11.1 Safety standards for the operation of elevators, cranes, industrial conveyors and transport machines.
11.1.1 Elevator shafts and freight elevator shafts shall be firmly enclosed along their entire height, except for necessary doors or gates on each floor.
11.1.2 When the elevator car is not level with the floor, the opening shall be protected by handrails or other suitable devices.
11.1.3 Equipment used for material movement, such as lifts, freight elevators, cranes, freight hoists, overhead cranes, hoists, forklifts, winches, roller conveyors and various types of conveyors, shall be calculated and constructed to provide the necessary strength and safety guarantees and kept in perfect working condition.
11.1.3.1 Special attention shall be paid to steel cables, ropes, chains, pulleys and hooks, which shall be permanently inspected, with defective parts replaced.
11.1.3.2 All equipment shall indicate the maximum allowable working load in a visible place.
11.1.3.3 Equipment intended for personnel movement shall be required to meet special safety conditions.
11.1.4 Manual transport carts shall be equipped with hand protectors.
11.1.5 Operators of self-propelled transport equipment shall receive specific training provided by the company to qualify for this function.
11.1.6 Operators of motorized transport equipment shall be qualified and may only operate while carrying an identification card with name and photograph in a visible place during working hours.
11.1.6.1 The card shall be valid for one year, except for unforeseen circumstances, and for revalidation, the employee shall undergo a complete health examination at the employer's expense.
11.1.7 Motorized transport equipment shall be equipped with an audible warning signal (horn).
11.1.8 All industrial conveyors shall be permanently inspected, and defective parts or parts with deficiencies shall be replaced immediately.
11.1.9 In closed or poorly ventilated places, the emission of toxic gases from transport machines shall be controlled to avoid concentrations in the work environment exceeding permissible limits.
11.1.10 In closed and unventilated places, the use of transport machines driven by internal combustion engines is prohibited, unless they are equipped with suitable neutralizing devices.
11.2 Occupational safety standards for bag transportation activities.
11.2.1 For the purposes of applying this regulation, the expression "Manual bag transportation" is defined as any continuous or discontinuous activity essential to the manual transportation of bags, in which the full weight of the load is supported by a single worker, also including lifting and placing.
11.2.2 A maximum distance of 60.00 meters is established for the manual transportation of a bag.
11.2.2.1 Beyond the limit set forth in this standard, transport and unloading shall be carried out by pushing trolleys, vehicles, trailers, suitable hand carts or any type of mechanized traction.
11.2.3 Manual transportation of bags over boards spanning openings of one meter or more is prohibited.
11.2.3.1 The boards referred to in item 11.2.3 shall have a minimum width of 0.50 meters.
11.2.4 In manual loading and unloading operations of bags on trucks or wagons, the worker shall be assisted by a helper.
11.2.5 Stacked bags in warehouses shall have their maximum height limited by floor load capacity, the shape and strength of packaging materials, and stability based on stack geometry, type of lashing and inclination.
11.2.6 (Revoked)
11.2.7 In the mechanized stacking process, the use of roller conveyors, stackers or forklifts is recommended.
11.2.8 When the use of a mechanized process is not possible, the manual process is allowed by using a removable wooden ladder with the following characteristics:
a) Single flight of steps leading to an upper landing;
b) Minimum width of 1.00 meter, with the landing having minimum dimensions of 1.00m x 1.00m and a maximum height from the ground of 2.25 meters;
c) A suitable proportion shall be maintained between the tread and riser of the steps; the riser height shall not exceed 0.15 meters, nor shall the tread width be less than 0.25 meters;
d) It shall be reinforced laterally and vertically by a metal or wooden structure that ensures its stability;
e) It shall be fitted laterally with a handrail or guardrail at a height of 1.00 meter along its entire length;
f) It shall be in perfect stable and safe condition, and any ladder showing any defect shall be replaced immediately.
11.2.9 The warehouse floor shall be made of non-slip, smooth material, preferably asphalt mastic, and kept in perfect maintenance condition.
11.2.10 Manual transportation of bags on slippery or wet floors shall be avoided.
11.2.11 The company shall provide suitable covering for bag loading and unloading areas.
11.3 Material Storage
11.3.1 The weight of stored material shall not exceed the calculated floor load capacity.
11.3.2 Stored material shall be arranged so as not to obstruct doors, fire fighting equipment, emergency exits and others.
11.3.3 Stacked material shall be kept at a minimum distance of 0.50 meters from the building side structures.
11.3.4 Load arrangement shall not hinder circulation, lighting and access to emergency exits.
11.3.5 Storage shall comply with the special safety requirements specific to each type of material.
11.4 Movement, Storage and Handling of Marble, Granite and Other Rock Plates.
11.4.1 The movement, storage and handling of marble, granite and other rock plates shall comply with the provisions of the Technical Regulation of Procedures contained in Annex I of this NR.
Annex I of NR-11
Technical Procedure Regulation for the Movement, Storage and Handling of Ornamental Stone Plates
1. General Principles
1.1 This Technical Regulation establishes fundamental principles and protection measures to preserve workers' health and physical integrity, and sets minimum requirements for the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases in the commercial and industrial sectors of processing, transformation, movement, handling and storage of ornamental stone plates, without prejudice to compliance with other Regulatory Standards – NR approved by Ordinance No. 3.214 of June 8, 1978, current technical standards, and in the absence or omission thereof, applicable international standards.
1.2 Equipment shall be designed and constructed to provide the necessary guarantees of strength and safety, and maintained in perfect working condition.
1.2.1 All equipment shall display in a visible place its identification, maximum allowable working load, the name and tax identification number of the manufacturer, and the technical responsible person.
1.2.1.1 The information specified in subitem 1.2.1 and other relevant data shall be recorded in a dedicated official record book.
1.2.1.2 Block transport carts and stone supports may be identified only by their own number and maximum allowable working load.
1.2.2 The equipment manufacturer shall provide an instruction manual complying with the requirements set forth in NR-12, aiming at correct operation and maintenance, as well as supporting operator training.
1.3 The company shall keep physical or electronic records of periodic inspections and maintenance of equipment and supporting elements used in the movement, storage and handling of ornamental stone plates.
1.3.1 After inspection of the equipment or supporting element, an "Inspection Report" shall be issued annually, prepared by a legally qualified professional with a filed Technical Responsibility Annotation (ART), which shall become part of the equipment documentation.
1.3.2 Routine inspections and maintenance shall be performed by trained or qualified professionals.
1.3.3 The company shall keep at the establishment the invoice for purchased equipment, or in the case of in-house manufacturing, the projects, technical reports, calculations and technical specifications.
1.4 Stone plate handling areas shall provide suitable conditions for safe work performance.
1.4.1 Pedestrian circulation in stone plate handling areas shall be interrupted while such activities are being carried out.
2. Technical requirements for equipment used in the movement, storage and handling of ornamental stone plates
2.1 Angle brackets or "L" supports
2.1.1 Side protections (L-shaped brackets or angle supports) shall be fitted with a locking system to prevent accidental disengagement from the fittings of the block transport cart.
2.1.1.2 The block transport cart shall have at least two guides to prevent lateral displacement of the L-shaped support.
2.1.2 The side protection (L-shaped bracket or angle support) shall be installed on the block transport cart before removing the support system of the lifting device from the whole stone blocks.
2.1.2.1 Removal of side protections (L-shaped brackets or angle supports) is only permitted inside the sawing machine housing area.
2.1.3 Sawn blocks still positioned on the block transport cart and inside the sawing machine housing shall be fitted with at least three side protections (L-shaped brackets or angle supports) on each side to prevent the plates from falling.
2.1.4 Side protections (L-shaped brackets or angle supports) shall remain in place until all plates have been removed.
2.2 Block transport cart and transport trolley
2.2.1 Block transport carts and transport trolleys shall be provided with protection for all hazardous parts, with special attention to steel cables, hooks, pulleys, cart wheels, sheaves, belts, gears, couplings and electrical components.
2.2.2 No work shall be carried out with persons standing between the stone plates.
2.2.3 It is prohibited to remove plates from only one side of the block transport cart, in order to maintain its stability.
2.2.4 The operation of the transport cart and block transport cart must be carried out by at least two trained persons, in accordance with item 5 of this Annex.
2.3 Storage Yard
2.3.1 Yard areas intended for the movement and storage of stone plates shall comply with the following criteria:
a) The floor shall be paved, non-slip, free of protrusions, level, and with sufficient strength to support usual loads;
b) The plate storage area shall be protected against weather conditions.
2.4 Storage Racks
2.4.1 Storage racks shall be installed on bases made of strong and waterproof material, ensuring perfect stability and positioning, complying with the following requirements:
a) Racks shall adequately support the plates and have a minimum height of 1.50 meters;
b) Vertical rack sections shall have a maximum width of 0.25 meters;
c) Vertical rack bars shall have sufficient thickness to withstand usual load stresses and shall be fitted or welded to their base to ensure stability;
d) Each vertical rack shall have a maximum length of six meters, with end sections built with greater structural strength;
e) A properly marked clear space of at least 0.80 meters shall be kept between the ends and sides of the racks;
f) The distance between racks and storage area walls shall be at least 0.50 meters;
g) Main pedestrian circulation paths shall be demarcated with a minimum width of 1.20 meters;
h) Racks shall be kept in perfect condition: painted, free of corrosion and structural damage;
i) The use of extensions to increase the storage capacity of triangular racks is prohibited;
j) Loading and unloading plates onto or from racks must be performed with at least one worker at each end of the plate;
k) Each pair of racks shall have an interlocking or lashing system to guarantee equipment stability.
2.5 Movement of Plates Using Vacuum Suction Cups
2.5.1 The following minimum requirements shall be observed when moving stone plates using vacuum suction cups:
a) The directional valve of the suction cups shall be easily accessible and positioned for the operator, respecting ergonomic posture and operational safety;
b) Suction cups shall be equipped with an auxiliary device to restrain the hose, preventing it from recoiling in case of accidental detachment;
c) Hoses shall be protected, firmly fixed to the inlet and outlet pipes, and kept clear of circulation routes;
d) The rubber pads of the suction cups shall undergo periodic maintenance and be replaced immediately if worn, defective or detached;
e) Safety procedures shall be adopted to ensure the safe movement of plates in the event of a power failure.
2.5.2 Vacuum suction cups powered by electrical equipment shall have audible and visual alarms to indicate pressure outside the established safety limits.
2.6 Movement of plates using steel cables, suspension beams, slings, chains, clamps, container spreaders and other equipment
2.6.1 When moving plates using suspension beams, clamps, container spreaders and other handling equipment, the load-bearing capacity of these lifting means and the load capacity of the lifting equipment shall be observed, complying with the manufacturer's technical specifications and recommendations.
2.6.1.1 Steel cables, slings, chains and other accessories shall be properly sized according to the characteristics of the loads to be handled.
2.6.2 The employer shall keep at the workplace, available for inspection, the purchase invoices of steel cables, chains, slings and other accessories, together with their respective certificates.
2.6.3 The movement of plates using clamps may only be performed by gripping one plate at a time.
2.6.4 Plates transported by transfer carts shall be lashed with slings or material of equivalent strength.
NR-11 – Transportation, Movement, Storage and Handling of Materials
