As a small business owner with a warehouse or distribution center, you already know that the safety of your employees is one of the most important and critical aspects of running your business—and so does the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). That's why they launched their latest "Emphasis Program" in the summer of 2023 to focus efforts specifically on warehouse safety, including current injury rates in U.S. warehouses that are unacceptably high.
The bottom line? OSHA's National Emphasis Program, or NEP, will mean stricter enforcement of warehouse safety regulations with the goal of significantly reducing injuries in this quickly expanding U.S. industry. As a business owner, that means you'll need to ensure your operations, safety procedures, and employee training are robust and up-to-date going forward.
"[People] should be aware that those enforcement efforts are forthcoming," said Doug Parker, the OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor, at a recent National Forklift Safety Day event. "And it’s imperative that people get ready now through their training and other methods.”
Here are some of the key details you'll want to know about the upcoming program from OSHA:
- According to an OSHA press release, the National Emphasis Program will be focused on reducing and preventing workplace hazards in warehouses and distribution centers.
- Warehouses and distribution centers have grown rapidly in the last decade, and their injury rates are significantly higher than those in other businesses and industries. The NEP aims to address this injury issue.
- The new program will last three years, and OSHA plans to conduct inspections "focused on hazards related to powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress and fire protection," in addition to other potential hazards.
- "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," says OSHA's Doug Parker.
Safety should always come first in the workplace, and warehouses and distribution centers are no exception—especially given the rapid growth of the industry (which now employs almost 2 million people), as well as an unfortunate recent record of higher injury rates in these businesses. To ensure the safety of your team members and eliminate injuries on the job, you'll likely want to review all existing OSHA regulations and ensure that your employees are well-trained in relevant safety guidelines.
Of course, you may also need to invest in new safety equipment, fall protection gear, PPE, and related items. Thankfully, you can find everything you need to keep your team safe at Zoro.com. Shop our wide selection of safety gear today and find the products your business needs to keep your team protected from harm.
Product Compliance and Suitability
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