1910.176 Materials Handling: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
Sets general rules for moving and storing materials. Where mechanical handling equipment is used, aisles and passageways must have sufficient safe clearances, be kept in good repair, and be marked where needed. Stored materials must be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse. Storage areas must be kept free of accumulations that create tripping, fire, explosion, or pest hazards, and clearance signs are required to warn of limited overhead clearance.
What the standard requires
- Provide sufficient safe clearance in aisles and loading areas used by equipment
- Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good repair
- Stack and secure stored materials to prevent sliding or collapse
- Keep storage areas free of tripping, fire, and pest hazards
- Post signs warning of clearance limits
Hazards it addresses
- Struck-by injuries from falling stored material
- Collisions between equipment and workers in aisles
- Trips and falls in cluttered storage areas
Frequently cited in warehousing, retail backrooms, lumber yards, and manufacturing storage areas.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910.176(b) | Secure storage of materials, stacked and limited in height | 207 | 207 | $4,256 |
| 1910.176(a) | Safe clearances for aisles where mechanical handling equipment is used | 54 | 54 | $7,638 |
| 1910.176(c) | Housekeeping in storage areas | 47 | 47 | $4,900 |
| 1910.176(e) | Clearance limit signs | 3 | 3 | $0 |
| 1910.176(f) | 2 | 2 | $8,984 | |
| 1910.176(g) | 2 | 2 | $2,128 |
Penalties
Across 315 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $2,107,914 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $1,690,208, 20% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 76%; Other-than-serious 21%; Repeat 3%; Willful 0%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 61 | 66 | $408,157 | $376,184 |
| Virginia | 21 | 26 | $163,934 | $138,924 |
| Texas | 18 | 18 | $177,424 | $136,115 |
| New York | 15 | 15 | $18,895 | $14,171 |
| Florida | 12 | 14 | $108,283 | $92,727 |
| Connecticut | 11 | 13 | $32,472 | $23,296 |
| Puerto Rico | 11 | 11 | $27,350 | $20,500 |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 11 | $71,845 | $55,900 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 11 | $21,500 | $20,330 |
| Massachusetts | 8 | 8 | $51,685 | $40,250 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 8 | $56,545 | $54,245 |
| Georgia | 7 | 7 | $57,962 | $42,295 |
| Iowa | 7 | 9 | $61,351 | $39,839 |
| Indiana | 7 | 7 | $19,800 | $16,850 |
| Ohio | 6 | 7 | $48,126 | $38,695 |
| Oregon | 6 | 6 | $19,204 | $19,204 |
| Illinois | 5 | 5 | $29,783 | $12,589 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 5 | $30,000 | $28,600 |
| Maryland | 5 | 5 | $8,400 | $5,910 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 5 | $162,459 | $82,930 |
By industry
- Manufacturing: 76 inspections
- Transportation & warehousing: 53 inspections
- Retail trade: 44 inspections
- Wholesale trade: 30 inspections
- Construction: 29 inspections
- Educational services: 18 inspections
- Public administration: 9 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 8 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardent Mills LLC | Hastings, MN | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $2,100 | $2,100 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Williamsville CSD Facilities Building | Williamsville, NY | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 15, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Marmon Retail Solutions | Wagoner, OK | Sep 1, 2026 | 1 | $16,550 | $16,550 | OpenAbatement due Sep 28, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 23, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Les Schwab Warehouse Center LLC | Prineville, OR | Aug 28, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Fence Direct Inc. | Orlando, FL | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Navillus Tile, Inc. | Carlstadt, NJ | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $14,895 | OpenAbatement due Sep 23, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 18, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Degeest Corporation | Tea, SD | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $4,502 | $2,251 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 29, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Mta Nyct Ulmer Park Bus Depot | Brooklyn, NY | Aug 27, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Standard Printing Company of Canton | Canton, OH | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $6,809 | $4,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| The Western Sugar Cooperative, Corporation | Scottsbluff, NE | Aug 24, 2026 | 1 | $11,348 | $11,348 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 18, 2026Contested Sep 22, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Trumbull Industries | Warren, OH | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Oct 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Evergreen Enterprises of Virginia, LLC | Richmond, VA | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Smith's Food and Drug | Sparks, NV | Aug 19, 2026 | 1 | $8,038 | $8,038 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Red Boot Beverage | Des Moines, IA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $6,503 | $3,252 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Cart.com, Inc. | Garland, TX | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $6,431 | $3,215 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Best Choice Products, Inc. | Pooler, GA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $42,557 | $31,917 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| National Cold Storage | Bonner Springs, KS | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $11,823 | $7,094 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC | Frisco, TX | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $14,184 | $14,184 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Deshler, NE | Aug 13, 2026 | 1 | $13,240 | $10,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Hearthside Food Solutions, LLC | North Sioux City, SD | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Luminex Home Decor & Fragrance Holding Corporation | Leesburg, OH | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $14,895 | $14,895 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Superior Joists LLC | Middlesex, NJ | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $4,256 | $4,256 | OpenAbatement due Sep 4, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 1, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Jay-Tex Aviation LLC | Mount Pleasant, TX | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| The Toro Company | El Paso, TX | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $930 | $930 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Fairfield Pallet Co. Inc. | Bridgeton, NJ | Aug 5, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $2,500 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Burlington Stores Inc. | De Witt, NY | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $9,457 | $7,093 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Ritechem USA, LLC dba PLC Global | Zion, IL | Aug 4, 2026 | 1 | $1,929 | $1,200 | Informal settlementAbatement due Nov 16, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Consolidated Supply Co., Inc. | Grimes, IA | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $5,912 | $5,321 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Western Post Logistics LLC | Cypress, TX | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $27,804 | $22,243 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Hyj Solutions Inc. | Cypress, TX | Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | $9,268 | $9,268 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Woodgrain, Inc. | Lenoir, NC | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $6,500 | $4,200 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Lance Group, Inc. | Monroe Township, NJ | Jul 30, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $2,483 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Hunterdon Central Regional High School | Flemington, NJ | Jul 29, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - NJ State Parks Services | Shamong, NJ | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| JMF Manufacturing, LLC | East Moline, IL | Jul 28, 2026 | 1 | $10,641 | $7,449 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 19, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Audubon Metals LLC | Henderson, KY | Jul 27, 2026 | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| CL Services & Distribution, LLC | Weyerhaeuser, WI | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $2,780 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Buena Regional High School | Buena, NJ | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $6,300 | $6,300 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Woodland Pulp, LLC | Baileyville, ME | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $165,514 | $165,514 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 5, 2026Contested Aug 11, 2026 | osha.gov |
| B&R LLC | Bartow, FL | Jul 24, 2026 | 1 | $1,062 | $637 | Informal settlementAbatement due Aug 12, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1910.303 Electrical General (81 shared inspections)
- 1910.178 Forklifts (80 shared inspections)
- 1910.157 Fire Extinguishers (63 shared inspections)
- 1910.305 Wiring Methods (59 shared inspections)
- 1910.147 Lockout/Tagout (57 shared inspections)
- 1910.132 PPE General Requirements (56 shared inspections)
- 1910.37 Exit Route Maintenance (55 shared inspections)
- 1910.1200 Hazard Communication (54 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1910.176 require?
Sets general rules for moving and storing materials. Where mechanical handling equipment is used, aisles and passageways must have sufficient safe clearances, be kept in good repair, and be marked where needed. Stored materials must be stacked, blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse. Storage areas must be kept free of accumulations that create tripping, fire, explosion, or pest hazards, and clearance signs are required to warn of limited overhead clearance.
How often was 1910.176 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1910.176 (Materials Handling) appeared in 292 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 315 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1910.176 is cited most?
1910.176(b) was the most-cited paragraph, with 207 items: Secure storage of materials, stacked and limited in height
Which states cite 1910.176 most often?
The most citations under 1910.176 in this period were issued in New Jersey, Virginia, Texas.
What is the typical penalty for a 1910.176 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $4,900; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $3,825. Totals: $2,107,914 proposed, $1,690,208 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1910.176 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 11% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.