OSHA 3220-10N 2004
WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 11
Think Safety Hazards & Solutions
鈥? More than 145,000 people work in over 7 ,000
Warehouse operations can present a
warehouses.
wide variety of potential hazards for
鈥? The fatal injury rate for the warehousing
the worker.
industry is higher than the national average
for all industries.
For warehousing establishments, the
鈥? Potential hazards for workers in warehousing: 10 OSHA standards most frequently
鈥? Unsafe use of forklifts; included in the agency鈥檚 citations
鈥? Improper stacking of products; were:
1 . Forklifts
鈥? Failure to use proper personal protective
2. Hazard communication
equipment;
3. Electrical, wiring methods
鈥? Failure to follow proper lockout/tagout
4. Electrical, system design
procedures;
5. Guarding floor & wall openings
鈥? Inadequate fire safety provisions; or
and holes
鈥? Repetitive motion injuries.
6. Exits
7 . Mechanical power transmission
8. Respiratory protection
9. Lockout/tagout
10. Portable fire extinguishers
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
2 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 3
Docks Forklifts
Hazard: About 100 employees are killed and
Hazard: Injuries happen here when forklifts
95,000 injured every year while operating
run off the dock, products fall on employees
forklifts in all industries. Forklift turnovers
or equipment strikes a person.
account for a significant percentage of these
Solutions: fatalities.
鈥? Drive forklifts slowly on docks and dock
Solutions:
plates;
鈥? Train, evaluate and certify all operators to
鈥? Secure dock plates and check to see if the ensure that they can operate forklifts safely;
plate can safely support the load;
鈥? Do not allow anyone under 18 years old to
鈥? Keep clear of dock edges and never back operate a forklift;
up forklifts to the dock鈥檚 edge;
鈥? Properly maintain haulage equipment,
鈥? Provide visual warnings near dock edges; including tires;
鈥? Prohibit 鈥渄ock jumping鈥? by employees; 鈥? Before using a forklift, examine it for haz-
鈥? Make sure that dock ladders and stairs meet ardous conditions which would make it
OSHA specifications. unsafe to operate;
鈥? Follow safe procedures for picking up,
putting down and stacking loads;
鈥? Drive safely, never exceeding 5 mph and
slow down in congested areas or those with
slippery surfaces;
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
4 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 5
鈥? Ensure that the operator wears a seatbelt
Conveyors
installed by the manufacturer;
Hazard: Workers can be injured when they
鈥? Never drive up to a person standing in front
are caught in pinch points or in the in-going
of a fixed object such as a wall or stacked
nip points, are hit by falling products or
materials;
develop musculoskeletal disorders associated
鈥? Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay; with awkward postures or repetitive motions.
鈥? Do not handle loads that are heavier than Solutions:
the weight capacity of the forklift;
鈥? Inspect conveyors regularly;
鈥? Remove unsafe or defective trucks from
鈥? Ensure that pinch points are adequately
service until the defect is properly repaired;
guarded;
鈥? Maintain sufficiently safe clearances for
鈥? Develop ways of locking out conveyors and
aisles and at loading docks or passages
train employees in these procedures;
where forklifts are used;
鈥? Provide proper lighting and working sur-
鈥? Ensure adequate ventilation either by
faces in the area surrounding the conveyor.
opened doors/windows or using a ventila-
tion system to provide enough fresh air to
keep concentrations of noxious gases from
engine exhaust below acceptable limits;
鈥? Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect
workers from the hazards of open pits,
tanks, vats and ditches;
鈥? Train employees on the hazards associated
with the combustion byproducts of forklift
operation, such as carbon monoxide.
Materials Storage
Hazard: Improperly stored materials may fall
and injure workers.
Solutions:
鈥? Stack loads evenly and straight;
鈥? Place heavier loads on lower or middle
shelves;
鈥? Remove one object at a time from shelves;
鈥? Keep aisles and passageways clear and in
good repair.
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
6 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 7
Manual Lifting/Handling Hazard Communication
Hazard: Chemical burns are possible if spills
Hazard: Back injuries may occur from
of hazardous materials occur.
improper lifting or overexertion.
Solutions:
Solutions:
鈥? Maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet
鈥? Provide general ergonomics training and
(MSDS) for each chemical to which workers
task-specific training;
are exposed in the facility;
鈥? Minimize the need for lifting by using good
鈥? Follow instructions on the MSDS for han-
design and engineering techniques;
dling chemical products;
鈥? Lift properly and get a coworker to help if
鈥? Train employees on the risks of each
a product is too heavy.
chemical being stored;
鈥? Provide spill cleanup kits in any area where
chemicals are stored;
鈥? Have a written spill control plan;
鈥? Train employees to clean up spills, protect
themselves and properly dispose of used
materials;
鈥? Provide proper personal protective
equipment and enforce its use;
鈥? Store all chemicals safely and securely;
鈥? Store chemicals away from forklift traffic
areas.
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
8 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 9
Charging Stations Poor Ergonomics
Hazard: Fires and explosion risks are possible Hazard: Improper lifting, repetitive motion or
unless proper guidelines are followed. poor design of operations can lead to muscu-
loskeletal disorders in workers.
Solutions:
Solutions:
鈥? Prohibit smoking and open flames in and
around charging stations; 鈥? If possible, use powered equipment instead
of requiring a manual lift for heavy materials;
鈥? Provide adequate ventilation to disperse
fumes from gassing batteries; 鈥? Reduce lifts from shoulder height and from
floor height by repositioning the shelf or bin;
鈥? Ensure that fire extinguishers are available
and fully charged; 鈥? Ensure overhead lighting is adequate for
the task at hand;
鈥? Provide proper personal protective
equipment such as rubber gloves and eye 鈥? Provide employees with task-oriented
and face protection; ergonomic training;
鈥? Properly position forklifts and apply brakes 鈥? Use your legs and keep your back in a natu-
before attempting to change or charge ral position while lifting;
batteries; follow required procedures when 鈥? Test the load to be lifted to estimate its
refueling gas or propane fueled forklifts; weight, size and bulk, and to determine the
鈥? Provide conveyors, overhead hoists or proper lifting method;
equivalent materials handling equipment 鈥? Get help if the load exceeds the maximum
for servicing batteries; weight a person can lift safely without
鈥? Provide an eyewashing and safety shower assistance;
facility for employees exposed to battery 鈥? Don鈥檛 twist while carrying a load, but shift
acids. your feet and take small steps in the direc-
tion you want to turn;
鈥? Keep floors clean and free of slip and trip
hazards.
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
10 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 11
Other Hazards Think Safety Checklists
Inadequate fire safety provisions, improper
use of lockout procedures and failure to wear
The following checklists may help
personal protective equipment also create
you take steps to avoid hazards that
hazards in the warehouse workplace.
cause injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
As always, be cautious and seek help
Employers should have an emergency plan
if you are concerned about a poten-
that describes what is expected of employees
tial hazard.
in the event of an emergency, including:
鈥? Provisions for emergency exit locations and
General Safety
evacuation procedures;
鉂? Exposed or openemployees could fall and
loading dock doors
鈥? Procedures for accounting for all employees
other areas that 4
and visitors;
feet or more or walk off should be chained
鈥? Location and use of fire extinguishers and off, roped off or otherwise blocked.
other emergency equipment.
鉂? Floors and aisleshoses, spills and other
are clear of clutter,
electrical cords,
Warehouse operations need a lockout/tagout
hazards that could cause employees to
program to prevent equipment from being
slip, trip or fall.
accidentally energized and injuring employees.
鉂? Proper work practicesrequirementsinto an
Employees required to perform these opera- are factored
tions should be trained and all employees determining the time for
should have a working knowledge of the employee to perform a task.
program.
鉂? Employees performing physical work
Finally, management at warehouse operations have adequate periodic rest breaks
needs to conduct a site hazard assessment to to avoid fatigue levels that could result in
determine what personal protective equipment greater risk of accidents and reduced
(PPE) must be worn based on the hazards quality of work.
present and train warehouse employees on
鉂? Newly-hired training andreceive general
employees
proper PPE selection, use and maintenance.
ergonomics task-specific
training.
鉂? The warehouse is well ventilated.
鉂? Employees in hot, humid environments.
are instructed on how to avoid
heat stress
鉂? Employees are instructed on how to work
in cold environments.
鉂? The facility has lockout/tagout procedures.
Occupational Safety and
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12 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 13
Materials Handling Safety Hazard Communication Safety
鉂? There are appropriately markedaisles and 鉂? All hazardouslabeled, indicating the
and materials containers
sufficiently safe clearances for are properly
at loading docks or passageways where chemical鈥檚 identity, the manufacturer鈥檚
mechanical handling equipment is used. name and address, and appropriate
鉂? Loose/unboxedproperly stacked might fall hazard warnings.
materials which
鉂? There is an updated list of hazardous
from a pile are by block-
ing, interlocking or limiting the height of chemicals.
鉂? The facility hasdetermination, including
the pile to prevent falling hazards.
a written program that
鉂? Bags, containers, bundles, etc. are stored covers hazard
in tiers that are stacked, blocked, inter- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs),
locked and limited in height so that they labeling and training.
鉂? There is a chemicaltoischeck that eachby
are stable and secure to prevent sliding
system
or collapse.
incoming accompanied
鉂? Storage areas are kept free from accumu- a MSDS.
鉂? All employeeshazard communication
lation of materials that could lead to trip-
are trained in the require-
ping, fire, explosion or pest infestations.
ments of the
鉂? Excessiveentrances, workremoved from
vegetation is standard, the chemical hazards to which
building or traffic areas they are exposed, how to read and
to prevent possible trip or fall hazards understand a MSDS and chemical labels,
due to visual obstructions. and on what precautions to take to
鉂? Derail and/or bumper blocks arerolling car prevent exposure.
provided
鉂? All employee training is documented.
on spur railroad tracks where a
鉂? All outside contractors are given a com-
could contact other cars being worked on
and at entrances to buildings, work or
plete list of chemical products, hazards
traffic areas.
and precautions.
鉂? 鉂? Procedures have been established to
Covers and/or guardrails are provided to
protect personnel from the hazards of
maintain and evaluate the effectiveness
stair openings in floors, meter or equip-
of the current program.
ment pits and similar hazards.
鉂? Employees when handling chemicals.
use proper personal protective
鉂? Personnel use proper lifting techniques. equipment
鉂? Elevators and hoists for used with ade- 鉂? All chemicals are stored accordingandthe
lifting materials/
to
containers are properly
manufacturer鈥檚 recommendations
quate safe clearances, no obstructions,
local or national fire codes.
appropriate signals and directional warn-
ing signs.
Occupational Safety and
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Health Administration
14 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 15
Forklift Safety 鉂? Forkliftsapplied beforepositionedstart to
are properly and
鉂? Powered industrial trucks (forklifts) meet brakes workers
change or charge batteries.
the design and construction requirements
鉂? Vent caps are properly functioning.
established in American National
鉂? Precautions are takenor electric arcs in
Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks,
to prevent smoking,
Part II ANSI B56.1-1969.
open flames, sparks
鉂? Written approval from the truck for any battery charging areas and during stor-
manufacturer has been obtained age/changing of propane fuel tanks.
鉂? Tools fromothertop of uncovered batteries.
modifications or additions that affect
and metallic objects are kept
the capacity and safe operation of the
away the
vehicle.
鉂? Concentrations below acceptable and
of noxious gases
鉂? Capacity, operationtags or decals are
and maintenance
fumes are kept levels.
instruction plates,
鉂? Forklift operators are competent to oper-
changed to specify any modifications or
ate a vehicle safely as demonstrated by
additions to the vehicle.
successful completion of training and
鉂? Nameplates andin a legibleare in place
markings
evaluation conducted and certified by
and maintained condition.
persons with the knowledge, training and
鉂? Forklifts that are used inmarked/approved
hazardous loca- experience to train operators and evalu-
tions are appropriately ate their performance.
鉂? Thetruck-related topics,content includes
for such use.
training program
鉂? Battery charging is conducted only in all workplace-related
designated areas. topics and the requirements of 29 CFR
鉂? Appropriate and neutralizing spilled 1910.178 for safe truck operation.
facilities are provided
鉂? Refresher training andan operator has
for flushing evaluation is
electrolytes, for fire extinguishing, for conducted whenever
protecting charging apparatus from been observed operating the vehicle in
damage by trucks and for adequate an unsafe manner or has been involved
ventilation to disperse fumes from in an accident or a near-miss incident.
鉂? Refresher training andan operator is
gassing batteries.
evaluation is
鉂? Conveyors, overhead hoists or equivalent conducted whenever
materials handling equipment are provided assigned to drive a different type of truck
for handling batteries. or whenever a condition in the workplace
鉂? Reinstalled and secured. properly changes in a manner that could affect
batteries are
safe operation of the truck.
positioned
鉂? Evaluationsconducted at least once every
鉂? Carboy tilters or siphons are used for of each operator鈥檚 perfor-
mance are
handling electrolytes.
three years.
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
16 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 17
Warehouse Safety &
鉂? Loadcontrols neutralized, powerlowered,
engaging means are fully
with shut
Health Resources
off and brakes set when a forklift is left
unattended.
Most resource materials can be found
鉂? Operators maintain a safe distance from on the OSHA website: www.osha.gov
the edge of ramps or platforms while
Materials Handling
using forklifts on any elevated dock,
platform or freight car. Materials Handling and Storage
鉂? OSHA Publication 2236 (Revised 2002).
There is sufficient headroom for the fork-
559KB PDF 40 pages.
,
lift and operator under overhead installa-
A comprehensive guide to hazards and safe
tions, lights, pipes, sprinkler systems, etc.
work practices in handling materials.
鉂? Overhead to protect forklift operators
guards are provided in good http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2236.pdf
condition
Electrical Hazards
from falling objects.
鉂? Operatorsauthorized plant speed limits.
observe all traffic regulations, Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
including OSHA Publication 3120 (Revised 2002).
鉂? Driversand keep a clearlook inofthe direc- 174 KB PDF 45 pages.
,
are required to
This booklet presents OSHA鈥檚 general require-
tion of view the path
ments for controlling hazardous energy during
of travel.
service or maintenance of machines or equipment.
鉂? Operators run their trucksstopa in a safe
at speed that http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3120.pdf
will permit the vehicle to
Controlling Electrical Hazards
manner.
OSHA Publication 3075 (Revised 2002).
鉂? Dock boards (bridge plates) are properly 349KB PDF 71 pages.
,
secured when loading or unloading from This publication provides an overview of basic
dock to truck. electrical safety on the job.
鉂? Stunt driving and horseplay are prohibited. http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3075.pdf
鉂? Allwithin are stable,capacityarranged and Safety and Health Topics: Lockout/Tagout
loads safely
OSHA website index to information about
fit the rated of the truck.
lockout/tagout, including hazard recognition,
鉂? Operatorsnot running. only when the
fill fuel tanks compliance, standards and directives, Review
engine is Commission and Administrative Law Judge
鉂? Replacement partswith thoseare equivalent Decisions, standard interpretations and
of trucks
Compliance Letters, compliance assistance
in terms of safety used in the
and training.
original design.
鉂? Trucksplaced into servicesafetyunsafe
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardous
are examined for before
energy/index.html
being and
or defective trucks are removed from
service.
Occupational Safety and
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Health Administration
Health Administration
18 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 19
Evacuation Plans and Procedures Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition
An eTool designed to help small, low-hazard Against Young Workers Operating Forklifts
service or retail businesses implement an emer- OSHA Safety and Health Bulletin (2003), 4
gency action plan and comply with OSHA's pages. Available as a PDF document, 109 KB.
emergency standards. http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib093003.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/
Hazard Communication
index.html
OSHA鈥檚 website index for resources on hazard
Fire Safety communication.
Safety and Health Topics: Fire Safety http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardcommunica-
OSHA website index to information on fire safety. tions/index.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/firesafety/index.html
More Hazard Communication
Fire Safety Advisor
Frequently Asked Questions for Hazard
OSHA's Fire Safety Advisor is an interactive
Communication. OSHA, 6 pages.
expert software. It will help explain and apply
http://www.osha.gov/html/faq-hazcom.html
OSHA's Fire Safety-related standards. It can
be used online or is available for download. Hazard Communication Standard.
http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/ OSHA Fact Sheet (1993), 3 pages.
softfirex.html http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.shw
_document?p_table=FACT_SHEETS&p_id=151
Forklift Safety Hazard Communication Guidelines for
Safety and Health Topics: Powered
Compliance. OSHA Publication 3111 (2000), 112
Industrial Trucks
KB PDF 33 pages.
,
OSHA website index links to specific require-
This document aids employers in understanding
ments and other Federal agency requirements.
the Hazard Communication standard and in
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/poweredindustrial-
implementing a hazard communication program.
trucks/index.html
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3111.pdf
Sample Daily Checklists for Powered
Chemical Hazard Communication. OSHA
Industrial Trucks
Publication 3084 (1998), 248 KB PDF 31 pages.
,
http://www.osha.gov/Training/PIT/pit_checklist.html
This booklet answers several basic questions
Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers about chemical hazard communication.
Who Work Near Forklifts http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3084.pdf
NIOSH Alert Pub. No. 2001-109 (June 2001).
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.
This alert instructs workers in the steps they can
Handy source of general industrial hygiene
take to protect themselves near forklifts. It is also
information on several hundred chemicals/
available as a downloadable PDF document.
classes for workers, employers and occupa-
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/2001-109.html
tional health professionals.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npg.html
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
20 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 21
Ergonomics Warehouse Industry
Cooperative Programs
Safety and Health Topics: Ergonomics
OSHA website index to resources and publica-
tions on ergonomics.
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/index.html
Grocery Warehousing 鈥? Ergonomics
An e-tool specific for warehousing operations in
the grocery industry.
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/grocery
warehousing/index.html
Voluntary Protection Programs
Personal Protective Equipment Numerous VPP worksites that OSHA
Safety and Health Topics: recognizes for their excellent safety and health
Personal Protective Equipment management systems deal with the hazards
OSHA鈥檚 website index to hazard recognition, of warehousing and storage. These model
control and training related to personal protec- worksites are willing to share their expertise
tive equipment. and many are available to mentor other
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotective businesses. For further information on how
equipment/index.html VPP participants can help you, contact the VPP
Manager in your OSHA Regional Office or the
Personal Protective Equipment. OSHA
Voluntary Protection Programs Participants鈥?
Publication 3151 (2004), 695KB PDF 44 pages.
,
Association, 7600-E Leesburg Pike, Suite 440,
Discusses equipment most commonly used for
Falls Church, VA 22043, telephone (703) 761-
protection for the head, including eyes and face,
1146.
and the torso, arms, hands and feet. The use of
equipment to protect against life-threatening
hazards is also discussed.
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3151/
osha3151.html
Alliance Program
Alliances enable organizations committed to
workplace safety and health to collaborate
with OSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in
the workplace. A number of Alliances have
an impact on the warehousing industry,
including the following:
Retail Industry Leaders Association
The OSHA Alliance with the Retail Industry
Leaders Association (RILA) is focused on
Occupational Safety and
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22 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 23
sharing safety and health best practices and
NJ Warehouse
technical knowledge, including ergonomics in
Operation -
retail warehousing and distribution facilities.
A Success Story
Industrial Truck Association
The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) and
OSHA also have an Alliance to promote the
OSHA recommendations result in
safe operation of powered industrial trucks
immediate, high payoff for an East
through training and outreach. The goal of the
Coast warehouse operation.
Alliance is to assist employers and employees
in reducing and preventing exposure to
Injury Reduction
potential hazards associated with the use of
Recently, a New Jersey warehouse operation
powered industrial trucks in general, and in
had been averaging two back injuries a
warehouses in particular.
month. After adopting several OSHA
recommendations for reducing ergonomic
International Warehouse Logistics Association
risk factors specific to their operations, the
OSHA and the International Warehouse
company reported zero back injuries.
Logistics Association (IWLA) work together
to protect employees鈥? safety and health,
Boosting Morale & Productivity
including hard-to-reach youth workers. The
Alliance addresses materials handling, forklift And there was another benefit from adopting
safety, hazard communication and other OSHA鈥檚 recommendations. According to the
issues unique to the public warehouse industry. Marlton, NJ OSHA area office, company
sources reported that both the morale and
National Lumber and Building Material
productivity of the company鈥檚 50 warehouse
Dealers Association
employees had subsequently increased.
OSHA has an Alliance with the National
Lumber and Building Material Dealers
Ongoing Help
Association (NLBMDA) to increase overall
As part of OSHA鈥檚 ongoing efforts to do a
safety awareness in that industry while
better job in promoting workers鈥? safety and
specifically addressing recordkeeping issues,
health, the agency has developed a program
preventing forklift accidents and avoiding
to help identify certain industries that have
lifting strains.
exceptionally high injury rates. One of these
industries is warehousing. By identifying
these workplaces, OSHA is better able to
assist businesses in reducing their high injury
rates. Through the Site Specific Targeting
Plan, OSHA performs a comprehensive
evaluation of a workplace and, with the help
of its technical experts, helps the employer
develop a plan for improving its employees鈥?
safety and health.
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
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24 WORKER SAFETY SERIES WAREHOUSING 25
Specific Recommendations Feasible Controls
OSHA鈥檚 recommendations were developed In OSHA鈥檚 detailed evaluation, each hazard
specifically for this New Jersey warehouse was carefully described, including photo-
operation by OSHA鈥檚 Salt Lake City Technical graphs illustrating the task to help clearly
Support Center following an inspection of the show the hazard. For each hazard, OSHA
186,000 square foot facility under the specialists detailed several feasible controls.
agency鈥檚 Site Specific Targeting Plan which These were straightforward, easy-to-imple-
included a comprehensive walkaround of the ment actions such as:
workplace and a review of its injury records. 鈥? Adjusting the height of shelves;
Avoiding MSDs 鈥? Providing stools or ladders to employees;
鈥? Reducing the depth of shelving;
OSHA compliance officers worked with
experts at the Salt Lake City Center to tailor 鈥? Raising loading heights;
specific recommendations to address the
鈥? Evaluating the flow and volume of orders
potential ergonomic risk factors they
so faster-moving products are placed on
observed. Specialists at Salt Lake City
easier-to-reach shelves.
analyzed the warehouse鈥檚 various operations
and recommended 19 steps, known as
Also, OSHA鈥檚 evaluation report detailed a list
鈥渇easible controls, that the employer could
鈥?
of available resources, including on-site
take to help employees to avoid muscu-
consultation visits, that the company could
losketal disorders (MSDs).
use in developing improved ways to prevent
Hazards Identified injuries.
Some of the hazards identified by OSHA
The company adopted 13 of the 19 feasible
included:
controls that OSHA recommended. And the
鈥? Employees had to reach elevated and
result, thus far, speaks for itself: a perfect zero
distant locations in storage shelves to
for back injuries, improved productivity and
access materials;
higher employee morale.
鈥? Workers had to repeatedly bend to reach
low-level locations at floor level to access
materials;
鈥? Employees were lifting and placing heavy
boxes onto pallets placed on the floor;
鈥? Employees were performing forceful finger
tasks with their wrists in bent postures
while pricing products at poorly designed
workstations.
Occupational Safety and
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Health Administration
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov
OSHA鈥檚 role is to assure the safety and health of
America鈥檚 workers by setting and enforcing stan-
dards; providing training, outreach and education;
establishing partnerships; and encouraging con-
tinual improvement in workplace safety and
health.
This informational booklet provides a general
overview of a particular topic related to OSHA
standards. It does not alter or determine compli-
ance responsibilities in OSHA standards or the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
Because interpretations and enforcement policy
may change over time, you should consult current
OSHA administrative interpretations and decisions
by the Occupational Safety and Health Review
Commission and the Courts for additional guid-
ance on OSHA compliance requirements.
This publication is in the public domain and may
be reproduced, fully or partially, without permis-
sion. Source credit is requested but not required.
This information is available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-
1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627 .
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