{"id":7311,"date":"2023-08-24T16:30:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T20:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.compliancesigns.com\/blog\/?p=7311"},"modified":"2023-08-24T16:30:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T20:30:25","slug":"osha-warehouse-distribution-nep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.compliancesigns.com\/blog\/osha-warehouse-distribution-nep\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhancing Workplace Safety: OSHA\u2019s Latest Focus on Warehouses and Distribution Centers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Department of Labor\u2019s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new national emphasis program (NEP). It is an action that will impact many workplaces. Here\u2019s how it will affect warehouses and distribution centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Is an NEP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NEPs are directives that focus OSHA inspectors on specific areas of workplace safety around specific hazards or workplaces. The department enacts them to respond to newly identified threats and needs that could use its resources and expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department enacts NEPs to create safer, healthier work environments. It regularly evaluates old and new NEPs based on injury and illness data, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports, peer-reviewed literature, OSHA inspection data and inspection findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEPs help create safety standards by completing training, providing technical assistance and reaching out to struggling workplaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What\u2019s in the New Warehouse NEP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to OSHA, the new NEP comes after seeing the significant growth of warehousing and distribution centers over the past decade. There are now nearly 2 million people<\/a> working in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that with the growth came increased rates of severe injury and illnesses \u2014 far more than private industry. Some sectors showed numbers that were twice as high as their nonpublic counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest NEP is a three-year emphasis program where OSHA will determine the causes of these hazards and work with establishments to mitigate them. The risks most commonly relate to falling<\/a>, handling and storing materials, unsafe walking or working surfaces, industrial vehicle operation, lack of fire protection and blocked emergency exits. Further discovered issues will be added to the list to work on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two lists determine who will be evaluated. The first is workplaces with industry codes stated in the NEP. The second involves retailers with high rates of injury and illnesses \u2014 often related to loading and unloading materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another part of the program involves evaluating ergonomic and heat-related hazards. OSHA may conduct a health inspection if it finds these in a workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

States must adopt the warehouse NEP or offer an alternative with equal standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Does It Mean for Your Workplace?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your workplace, a lot could happen. Preparing and evaluating before an inspection can protect your workers and prevent violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two reasons your company could get inspected under the new NEP:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. You are a retailer with significant illness and injury rates, causing employees to take time off, work at limited duty or transfer positions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. You are directly involved in an industry with codes evaluated in the NEP. These include the following:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n