in the past, you may have seen a floor plus one level system, then a floor plus two levels, and now it is not uncommon to see three or even four elevated levels. This increases potential hazards.As the video continues, it is of paramount importance that proper guarding is used from the ground up to protect structures, the product they hold and, most importantly, the people working within and around them. Rack upright columns can be difficult to replace and costly to repair because often the area has to be closed off, product has to be removed, and multiple sections need to be disassembled. These components are all dependent upon one another, so if one part fails, the entire system can fail.The video highlights three “easy and affordable” solutions: Free-standing pallet rack column protectors Post cushions Bumper guardsHowever, ProGMA members offer a variety of products for ground-level protection including guardrails, bumper guards, column protectors, bollards, rack guards, and product containment enclosures  (i.e., wire mesh or netting); and for upper-level protection, such as side and back product containment enclosures (wire mesh or netting) to prevent products from falling below.What does ANSI say?The video continues, and quotes American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 6.4.3, which states that “…any gate that provides an access opening through the guards for the purpose of loading and unloading material onto a work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open, or lift or leave an unprotected opening in the guarding are not acceptable.”However, it is important to note that there are many mezzanines that were installed before the ANSI standards were created that used more conventional gates, such as removable, sliding, or swinging systems—and that is the same for pick modules. Systems can be retrofitted to achieve conformity with current standardization. There is no grandfather clause for ANSI (or OSHA) so all systems whether new or old should follow their guidelines. Note that many of the protective guarding products found in the video and on the ProGMA site are easily retrofittable to these older systems.As the video stresses, only dual-gate systems should be used. The same gates used on a pick module are also the preferred method for securing all elevated pallet drop areas whether they are in pick modules, on mezzanines, or on elevated work platforms such as storage or production / blending areas. The ANSI standards that recommended the use of dual-gate systems were written specifically for elevated work platforms and since a pick module is a type of elevated work platform that should be applied.The video demonstrates how a dual-gate system uses two counterbalanced and interconnected gates that are configured so when the first gate at the ledge is open, the second gate behind the pallet is closed. Fixed guarding on the sides—often the frame of the pallet rack in a pick module—prevents access into the side of the areas. This allows material to be loaded into the area while keeping employees a safe distance from the ledge and the material. When the rear / operator gate is opened, the ledge gate automatically closes, maintaining a barrier at the ledge while the pallet is accessed and picked. This creates what ProGMA calls a controlled-access area so there is always a barrier between the worker and the ledge.For information, ProGMA members that manufacture such solutions include Mezzanine Safeti-Gates Inc., Wildeck, and Heartland Engineered Products. Although companies still provide swing gates for pallet drop areas where a single pallet is loaded and staged, they are not an acceptable solution according to ANSI and could potentially create a situation where they are in violation of OSHA code.A self-closing swing gate, also featured in the video, should only be used when integrated with pallet flow lanes where multiple pallets are loaded into the system. The pallet flow lanes are pitched so the pallet rolls into the storage area. This allows the gate to immediately close once the pallet is loaded.  By comparison, when used for a single pallet position without flow rails, the staged pallet would hold the swinging gate open, preventing it from closing.For securing multiple deep pallet flow lanes, a dual-gate system is the preferred safety method because not only does it make sure a barrier is in place all times for fall protection, but it also keeps people out of the pallet flow lanes when pallets are being loaded. The two types of incidents we see in these areas are falls from the ledges and pallets being pushed into the legs of employees who have entered the lane. Only the dual-gate system keeps people out of the lanes when the lane is being loaded. The self-closing swing gate, however, does secure the ledge for fall protection.Hand in gloveOftentimes, a safety aspect can be used to increase productivity. For example, the self-closing swinging gate on pallet flow lanes will allow pallets to be quickly loaded into the system. Any time the lift truck operator wants to load a pallet into the area, they just push the pallet through the swinging gates. The dual-gate system has the potential of the gates being in the incorrect position for loading, meaning that the ledge gate is closed when the lift truck is trying to replenish pallets into the area. So they can go to load but a barrier is in place preventing them from doing so.A user can power operate these gates for remote operation but often this isn’t feasible due to the number of areas. Manual operation can actually create a safer and faster environment. The position of the gates in a dual-gate system can be used as a signal between the picker up on the platform and the lift truck operator below. In other words, when the ledge gate is closed that means the picker is picking from the pallets or the area doesn’t need to be replenished.When the picker has finished in that bay or when they notice the pallets need to be replenished in that bay, they just manually close the gate near them, which opens up the ledge gate. Now the lift truck operator can look up and see which areas are safe and ready to be replenished. This is an example of a safety system helping communications among the different workers.In conclusion, it’s evident that, despite automation, people remain at the center of activity in and around pick modules. ProGMA and its members are a one-stop-shop for leading safety solutions, whether it be for preventing hazards associated with falling boxes, product, or workers; or structural protection of the system itself from impact. As the video serves to reiterate, even in automated systems there are still people moving around the facility, either on ground level or on the elevated levels. Even if people are not used for the picking of material, there are areas where empty pallets or totes are removed that need to be guarded.The product-centric video doesn’t feature specific brands, but free-standing pallet rack column protectors, post cushions, and bumper guards are available from ProGMA members including Adrian’s Safety Solutions, A-Safe USA, Bluff Manufacturing, Boplan, DamoTech, Folding Guard, Husky Rack & Wire, Heartland Engineered Products, Jesco, McCue, Slowstop Guarding, SpaceGuard Products, Steel King, Troax, VisiPlas, Wildeck, and WireCrafters.Costs range from inexpensive, light-duty products to more expensive, heavy-duty solutions. Importantly, talking with the manufacturer about the application will help source the right product/s for the facility. No two pick modules or applications are completely alike and that’s what the member companies of the ProGMA are here to help with.The ProGMA website—mhi.org/progma—features details of 22 member companies and hundreds of solutions to help companies with older systems find protective guarding solutions to update / upgrade their pick module system.See the latest video and others in the series at mhi.org/progma/videosShould you be using a ProGMA member to enhance the safety and productivity of your pick modules?About ProGMAThe Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) members are the industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. Member companies meet regularly to review, discuss, and revise the standards for design and performance of protective guarding products used in the material handling industry. ProGMA member companies are committed to the development, maintenance, and publishing of industry standard specifications for these systems. Visit the website at mhi.org/progma.About MHIMHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors the ProMat and MODEX expos to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals.Contact for editorial enquiries: Ashley Skidmore, askidmore@mhi.org or 704-676-1190

To complement a new educational video, thought leaders representing the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA), an MHI product group, discuss the importance of protecting personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities.ProGMA has recently launched the second in a series of videos about the importance of protective guarding products in the material handling industry. The video titled “Proper Safeguarding for Elevated Work Platforms” followed the inaugural, educational video titled, “Essential Safety Barriers for Automated / Robotic Workcells”. (http://www.mhi.org/progma/videos)Here, representatives of member companies expand on the themes explored within the latest video in the group’s first blog.Before we start, says Arlin Keck, corporate research and development engineer at Steel King (a manufacturer of pallet racks, mezzanines and guardrails), it’s important to clarify what we mean by “mezzanine” in this context. “The technical term for what my company and other members make is work platforms. Mezzanine was an old term for these systems; however, the word mezzanine had to be dropped because mezzanine, as defined in the building codes, refers to a specified type of floor within a building structure and carries with it added requirements for fire safety, egress, parking, and so on,” Keck explains.A typical work platform is design to support the site-specific load that will be placed on the floor, be it palletized loads, pallet jacks, foot traffic, work equipment, filing cabinets, racking or shelving units, to name just a few possibilities.Keck says that the main purpose of an elevated work platform is to add additional floor space into a building or room by taking advantage of surplus ceiling clearance that may exist in a warehouse or manufacturing facility. Aaron Conway, president at Mezzanine Safeti-Gates Inc. (a manufacturer of safety gates to secure the ledges of pallet drop areas on mezzanines and rack picking systems), says, “A company that has utilized all of its ground space can build upward. An elevated platform allows one to use the space for workflow or to store product.”As Hue Schlegel, director of marketing at Wildeck Inc. (a manufacturer of mezzanines and work platforms), puts it, “Move up, not out.” He adds, “Depending on the available height in a building, platforms can be one, two, or three levels high, with the most common height being 10 ft. top-of-deck and supporting a floor load of 125 lbs. per square foot. Their length and width are only limited by facility size.” Importantly, he explains, they cannot occupy more than two thirds of a fire-rated area within a building.Keck says work platforms are also used to create catwalks between separated platforms, and to serve as sortation and conveyance areas for mechanized systems. Conway agrees, adding, “Companies that supply elevated work platforms can fabricate them in virtually any configuration. They can be designed to accommodate specific workflow operations or to fit with existing structures in the building.”Industrial buildings are getting bigger and elevated work platforms are scaling up with them. Say, 50 years ago, facilities were much smaller and ceilings lower so there were fewer requirements for elevated platforms. Further, the equipment to load at such heights didn’t exist. Now, the capability of equipment is greater and taller structures are being utilized as a result. Within them, work and storage takes place on multiple levels.These multi-level work platforms present a danger of personnel and objects falling from height.As the latest video warns, the pallet drop area of elevated work platforms can lead to accidents if the ledge is open without adequate guarding. Falls to lower levels cost employers $5 billion annually in compensation claims in the U.S. alone. OSHA reports that it costs on average 16 lost working days per injured employee.Conway says, “Falling from an elevated level, whether it be people or products, is a serious danger and both should be addressed proactively, securing the situation before an incident occurs.” Schlegel adds, “The worst case, of course, is death; while the best scenario is that a worker survives a fall from the typical mezzanine height of 10 ft. sustaining only broken bones, fractures, and other injuries from hitting the concrete floor below. It is a serious matter not to be taken lightly.”Traditional railing or guarding systems are effective at preventing falls from height as long as they include a kick plate that is installed in conjunction with ANSI MH 28.3-2009. Adding netting or expanded metal and safety products to traditional railing systems provides added protection by capturing small objects that might otherwise fall into the work area below.OSHA Standard 1926.502, meanwhile, requires paneling or screening where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge of a toe-board or kick plate. ProGMA members also manufacture both netting and wire mesh panels that comply with that standard.However, David Brentz, chairman of ProGMA and vice president of member company Industrial Netting (a manufacturer of plastic netting), says, “That’s only a minimum requirement; added protection is financially prudent. The cost to install netting or wire screens around the perimeter of an elevated work platform pales in comparison to the cost of a single lost time accident. ProGMA members offer several simple, cost effective solutions to protect employees below loose objects that may fall or be kicked off work platforms.”Conway says, “In the past, properly guarding a pallet drop area or installing netting or wire was something that would be retrofitted, either after an incident occurred or after someone pointed out the issue. Designing proper safety guarding for the structure at the time of purchase makes for a much better fit; when retrofitting, there is often insufficient room for proper guarding and concessions have to be made. But, it is important to note that even if proper guarding wasn’t designed with the structure, it still should be installed. There are companies in the ProGMA that can customize solutions to fit these areas.”He continues, “Don’t confuse luck with judgment. If I visit a facility that was built, say, 20 years ago, I’m sure to find open pallet drop areas or insufficient guardrails. Just because these areas have been around for a while isn’t a reason not to properly secure them. I’ve heard the line, ‘Well, we’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and nobody has gotten hurt’. To that I say, ‘You’ve been lucky!’”Schlegel says, “The biggest safety risk is when a forklift access gate on mezzanine is left open creating a fall hazard for someone off-loading a pallet at the upper level. There are many products, provided by ProGMA members, that prevent the gate from being left open or that keep the operator at a safe distance, which should always be installed.”ANSI says, “Any gate that provides an access opening through the guards for the purpose of loading and unloading material onto a work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open, or lift up, leaving an unprotected opening in the guarding are not acceptable.”Dual gate systems such as a rolling gate ensure that the operator is separated from the ledge as well as the load. A pivoting gate ensures the operator is never exposed to the ledge and does not require him or her to walk near an open ledge to operate the gate.Unfortunately, sometimes it can take an incident and a facility to be shut down during an investigation for companies to understand the serious financial consequences of a workplace injury. There are many other companies that understand the risks and proactively secure their work areas. These diligent companies end up ahead in the long run:1. They typically get better solutions because they had the time to design them correctly;2. They get a better price because they can take their time and research the solutions;3. Safety solutions are in place before they need them.Conway concludes, “The large majority of people don’t want to get hurt and are not acting recklessly on the job. Typically, they are performing a repetitive operation, and in their process miss a step or push something too far and someone gets hurt. Proper guarding should be in place to prevent injury if this happens.”About ProGMAThe Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) members are the industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. Member companies meet regularly to review, discuss, and revise the standards for design and performance of protective guarding products used in the material handling industry. ProGMA member companies are committed to the development, maintenance, and publishing of industry standard specifications for these systems. Visit the website at http://www.mhi.org/ProGMAAbout MHIMHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors the ProMat and MODEX expos to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals. http://www.mhi.orgContactAnupam Berry Boseabose@mhi.org704-676-1190

Updated March 2023. The safe and efficient use of racked storage facilities depends on a number of factors. It is with these factors in mind that these considerations have been prepared to give advice to the warehouse operator who may not be a specialist in technical matters or in the detail design related to the storage facility. These considerations are intended to give an indication of good practice. They are not intended to be comprehensive, and where the user is in any doubt, or where this document does not appear to cover fully the particular situation being considered, then the user must consult the supplier or other sources for specialized technical advice.

This guidance document represents user considerations associated with multi-level shelving. It was developed by the Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA) and is intended to provide useful information and guidance for owners, users, designers, purchasers, or specifiers of material handling equipment or systems. It is advisory only and should only be regarded as a simple tool that its intended audience may or may not choose to follow, adopt, modify, or reject. The following information does not constitute a comprehensive safety program, cannot guard against pitfalls in operating, selecting, and purchasing such a system, and should not be relied upon as such. Such a program should be developed, and an independent adviser should be consulted in doing so.

Updated May 2023. This Guideline was developed by the Rack Manufacturers Institute, an Industry Group of MHI and represents suggested practices and considerations for repairing or replacing damaged racks. It is intended to provide useful information and guidance for owners, users, designers, purchasers and/or specifiers of repairs to racks and rack systems. It is advisory only and should only be regarded as a simple tool that its intended audience may or may not choose to follow, adopt, modify, or reject. The following information does not constitute a comprehensive safety program, cannot guard against pitfalls in operating, selecting and purchasing such a system, its repair or its replacement, and should not be relied upon as such. However, such a safety program should be developed, and an independent adviser should be consulted in doing so.