OSHA Extends National Emphasis Program on Warehouses

Washington — OSHA has extended and updated its National Emphasis Program on warehouses and distribution centers. The previous NEP expired in July. The updated NEP is set to expire on July 13, 2031, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Industries Covered by NAICS Codes

The NEP covers postal service processing and distribution centers only under code 491110. It also covers couriers and express delivery services under 492110. Additional codes include local messengers and local delivery under 492210, general warehousing and storage under 493110, refrigerated warehousing and storage under 493120, farm product warehousing and storage under 493130, and other warehousing and storage under 493190.

Inspection Priorities and Data

Under this NEP, OSHA will conduct comprehensive safety inspections and focus on workplace hazards common to these industries. Days away, restricted or transferred rates show that injury and illness rates for these industries continue to be significantly higher than the overall industry average, OSHA says. Recordable case rate and DART rate comparisons are available in Table 1 of the NEP document, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Changes from Previous Program

The updated NEP ends mandatory screenings for ergonomic and heat hazards by OSHA investigators. It also eliminates high injury-rate retail establishments covered under the previous NEP. Those NAICS codes were home centers under 444110, hardware stores under 444130, other building material dealers under 444190, supermarkets and other grocery stores under 445110, and warehouse clubs and supercenters under 452311.

Other changes include clarifying area offices’ discretion to expand inspections based upon fatalities, catastrophes, complaints or referrals related to establishments in the NAICS codes covered under this NEP, according to Safety+Health Magazine.