OSHA launches national emphasis program to help prevent warehouse hazards

OSHA has introduced a new national emphasis program aimed at decreasing hazards in warehouses, processing facilities, and distribution centers. The program, which will last three years, will consist of safety inspections prioritizing industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress and fire protection. The emphasis program will also include heat and ergonomic hazard assessments, and if these hazards are present, additional health inspections will be conducted. According to OSHA, injury and illness rates in warehouses and distribution centers are higher than other industries, and as the sector continues to grow, an emphasis on improving safety is increasingly important

In a recent quote, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker said, “Our enforcement efforts are designed to do one thing: lead to permanent change in workplace safety. This emphasis program allows OSHA to direct resources to establishments where evidence shows employers must be more intentional in addressing the root causes of worker injuries and align their business practices with the goal to ensure worker health and safety.”