Hardware through ductwork

I'm planning on adding more wire shelves to a pantry and noticed on existing shelves, some drywall anchors for the clips on the back wall are going through a supply duct to the second floor.

Is this common in newer construction or sloppy workmanship?

 

Not really cool to do that. Maybe the person who installed them didn't realize what he was screwing into?

 

Or knew and didn't care??

Seems like most places where duct was run between studs, it was protected at the floor by metal strips. Don't know if that slowed down any 8d finishing nails through the baseboard tho'?

I suppose nailing though a duct, when hanging a picture for example, happens and can't be avoided but the drywall anchors had to be obvious.

Now my 'plan B' is to remove all of the clips and run a 1x across the back wall to support each shelf. I can catch 2 studs so that should be sufficient since the shelves are only 36" wide.

Should I shoot any caulk in the holes to attempt to seal the hole in the duct before filling them?

 

Can't hurt..........

 

Thanks. I'm amazed at some of the things done by this builder.

 

I think we've all seen work done by so called pros that wasn't professional