Method for operating a storage and removal system, wherein the storage and removal system has a shelf warehouse having at least one storage shelf and at least one storage robot which can be moved at least partially in the shelf warehouse for transporting and/or positioning stored goods in the shelf warehouse and wherein an access of a person into a definable access region of the shelf warehouse in which the at least one storage robot can move at least partially is enabled, having the following steps: - initiating a request to a control unit for access into the access region; - causing the at least one storage robot, in response to the request and by means of a control instruction by the control unit to the at least one storage robot, to move to a reference point of the shelf warehouse which is defined with respect to a position in the shelf warehouse; - establishing, as soon as the at least one storage robot is located in a definable environment of the reference point or directly at the reference point, by means of the at least one storage robot with reference to an information item which relates to the access region and which is associated with or transmitted to the reference point and which is obtained or identified by the at least one storage robot, whether the reference point and consequently also the at least one storage robot is located in the access region or not; and - maintaining the at least one storage robot in a stopped state in the environment of the reference point or on the reference point if the reference point is located in the access region so that the access of the person into the access region is possible, and/or stopping all the storage robots in the access region which could not approach and/or have not approached a reference point or an environment of a reference point within a specific timeframe and have obtained a release/token at that location so that the access of the person into the access region is possible. - initiating a request to a control unit for access into the access region; - causing the at least one storage robot, in response to the request and by means of a control instruction by the control unit to the at least one storage robot, to move to a reference point of the shelf warehouse which is defined with respect to a position in the shelf warehouse; - establishing, as soon as the at least one storage robot is located in a definable environment of the reference point or directly at the reference point, by means of the at least one storage robot with reference to an information item which relates to the access region and which is associated with or transmitted to the reference point and which is obtained or identified by the at least one storage robot, whether the reference point and consequently also the at least one storage robot is located in the access region or not; and - maintaining the at least one storage robot in a stopped state in the environment of the reference point or on the reference point if the reference point is located in the access region so that the access of the person into the access region is possible, and/or stopping all the storage robots in the access region which could not approach and/or have not approached a reference point or an environment of a reference point within a specific timeframe and have obtained a release/token at that location so that the access of the person into the access region is possible.