2006 Minnesota Statutes

231.08 WAREHOUSE OPERATOR AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS WAREHOUSE
OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS.
    Subdivision 1. To furnish information. Every warehouse operator and household goods
warehouse operator shall furnish all information required by the department to administer this
chapter and make specific answers to all questions submitted by the department, under oath. A
warehouse operator or household goods warehouse operator which is a corporation shall answer
under the oath of one of its duly authorized officers.
A warehouse operator or household goods warehouse operator shall obey and comply with
every order, decision, direction, or rule made or prescribed by the department in the matters
specified in this chapter; and do everything necessary or proper to secure the compliance with and
the observance of the same, by all its officers, agents, and employees.
    Subd. 2. Rights not limited. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights
of any warehouse operator or household goods warehouse operator to lease or let for any storage
purpose any portion of a building.
    Subd. 3. Tender for storage. At the time of or prior to tender of goods for storage by a
depositor, a storage order must be signed in writing by the depositor or the depositor's duly
authorized representative and must show the name and address of the warehouse operator in
whose custody the goods are to be deposited.
    Subd. 4. Identification of goods. A warehouse operator who receives a lot of goods must
identify each article or lot by tag or lot number, as recorded on the operator's books and on
the warehouse receipt or contract.
    Subd. 5. Fire protection. All warehouses must be protected against fire in accordance
with the State Fire Code.
    Subd. 6. Floor load. A warehouse floor or part of a floor must not at any time be loaded or
stored with a greater weight of goods or materials per square foot than the floor will sustain with
safety. If the department directs a warehouse operator to ascertain from a competent registered
architect or engineer or from the proper municipal authorities what may be the safe load capacity
in pounds per square foot of each floor of the operator's warehouse or warehouses, the operator
must do so without unnecessary delay and must post signs in several conspicuous places on each
floor stating the safe live load that floor will sustain.
    Subd. 7. Storage conditions. (a) On each floor where there is open storage of goods, wares,
or merchandise, there must be aisles wide enough to permit the free and unimpeded passage of
goods, wares, or merchandise. All aisles must be kept free from obstructions, dust, and litter.
(b) Pieces of overstuffed furniture, mattresses, rugs, carpets, and other goods not stored in
containers must be protected by wrapping before being placed in permanent storage.
History: (5174) 1915 c 210 s 3; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1999 c
110 s 4; 2005 c 92 s 1-5; 2005 c 136 art 9 s 2