OSHA has renewed its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for warehousing and distribution center operations, extending the initiative for five years and continuing its focus on reducing injuries in one of the nation's fastest-growing industries.

The renewed directive calls for comprehensive safety inspections at covered facilities, with compliance officers evaluating hazards commonly associated with warehouse and distribution center operations. OSHA said inspections will focus on powered industrial truck operations, material handling and storage, walking-working surfaces, means of egress and emergency exits, fire protection, heat hazards and ergonomic risks.

The updated program also provides additional guidance on OSHA's authority to expand inspections when fatalities, catastrophes, complaints or referrals involve establishments covered by the NEP. According to the directive, the changes are intended to provide greater continuity and consistency in the agency's enforcement efforts.

Walmart Inc. is testing new guidance for carts used in stores to collect items for online orders after a child was hit by one of them.

The company is making changes to improve visibility and safety of these carts, said people familiar with the matter. This includes shipping new wheels to stores and advising staff to pull the carts instead of pushing them, said the people who asked for anonymity discussing internal matters.

A Walmart spokeswoman said keeping employees and customers safe is always a top priority and that the company is constantly listening for feedback, reinforcing policies and making adjustments where needed to maintain a safe environment.

Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to implement required heat illness prevention measures as triple-digit temperatures persist across California.

Construction is among the industries subject to enhanced high-heat safety requirements when outdoor temperatures reach 95 degrees or higher. Employers must provide water, shade, rest breaks, employee monitoring and heat illness training.Indoor workplaces reaching 82 degrees must also implement heat illness prevention measures under state regulations.

David Keeling's career began at UPS as a package handler and evolved into global safety leadership, including roles at Amazon and now OSHA. His compliance background and industry experience position him to promote proactive safety measures and modernize regulations through consensus standards and technology.

OSHA aims to leverage predictive analytics, digital tools, and industry collaboration to prevent workplace incidents before they occur, especially in small and medium-sized businesses.
The agency emphasizes supporting employers' success by modernizing outdated standards and fostering a culture of safety sharing among large organizations.

Effective safety management involves building a strong business case, demonstrating ROI, and engaging stakeholders like insurance companies to prioritize safety investments.

A U.S. appeals court has ruled in a case involving Exxon Mobil that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cannot require businesses to document work-related mental illnesses reported by employees.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the ​New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Tuesday, opens new tab that a requirement in federal law that ‌employers periodically report work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses only applies to physical and not mental conditions.

Updates to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Policies and Procedures Manual took effect June 16. Changes include updates to requirements for participants’ safety and health management systems.

OSHA’s VPP, established in 1982, recognizes and promotes effective worksite-based safety and health management systems (SHMSs). In VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that implement or have implemented comprehensive SHMSs. The agency helps organizations seeking VPP-level safety performance.

Three years ago, Safety+Health offered an overview of efforts by the federal government and states to address heat injury and illness prevention on the job.

At the time, five states – California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington – had some form of a heat-related standard in effect. Colorado’s standard covers agricultural workers, while Minnesota’s applies only to indoor workplaces.

Since 2023, Maryland and Nevada have finalized heat regulations for indoor and outdoor workers. Meanwhile, many other potential rules are in various stages of the legislative or regulatory process.

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed more than $3.5 million in fines against three companies after federal inspectors determined they failed to protect workers during post-emergency response cleanup after a chemical spill at the BWC Terminals industrial facility in Channelview.

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated three inspections after a Dec. 27, 2025, sulfuric acid spill at the BWC Terminals LLC industrial facility led to multiple employee injuries. OSHA found that despite safety warnings, BWC Terminals mixed fresh and spent sulfuric acid, triggering a tank overpressure that ruptured a supply line releasing 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid resulting in multiple employee injuries.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA will host a free, virtual training event designed to help federal agency personnel strengthen workplace protections.

The three-day event will feature half-day seminars led by the OSHA Training Institute and the Office of Federal Agency Programs. Sessions will cover critical safety issues, including the OSHA inspection process, control of hazardous energy, combustible dust hazards, fall protection and office ergonomics. Additional topics will focus on workplace violence, heat stress, lead hazard awareness and managing respiratory protection programs.