OIG says OSHA needs to do more to protect warehouse workers

A Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (OIG) performance audit found that OSHA did not adequately address the high number of injuries and illnesses at warehouses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rate of injury and illness among warehouse workers in 2021 was 5.5 per 100 employees, which is more than twice the rate among all other industries. Despite these numbers, OSHA only conducted 3,762 warehouse inspections, a small percentage of all establishments classified as warehouses. Additionally, 82 percent of these inspections were the result of complaints and referrals.

OIG's audit also revealed that OSHA had not inspected enough warehouses as part of its Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program. OSHA's lack of proper inspections limited its ability to truly account for the number of injuries and illnesses occurring in warehouses, and because the Agency did not enforce mandatory employer reporting, these workers were exposed to increased risk of hazards.

OIG recommends OSHA:

• Update criteria for including more establishments in its SST programs,
• Develop measurable goals for the inspection program, and
• Improve employer Form 300A compliance, among others.

The full report can be found at oig.dol.gov.