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Insects probably offer the greatest challenge to the stores personnel. The number of progeny from one insect alone can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands. Another peculiarity is that a new generation adapts to the environment and presents immune qualities. For example DDT killed mosquitoes once very easily, but it is difficult to control them by DDT now as the later generations have developed immunity to it.
Insects are small in size and can easily hide in racks and crevices. Most have those wings and this enables them to search far and wide for food and also escape from their enemies. They can also feed on a wide variety of substances, whether they be liquid or solid.
Pest Control:- The starting point of pest control is stores hygiene which will include immaculate cleanliness, segregation of infested materials, prompt removal of sweeping and packaging material, especially items like hay which can carry a lot of living organism. Periodical inspection, proper ventilation, illumination, etc. are answers. Some of the aspects of stores hygiene are as follows:
1-Cleanless of storerooms acts as a deterrent to insects and other pests who thrive in accumulated debris and racks in floors and walls. Dust and dirt should be removed regularly and larger cracks should be filled with pitch or cement. White washing of walls and swabbing of floors with phenyl at suitable intervals will also help to keep down insects.
2-Ventilation: Air must be allowed to circulate freely throughout the storage area, the only exception being in respect of rubber articles where ventilation has to be restricted to a slow natural circulation of air. Free aeration helps in keeping the stored materials and the storerooms dry and prevents accumulation of heat within the stacks, bundles and stores. Thus it helps to reduce the chance of spontaneous combustion of materials.
3-Segregation of infested materials:- Items damaged by biological agencies should be segregated as soon as the damage is noticed, and given suitable treatment.
4-Disinfection of godowns: Storerooms in which materials infested by micro organisms have been kept should periodically be disinfested as shown below, especially before they are utilized for stacking fresh items:
1-Rooms should be emptied of all infested material and cleaned thoroughly.
2-The wall should be white washed
3- The floor should be washed with phenyl or creosote liquid.
If the storeroom contains materials infested by insects, the following measures should be adopted:
1-The rooms should be emptied of all infested material and cleaned thoroughly.
2-The room should be fumigated with insecticide (smoke forming) and kept closed for2 hours.
3-If the walls have not been freshly white washed, or15 days after the fresh white washing of walls, DDT should be sprayed on the floor and on the walls up to a height of about3 meters. The dunnage should also be similarly sprayed with DDT. The spraying should be repeated at intervals of six weeks.
4-Dunnage and top cover: T he term “dunnage” is applied to any material or structure placed between the ground and material or storage equipment with the following objectives:
1-Pending a firm and stable base of stacking
2-Preventing moisture from the ground from passing up into the materials, resulting in rot, corrosion and / or direct damage to stores.
3-Preventing “White ants” and other insects from crawling from the ground into the stack on their gnawing rampage.
4-Allowing circulation of air underneath the stack to get rid of accumulated dirt which may harbor harmful insects or other organisms.
Stacks should be suitable sheltered from rain. Leaky roofs of godowns should be promptly repaired and tarpaulin covers spread over them. Covers of outdoor stacks should not be torn.
Materials stored should be examined periodically so that deterioration, if any, may be detected promptly at the early stage and dealt with suitably. To facilitate this inspection, stacks should be small and away from one another and from the walls.
Older stocks must be issued out first to minimize deterioration in storage. The storage should be such as to enable the practice of FIFO.
The most popular method of insect control is through the use of insecticides. A large variety of chemical are available in the market which can control insects.
5-Rats: Apart from eating grains and other foodstuffs, they cause holes in bags leading to spillage while handling and transportation. They also contaminate foodstuffs by their excrement and act as disease carriers.
Textiles, paper, office records and even timber are attacked by rats. They are usually active at night.
Methods of preventing rats are by using rat poisons, having rat traps, fumigation, and by rat proofing the storehouse by ensuring that doors fit well, the floor is concrete not wood, that there are no crevices or holes in the walls, windows, etc. and keeping a constant watch over rat holes. Good poison bait is barium carbonate, zinc phosphate or oxide mixed in wheat flour and formed into pellets by kneading with water.
6- Fungus and rat: Fungi and bacteria are micro organisms which are invisible to naked eye and are very low in the evolutionary scale in the slate kingdom and do not possess the green pigment which is commonly associated with the higher plants. They occur practically everywhere in the soil, in water and even in the air. It has been estimated that one small spoonful of fertile soil can contain over2000 million of these micro organism.
7-Fire and water: - The two great hazards which all goods are subject to are fire and water. The building therefore should be fire resistant. The three common causes of fire are cigarette smoking, loose inflammable rubbish, and faulty electrical equipment. Firefighting equipment should be installed and arrangements made for it to be examined at regular intervals and carefully supervised. The staff must be trained in the use of all firefighting equipment installed.
Preservation is as important as storage itself. Personnel working in stores must know the special characteristics of the materials for which they are responsible and should ensure that all measures necessary for preservation are taken. If this is not done in a disciplined way, adverse results will arise from deterioration of the product.
If there is no proper ventilation the following precautions are essential:
1-Packing of such items in wet condition should be avoided.
2-Adequate ventilation should be provided where necessary so that heat is not generated.
3-Closed sheds should be opened daily to avoid rise in temperature.
4-Close stacking of large quantities of material should be avoided.
5-Bailes should be stacked on dunnage, leaving adequate space up to1.5” in between to allow free flow of air.
6-Fire extinguishers and sand buckets should be kept at hand.
Infested materials which cannot be cured should normally be destroyed.
Pests and bacteria thrive in dirty environments, so storage space should be regularly swept. Cracks and crevices should be filled up with cement or lime mortar, and regular whitewashing of walls and ceilings should be carried out. There is no equal to good housekeeping for the preservation of materials.
Proper ventilation is essential in the stores building. Doors and windows should be opened every day especially in the monsoon so that moisture. If any on the materials vaporizes. However, this should not apply to paints, chemicals and rubber goods which are required to be kept in cool and dark storage places.
Periodic examination of materials should be carried out to guard against infestation and damages. The materials should be so arranged that these do not touch the floors, walls or roofs.
Warehouse personnel must be issued materials as per basis of First in first out. So can save deterioration of materials.
Preservation of goods in store is purely depend on the nature of goods. The preservation of cement would be different from computer CPU because nature of product is different.
For example -CPU is to be protected from dust, high temperature and moisture although there is no expiry date. Contrary to it cement to be used within one year and it is highly hygroscopic hence to be protected from humidity to avoid the lump formation.
There are some common rule for preservation
- adherence to stacking norm to avoid the stress
- adherence to follow FMFO to avoid expiry
- Proper packing to avoid damage
- Whether protection - Temperature and moisture contro
- Dust proofing
- Insect proofing
- Pest control
- Proper segregation to avoid mixing
All businesses must store goods and materials safely, especially warehouses
Also ensure that you fulfil your legal duty to protect the health and safety of those affected by your business, the right approach to storage can also help you reduce pollution, unnecessary wastage and other costs.
Using shelves, racks and pallets safely
Shelving and racking must be installed and maintained properly. Ensure that:
Floors are sound and level
Special safety ladders are provided to avoid people climbing on shelving
units are spaced correctly to allow easy access for staff and, if necessary, mechanical-handling equipment such as forklift trucks
shelves and racks are properly aligned and goods don't overhang shelves
correct maximum loads for racking are displayed
personal protective equipment is used where necessary
items are stacked correctly - put the heaviest at the bottom where possible
materials that employees frequently need are readily accessible - for example, not above head height
If you use pallets with racking units, you should avoid:
using a pallet which can't cope with its load
poorly designed or constructed pallets
using damaged pallets
using the wrong type of pallet for the racking system used or the material or substance stored
poor handling of pallets
You must use any mechanical-handling equipment, such as forklift trucks, safely. Anyone operating a forklift needs to be fully-trained, and people in areas where forklifts operate must be aware of the warning alarms, signs and notices
Storing dangerous or hazardous materials
You must ensure chemicals and dangerous substances are stored and handled in a way that minimises their risks and limits people's exposure to them.
You can control risks by:
storing chemicals according to the manufacturer's instructions
keeping the minimum quantity of hazardous substances necessary
storing incompatible substances separately
taking steps to prevent release or leakage of dangerous substances
keeping a spill kit near to storage areas, and ensuring staff are trained in what to do in the event of a spill
cleaning up any leaks or spills that occur
using appropriate precautions when handling substances - for example, wearing protective clothing or ensuring adequate ventilation
ensuring employees who store and handle dangerous substances are properly trained
checking containers used for short-term storage are properly labelled
If you store chemicals or dangerous substances that could create a fire or explosion, you must ensure that flammable substances are correctly stored in suitable containers and are not stored near to a source of ignition such as a heater.
You should also:
place stores of liquid above ground where they're unlikely to be damaged, eg away from traffic routes
avoid overfilling containers
supervise deliveries
maintain gauges, valves and pipework
monitor oil use - unexpectedly high use may indicate a leak
have procedures for dealing with emergency leakages
Storage and preservation involves items to be binged and kept in storage bins and impounds; as usually indicated in the yard. The location is usually indicated in the transaction card. The storage period may vary between one day and one year or more, depending upon recoupment procedures/safety stock required, etc. storage is the physical act of storing the materials. The general rule is: "A place for everything in its place". Presentation involves the maintenance, of materials to retain their quality. Quite often, temperature, humidity, dust and other factors cause deterioration of materials.
