In July, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new initiative that would significantly impact warehouse and distribution facilities across the country. Known as the National Emphasis Program (NEP), this initiative focuses on improving workplace safety in industries where the risk of employee injury or death is considerably high.
The NEP is not a spontaneous move from OSHA but rather a response to identified concerns in specific sectors, in this case, warehouse and distribution facilities. According to the announcement, this increased scrutiny stems from the belief that workers in these industries face a significantly heightened risk of harm. such risks could potentially rise from various safety concerns, including forklift operation and manual lifting and handling protocols or a variety of other worksite hazards.
In light of these developments, law firms representing corporate clients in the warehouse and distribution sectors should advise their clients to prepare for more meticulous inspections. It is also advisable for these organizations to beef up their internal health and safety protocols as minor infringements could now lead to substantial penalties.
Click here to read the original announcement and gather more insights into this newly implemented OSHA program.