News Notes: Warehouse Retailers Subject To New Safety Provisions

A new law—S.B. 486—that’s aimed at increasing worker and customer safety in wholesale or retail warehouse establishments requires that if such businesses store merchandise on shelves higher than 12 feet above the sales floor, they must secure it from falling. Security methods could include safety rails, netting, security cables, shrink-wrapping pallets or tying items together. Employers with 50 or more employees must also report annually to Cal/OSHA any customer deaths or injuries requiring hospitalization or emergency medical treatment as a result of falling merchandise. All working warehouses must comply with these provisions by July 1, 2002.