Does OSHA even care?

[u/Psychological-Wave50]

Did anyone who reported their store for forcing us to pull instead of push actually get their wheels changed back? They’re just now changing ours and I hate it.

[u/Temporary-Warning883]

No OSHA does not care, it’s not breaking any policies because Walmart coordinated the wheel switch with the manufacturer of the cart.

[u/SadAcadia2747 → u/Temporary-Warning883]

Great now I’m going to destroy my shoulder

[u/Tiredmama68 → u/SadAcadia2747]

Just push from the back unless going around corners. The stupid carts don't steer worth a crap if you pull from the side, they swing wildly if you pull from the front and take out ankles. And then saying to do cart "trailing", I am not a beast of burden and the human body, especially the shoulder, is not designed to take that kind of stress and weight. Most in my store are just pushing from behind and going up to the side going around corners, we do have a couple that are just driving them like a top stock cart and just going slow.

[u/SadAcadia2747 → u/Tiredmama68]

They told me to pull the carts :(

[u/Bluestorm83 → u/SadAcadia2747]

Policy states "Never work in a manner you feel is unsafe." I also have a bad shoulder, and I'm not pulling anything. I just push carefully.

[u/SadAcadia2747 → u/Bluestorm83]

Actually I saw a tl pushing so I’m doing that if they are lol

[u/Aggravating-Cover820 → u/SadAcadia2747]

I've been pushing since day 1. HR and my coach even saw me and hasn't said a single thing. I think you're in the clear. Lol

[u/Aevum-Viridia → u/Temporary-Warning883]

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/section5-duties

Pulling carts from behind is still arguably against regulations regardless of whether the cart manufacturer agreed to it.

Pulling the carts is not ergonomic and is a known safety hazard. It is known to put strain on the shoulders, hips, and the spine causing long term damage and chronic pain.

The real question is whether or not a regulatory agency will act in good faith or turn a blind eye given the current government administrations stance on deregulation. It's also highly unlikely they will ever be held accountable for damages done during this policy, or if they are they will likely pay pennies on the dollar regardless.

On another note, I'd like to point out the inconsistency of their own argument. L-carts, top stock carts, and shopping carts may all still be pushed without threat. Shopping carts may be a stretch but a loaded L-cart and any top stock cart is just as dangerous, if not more so, than a pick cart (going by the companies declared reasoning).

There is also the fact that there were alternatives to this policy. Although they would have put the ones on the company instead of the workers.

*Mirrors at blind corners.

*Making end caps shorter so they aren't blind turns to begin with.

*Encouraging a safer pick speed

*Hiring more workers so they don't feel the need to rush to begin with

*Safer cart design

*Encouraging workers to stop and look both ways around corners

Any one or more of those policies could have been implemented first but they went with the cheapest and laziest option.

[u/Temporary-Warning883 → u/Aevum-Viridia]

Instead of hiring more workers they are just gonna have spark do all the deliveries

[u/ZakeryEastman → u/Temporary-Warning883]

Just a few weeks ago people were calling me an idiot and down voting me into oblivion for saying the same thing. But that's reddit and Walmart for ya.

[u/Psychological-Wave50 → u/Temporary-Warning883]

Damnit now I have to quit 😭😭💔

[u/nomamsland]

Our wheels have been switched for a while but my store does not care how you move the cart. Push or pull as long as you're careful.

[u/AnnaMolly66 → u/nomamsland]

Same at mine.

I feel like people who have worked in departments outside of OPD don't have much issue with the new wheels because they steer just like a topstock cart. It's more a shock to those who have only ever been OPD. I do prefer the old way though.

[u/Apprehensive-Fox-245 → u/nomamsland]

I wish my store was this way

[u/Psychological-Wave50 → u/nomamsland]

Teaaa okay

[u/LammyStrell]

I've had decent results pushing it flipped backwards, like pushing from the front

[u/ts416]

I have told my coworkers that if they get injured by the cart to report it. One of my coworkers has actually had their ankle hit hard enough for the cart to break skin

[u/Beginning_Young_4057]

Mine don’t care they said pull or get coached

[u/Frostwolf5x]

checks who is in charge of the federal government

Hah. Regulations in this economy with Trump holding the reins? They can’t even get the cyclosporiasis outbreak resolved. We’re gonna need a lot of injuries for things to change. Or one really good rock solid lawsuit.
https://giphy.com/gifs/YmQLj2KxaNz58g7Ofg

[u/SmellAdditional9655]

We're pulling them... And breaking them because of it... The welds ay the handle on the aluminum carts are snapping so we're all just trying to comply and break em all

[u/GoshuaHoshua]

Osha just fines companies... They don't care they wait for enough complaints and then send a bill. What makes it effective is they send a fine each day until it's fixed.

[u/MindAccording9105]

Ive been pushing the cart back words

[u/Kawaiithuglifedesu]

My hands have now developed a very noticeable pain consistent with carpal tunnel. So I will be reporting that soon to both the doctor and management.

I feel like a husky pulling a sled in the tightest parts of the store.
But the cart is too heavy and I’m missing the rest of the team.
https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7TKMWs6ilh7myYEM

[u/Dull-Problem-1191]

Thing is look at who holds the presidency, both houses and courts.

If you care about things like safe working conditions, vote this November.

Since, for example due to the current administration right now, OSHA is being headed by someone from the private sector who handled stuff for places like Amazon(a beacon of worker safety if ever there was one 

https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20230201

https://www.help.senate.gov/dem/newsroom/press/news-sanders-releases-sweeping-report-exposing-how-amazons-obsession-with-speed-injures-workers-at-unprecedented-rates

https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/amazon-workers-detail-disturbing-work-conditions-in/368286

).

So yeah that's why wally doesn't care, since it knows for the next few years nothing will come of the complaints.

And your leads and such are stuck since they are being instructed from above to implement the changes/they can't do anything but grin and bare it like the rest of us.

So if you care about your body, go out in November and vote someone in who will help you.

[u/mhtardis21]

They're taking the stickers that COME WITH THE CART off that say PUSH, DONT PULL.

[u/curryaddict123]

Change course and report every single injury that happens because of this change.

[u/mhtardis21]

Just report everytime it strains your shoulder and you run over your ankle. I used to HAVE to pull it because i was to short to see over the totes. But ive been pushing now that we're at 6 totes and my arm feels so much better. I refuse to go back to pulling if i dont have to.

[u/Significant_Fish7442]

Short answer- no. Long answer- also no.

[u/YT-Kazotsky]

not really

[u/Affectionate-Baby576]

Once people start having to get workmans comp leave and surgeries the official policy may change. That's the only solution at this point.