The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently initiated a National Emphasis Program (NEP) aimed at addressing workplace hazard trends in warehouses, processing facilities, distribution centers, and high-risk retail establishments.
During this three-year emphasis program, OSHA will carry out comprehensive safety inspections that specifically target hazards associated with powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress, and fire protection. In addition, OSHA will assess heat and ergonomic hazards under the emphasis program, and health inspections may be conducted if OSHA identifies the presence of these hazards.
What is NEP?
NEPs are temporary programs that concentrate OSHA’s resources on specific hazards and high-hazard industries. The evaluation of both existing and potential new emphasis programs relies on inspection data, injury and illness data, reports from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), peer-reviewed literature, analysis of inspection findings, and other available information sources.
Why Target Warehouses?
Warehousing and distribution center operations present numerous significant safety and health hazards. These encompass, among others, hazards related to struck-by, caught-in-between, slips, trips, and falls; blocked aisles; means of egress; powered industrial vehicles and other material handling equipment; heat exposure; and ergonomic issues. Incidents stemming from these hazards can lead to fatalities or severe physical injuries.
The warehousing and distribution center industry has observed notably high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses, all while experiencing continued growth in employment. Historical data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) illustrates that injury and illness rates in these establishments significantly exceed those of other establishments. Consequently, a national emphasis is being directed towards identifying, reducing, and eliminating these hazards in order to reverse this concerning trend.
Will My Facility Be Inspected?
Inspected establishments will be chosen from two lists.
- One includes establishments with industry codes covered under this emphasis program. This NEP targets warehousing and distribution center operations, mail/postal processing and distribution centers, parcel delivery/courier services, and certain high injury rate retail establishments.
| NAICS CODES | ESTABLISHMENTS |
| 491110 | Postal Service (Processing & Distribution Centers only) |
| 492110 | Couriers and Express Delivery Services |
| 492210 | Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
| 493110 | General Warehousing and Storage |
| 493120 | Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
| 493130 | Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
| 493190 | Other Warehousing and Storage |
- The second consists of a limited number of retail establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses resulting in days away, restricted duty or job transfer.
| NAICS CODES | HIGH INJURY RATE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS |
| 444110 | Home Centers |
| 444130 | Hardware Stores |
| 444190 | Other Building Material Dealers |
| 445110 | Supermarkets and other grocery stores |
| 452311 | Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
What is OSHA Looking For?
Inspections of high injury rate retail establishments conducted under this NEP will center on powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling/storage, walking-working surfaces, means of egress, and fire protection. Heat and ergonomic hazards must be evaluated and documented in every inspection under this NEP, and if the compliance officer discovers the presence of heat and/or ergonomic hazards, a health inspection will be initiated.
OSHA inspectors will review past injury and illness records and perform comprehensive review of facility conditions and policies to identify hazardous workplace conditions and gaps with regulatory requirements.
Is This Applicable in My State?
This NEP instruction establishes a federal program change that creates an NEP for warehousing and distribution center operations, mail/postal processing and distribution centers, parcel delivery/courier services, and certain high injury rate retail establishments. Due to the seriousness of the hazards associated with these facilities and the prevalence of these hazards nationwide; State Plans are required to participate in this NEP. State Plans have the option of adopting an identical or different emphasis program, but the program must be at least as effective as this directive. OSHA will post summary information of the State Plan responses to this directive on its website.
What Are Next Steps?
- Review OSHA 300 and 301 Forms. What incidents have been reported to OSHA and what corrective actions were identified? Follow up on these actions and make sure corrective actions have been implemented.
- Inspections under this NEP will be comprehensive. Are policies related to powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress, fire protection and heat protection current and implemented? Approach programs with an audit mindset and identify and address compliance gaps before an unannounced inspection occurs.
Connect with us to learn more about this NEP, 562.495.5777 or Environmental@NV5.com. We provide independent health and safety program review services and perform comprehensive audits to help you improve your safety programs.