b'26 Safety & EmploymentOSHAs NEW NATIONAL EMPHASIS PROGRAMDIRECTED TO WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER OPERATIONS 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. ~ Doug Parker, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and HealthBy Lindsey DeckTheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationon fatalities/catastrophes, complaints, or referrals related to (OSHA) recently issued a new National Emphasis Programestablishments in the NAICS codes covered under this NEP.(NEP), this one directed toward warehousing and distribution center operations. The NEP was issued after the Bureau ofOSHA state plans will be required to adopt this NEP or Labor Statistics history showed that injury and illness rates forestablish a different program at least as effective as the federal these particular establishments are significantly higher than formodel within sixty (60) days of the effective date (July 13, 2023).other establishments. The three (3) year NEP, which became effective on July 13, 2023, provides policies and proceduresEmployers covered by this NEP should be aware of the new forinspectionsofwarehousinganddistributioncenterinitiative and should be prepared for an inspection, keeping in operations,mail/postalprocessinganddistributioncenters,mind most of these inspections will be comprehensive in nature, parcel delivery/courier services, and certain high-injury ratewiththeexceptionofhigh-injuryrateretailestablishments. retailestablishments.AllinspectionsconductedunderthisHowever, employers should also be aware that OSHA may Dedicated to keeping its members at the forefront in their industryNEP,exceptforhigh-injuryrateretailestablishments,willexpand the scope of a partial inspection after finding evidence becomprehensivesafetyinspections.Inthecaseofhigh- that violative conditions may be found in other areas of that injuryrateretailestablishments,inspectionswillbepartialhigh-injury rate retail establishment. Finally, employers should inspectionsunlessOSHAexpandsthescope,afterfindingknow that if any heat and/or ergonomic hazards are found evidence that violative conditions may be found in other areasduring an inspection under this NEP, OSHA will conduct a of that establishment. health inspection of the establishment.OSHAs focus for this NEP will focus on workplace hazardsIn addition, employers should be aware that even if they common to the above listed industries and may include, but arearenotincludedinthesubjectNAICScodeslistedabove, not limited to, the following: employers that maintain a warehouse as part of their business can use this NEP as insight into areas an OSHA compliancePowered industrial vehicle operations; officer may be interested in inspecting during a complianceMaterial handling/storage; inspection conducted under a different NEP, or as part of anWalking/working surfaces; inspection following an employee complaint or reportable injuryMeans of egress;or illness.Fire protection; and Heat and ergonomic hazards1 A health inspection shall be conducted if OSHA learns that heat and/or ergonomic hazards are presentOSHA plans to target establishments for a programmed2 491110-Postal Service (Processing & Distribution Centers Only); 492110 (Couriers and Express inspection by using neutral and objective selection criteria. AreaDelivery Services); 492210 (Local Messengers and Local Delivery); 493110 (General Warehousing and Offices will be provided two (2) separate lists to be inspectedStorage; 493120 (Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage); 493130 (Farm Product Warehousing and under this NEP: (1) a list of establishments taken from certainStorage); and 493190 (Other Warehousing and Storage)NAICS codes; and (2) a list of high-rate retail establishments.3 444110 (Home Centers); 444130 (Hardware Stores); 444190 (Other Building Material Dealers); OSHAwillalsoconductunprogrammedinspectionsbased445110 (Supermarkets and other grocery stores); 452311 (Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters)The InsulatorAugust 2023'