OSHA Renews Emphasis Program Targeting Warehousing, Distribution Center Operations

A new directive issued by OSHA in July describes updates to the agency’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) intended to protect the health and safety of workers in warehouses and distribution centers. Mail and postal processing and distribution centers as well as parcel delivery and courier services are also included in the NEP. 

Significant changes to the NEP include the removal of mandatory screening for ergonomic and heat hazards as well as the removal of coverage for retail establishments with high injury rates, like hardware stores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs and supercenters. The previous NEP (PDF) called for heat and ergonomic hazards to be considered during all inspections covered by the program and for partial inspections of retail establishments to focus on storage and loading areas unless OSHA found evidence of potential violations in other areas of a business.

Under the updated NEP, which went into effect on July 31, OSHA will conduct comprehensive safety inspections at covered establishments with agency personnel focusing on hazards commonly found in these workplaces, including those related to powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking-working surfaces, means of egress, heat, ergonomics, and fire protection. According to OSHA’s QuickTakes e-newsletter, the updated NEP “also provides clearer instruction on OSHA’s authority to expand inspections when fatalities, catastrophes, complaints, or referrals involve establishments within the covered industries.”

OSHA says the program will remain in place for five years. For further details, see the updated NEP (PDF).