Search

OSHA Recommends Safety Improvements After Warehouse Collapse

Posted on 5/2/2022 by Lauren Scott

On April 26, OSHA issued a letter to an online retailer asking the company to improve its emergency severe weather procedures following a warehouse collapse in Edwardsville, IL. After a Category 3 tornado struck the company warehouse on December 10, 2021, six contractors suffered fatal injuries and another was critically wounded.

Workers were directed to go to a bathroom on the North side of the building, which was the designated storm shelter, 10 minutes prior to the estimated time of tornado impact. However, five of the deceased and the severely injured worker took shelter in a bathroom on the South side near the loading docks because they were unaware of the emergency procedures.

During an OSHA inspection initiated on December 11, 2021, the Agency found that a megaphone was on the premise during the incident but was inaccessible and locked behind a cage. The Agency also identified room for improvement in the company’s written Emergency Action Plan (EAP).

OSHA concluded the company met minimal Federal safety guidelines for storm sheltering but could do more to protect workers and contractors alike. In its letter to the company, OSHA recommended the following measures to adhere to OSHA’s safety regulations:
  1. Ensure that all employees who work throughout the facility, including, vendors, and contracted personnel, are provided training and participate in drills associated with the layout of the facility, warning and alert methods, and severe weather shelter locations.
  2. All audible warning devices, as well as the location of the device(s), should be clearly identified within the severe weather emergency plan and readily accessible.
  3. Site severe weather emergency plans should contain site-specific information. When addressing severe weather emergency plan guidance, hazards beyond conditions involving a fire, any applicable exit route, exit door, shelter-in-place, or any other emergency plan guidance, should be identified within the written emergency plan.


OSHA Safety, Hazmat, and HAZWOPER Training Anytime, Anywhere

From respirators and PPE to hazard communication and lithium batteries, find safety training you need to protect your staff and maintain compliance with OSHA safety standards in 29 CFR at Lion.com/OSHA.

Courses are interactive and self-paced, and employees can stop and start as needed to fit training into their day-to-day work schedules.
 

Tags: emergency, osha, workplace safety

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

I have been to other training companies, but Lion’s material is much better and easier to understand.

Mark Abell

Regional Manager

I was recently offered an opportunity to take my training through another company, but I politely declined. I only attend Lion Technology workshops.

Stephanie Gilliam

Material Production/Logistics Manager

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Best course instructor I've ever had. Funny, relatable, engaging; made it interesting and challenged us as the professionals we are.

Amanda Schwartz

Environmental Coordinator

I have attended other training providers, but Lion is best. Lion is king of the hazmat jungle!!!

Henry Watkins

Hazardous Waste Technician

Our instructor was very dynamic and kept everyone's interest. Hazmat shipping can be a dry, complicated topic but I was engaged the entire time.

Kimberly Arnao

Senior Director of EH&S

If I need thorough training or updating, I always use Lion. Lion is always the best in both instruction and materials.

Bryce Parker

EHS Manager

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Get to know the top 5 changes to OSHA’s revised GHS Hazard Communication Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200 and how the updates impacts employee safety at your facility.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.