OPN 145 - Special Emphasis Program for Warehousing and Storage and Related Product Distribution Industries

This OPN describes the Special Emphasis Program (SEP) for Warehousing and Storage and Related Product Distribution Industries. It establishes procedures for  inspections of establishments in NAICS 4244, Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers, 492110 - Couriers and Express Delivery Services, 492210 - Local Messenger and Local Delivery, 493 - Warehousing and Storage, 444110 - Home Centers, 444130 - Hardware Stores, 444190 - Other Building Material Dealers, 445110 - Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores, and 452311 - Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters. 

This special emphasis program was previously named the Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers SEP but was renamed January 11, 2024, due to CPL 03-00-026: National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations. In response to this new CPL, OSH incorporated into the Grocery SEP, the NAICS codes from the NEP due to the similarities in the work performed in these industries and their potential hazards. Thereby, the SEP was renamed to Special Emphasis Program for Warehousing and Storage and Related Product Distribution Industries. It references 29 CFR 1910.176 – Handling Materials, General, 29 CFR 1910.178 – Powered Industrial Trucks, machine guarding (29 CFR 1910, Subpart O), 29 CFR 1910.147 – The Control of Hazardous Energy, Electrical (29 CFR 1910, Subpart S ), 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D – Walking-Working Surfaces, 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication, 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit Required Confined Spaces, ergonomics [N.C. General Statute 95-129(1)], combustible dust [N.C. General Statute 95-129(1)], 29 CFR 1910.1026 – Chromium (VI), 29 CFR 1910.119 – Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, and other relevant standards.

Also reference OPN 135 - Special Emphasis Program for Exposures to Health Hazards,  OPN 149 - Special Emphasis Program for Amputations,  CPL 02-00-147 - Control of Hazardous Energy,  CPL 03-00-021 - Process Safety Management (PSM) Covered Facilities, Field Operations Manual Chapter 15 - Industrial Hygiene Compliance provides citation guidance for health hazards, CPL 02-02-045, Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals - Compliance Guidelines and Enforcement Procedures, CPL 02-02-079 - Inspection Procedures for the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012), CPL 02-02-074 - Inspection Procedures for the Chromium (VI) Standards, CPL 02-01-028, Compliance Assistance for the Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Standards,  CPL 02-01-030, Chocking Tractor Trailers Under the Powered Industrial Truck Standard, Standards Notice (SN) 66 - Spring Brake System or Dock Lock in lieu of Chocking as Means to Secure Trucks or Trailers at a Loading Dock, CPL 02-00-100 Application of the Permit-Required Confined Spaces Standard, 29 CFR 1910.146 , and SN 52 - Conversion of, Modification of, and Additions to Industrial Trucks.

Additional information can be found on the safety and health pages for Special Emphasis Programs, Process Safety Management, Lockout/Tagout, Materials Handling and Storage, Hazard Communication, Powered Industrial Trucks, Confined Spaces, Walking and Working Surfaces, Hexavalent Chromium and Warehousing and Storage and Related Product Distribution Special Emphasis Program.