The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations, effective July 31, 2026. The renewed NEP specifically covers Farm Product Warehousing and Storage (NAICS 493130) and will remain in effect for five years. 

OSHA renewed the program because Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) injury and illness rates in covered industries continue to exceed private-industry averages. For Farm Product Warehousing and Storage, OSHA reports a 2020–2024 average recordable case rate of 3.2 and a DART rate of 2.6, compared with 2.6 and 1.6, respectively, for private industry overall. 

Under the renewed NEP, OSHA will select businesses in covered NAICS codes for comprehensive safety inspections. Inspections will focus on common warehouse hazards, including powered industrial vehicles, material handling and storage, walking-working surfaces, means of egress, heat, ergonomics, and fire protection. Although the renewed NEP removes the previous mandatory screening requirements for heat and ergonomic hazards, OSHA may still address these hazards during an inspection. 

Key takeaways for employers under the renewed NEP: 

1. Farm product warehouses are specifically identified. Farm Product Warehousing and Storage (NAICS 493130) is one of the seven industry classifications expressly covered by the NEP. OSHA will use establishment lists within the covered NAICS codes and neutral, objective selection criteria to schedule programmed inspections. Employers should independently verify whether their operations fall within the specified NAICS codes outlined in the NEP.  
2. Be prepared for a comprehensive inspection. Employers should review and assess compliance in areas specifically identified in the NEP. These include powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage practices, walking-working surfaces, exit routes, fire protection, and potential heat and ergonomic hazards. OSHA may also expand certain complaint, referral, fatality or catastrophe inspections to address hazards covered by the NEP. 
3. Review injury and illness records before OSHA arrives. During the opening conference, the OSHA compliance officer will review OSHA 300 logs, 300A summaries and OSHA 301 incident reports for the current and previous three calendar years. OSHA will also verify the business’ NAICS code and number of employees. 
4. A recent comprehensive inspection may affect selection. According to the renewed NEP, any business that received a comprehensive safety inspection addressing the NEP hazards within the previous three years must be removed from the NEP targeting list. 

California, Arizona and New Mexico 

California, Arizona, and New Mexico operate OSHA-approved State Plans and therefore determine how federal OSHA emphasis programs are implemented within their jurisdictions. Under the renewed NEP, State Plans are strongly encouraged, but are not required, to adopt the federal program. States have 60 days from the NEP’s July 31, 2026, effective date to notify federal OSHA whether they intend to adopt the program or already have an equivalent emphasis program. 

Employers in these states should continue to follow applicable state requirements. Western Growers will continue to monitor state agency actions for adoption updates and additional guidance.