A station for providing access to contents in a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval system, the station comprising: - an access barrier comprising an opening, and a plurality of covers, wherein each cover is arranged to be selectively deployed to close off a respective portion of the opening and thereby restrict access therethrough, wherein each cover is moveable between an initial position in which the cover is not deployed thereby leaving the respective portion of the opening accessible, and a deployed position in which the cover closes off the respective portion of the opening; - a loading mechanism arranged to receive the storage container and move it to the opening of the access barrier so that contents of the storage container may be accessed through the opening, wherein the loading mechanism comprises a lifting device arranged to lift the storage container up to the access barrier; and - a housing which is able to prevent access to the opening of the access barrier; wherein the station is arranged to transition between; - a loading configuration in which access to the opening of the access barrier is prevented by the housing, and - an access configuration in which the opening of the access barrier is presented to thereby enable access to contents of the storage container through the opening; characterized in that the station is configured to deploy the covers to close off predetermined portions of the opening prior to transition into the access configuration to thereby restrict or permit access to contents of the storage container through predetermined portions of the opening, wherein each of the plurality of covers is pivotably connected to the access barrier adjacent the opening and wherein each cover, in the initial position extends at least partially in a vertical direction such that it allows the storage container to pass without contact while the storage container is being lifted to the opening of the access barrier, thereby leaving the respective portion of the opening accessible such that contents of the storage container may be accessed through the portion. - an access barrier comprising an opening, and a plurality of covers, wherein each cover is arranged to be selectively deployed to close off a respective portion of the opening and thereby restrict access therethrough, wherein each cover is moveable between an initial position in which the cover is not deployed thereby leaving the respective portion of the opening accessible, and a deployed position in which the cover closes off the respective portion of the opening; - a loading mechanism arranged to receive the storage container and move it to the opening of the access barrier so that contents of the storage container may be accessed through the opening, wherein the loading mechanism comprises a lifting device arranged to lift the storage container up to the access barrier; and - a housing which is able to prevent access to the opening of the access barrier; - a loading configuration in which access to the opening of the access barrier is prevented by the housing, and - an access configuration in which the opening of the access barrier is presented to thereby enable access to contents of the storage container through the opening; the station is configured to deploy the covers to close off predetermined portions of the opening prior to transition into the access configuration to thereby restrict or permit access to contents of the storage container through predetermined portions of the opening, wherein each of the plurality of covers is pivotably connected to the access barrier adjacent the opening and wherein each cover, in the initial position extends at least partially in a vertical direction such that it allows the storage container to pass without contact while the storage container is being lifted to the opening of the access barrier, thereby leaving the respective portion of the opening accessible such that contents of the storage container may be accessed through the portion.