GAO Says OSHA Should Sharpen Its Focus on Ergonomic Hazards in Warehouses and Delivery Companies
Ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders are the subject of a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study that portends an even greater focus by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the warehousing and distribution center sector. Quick Hits A recent GAO report includes several recommendations for how OSHA should evaluate its national emphasis program on warehousing and distribution centers to “more fully protect workers” from ergonomic hazards. The GAO found that three major hazards—falls, slips, and trips; objects and equipment; and overexertion/bodily reaction—were the leading causes of most injuries and illnesses in general warehousing and last-mile delivery services. The GAO recommendations include revising the OSHA Form 300 to include a column for musculoskeletal injuries to help compliance officers more easily identify when such injuries occurred. On July 13, 2023, OSHA announced a national emphasis program (NEP) directed at warehou...