The warehousing and storage industry includes establishments operating facilities for general merchandise, refrigerated goods, and other products. These establishments may also provide logistical services relating to goods distribution.
Potential hazards in this rapidly growing, fast-paced industry include those associated with:
- Powered industrial trucks (forklifts)
- Ergonomics
- Material handling
- Hazardous chemicals
- Slip/trip/falls, and
- Robotics.
The most common injuries are musculoskeletal disorders (mainly from overexertion in lifting and lowering) and being struck by powered industrial trucks and other materials handling equipment.
Warehouse quotas requirements
Labor Standards
- Chapter 296-35 WAC, Safety Standards for Quotas for Warehouse Distribution Centers
- Chapter 296-136 WAC, Labor Standards for Quotas at Warehouse Distribution Centers.
Safety & Health Retaliation
Summary of requirements
Chapter 49.84 RCW establishes the following quota labor standards enforced by L&I's Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards (FPLS) division:
- Employers must provide quota descriptions to employees;
- Employers must ensure quotas account for:
- Rest breaks;
- Time to travel to meal and rest break locations; and
- Time to perform an activity required by the employer to complete the work subject to a quota; and
- Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for exercising their quota labor standard rights, or for failing to meet a quota that was not disclosed or that violates quota labor standards.
Chapter 49.84 RCW establishes the following quota safety and health rights enforced by L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH):
- Employers must ensure quotas account for time to use the restroom, including travel time;
- Employers must ensure quotas allow time for employees to access tools or safety equipment necessary to perform the work subject to a quota; and
- Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for exercising their quota safety and health rights, or for failing to meet a quota that violates quota safety and health standards.
More information about Warehouse Quota Requirements
- Quota Violations of WISHA table (WAC 296-35-300)
- Warehouse Quota Standards workplace rights.
- Watch a video that explains the warehouse quota standards law.
Related L&I Rules
General safety & health
- Core Rules (Chapter 296-800 WAC).
- Emergency Plans and Fire Prevention Plans (WAC 296-24-567).
- Emergency Response (Chapter 296-824 WAC).
- Hazard Communication (Chapter 296-901 WAC)
Equipment and work activities
- Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks (Chapter 296-863 WAC).
- Ladders, Portable and Fixed (Chapter 296-876 WAC).
- Lockout/Tagout (Chapter 296-803 WAC).
- Machine Safety (Chapter 296-806 WAC).
- Materials Handling and Storage (WAC 296-24, Part D).
- Working Surfaces (WAC 296-24, Part J-1).
L&I procedures, enforcement guidance, and explanatory interpretations
Training Materials
- Basics of Machine Guarding - Hazards and Solutions
- Fall Protection -
- Forklift Safety - Safe Operations of Forklifts
- Chemical Hazard Communication - Working With Chemicals on the Job
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) - Control of Hazardous Energy
- Slips Trips and Falls – Module 1 and Module 2
Publications, Handouts, Checklists, Sample Programs
- Ergonomic Intervention for the Soft Drink Beverage Delivery Industry (NIOSH/CDC)
- Minimizing severe injury & fatality risk in warehouse operations
- NIOSH and partners offer set of best practices to help protect temporary workers(Modern Materials Handling)
- Preventing Sprains & Strains in the Warehouse (Ergonomics / Manual Material Handling)