New York Expands State’s Warehouse Worker Protection Law: What to Know About Injury Reduction

In early 2025, New York state lawmakers passed a major update to the state’s warehouse safety legislation. As of June 1, 2025, warehouse employers in New York must comply with new warehouse injury prevention laws designed to reduce musculoskeletal injuries among their workforce.

The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program (WWIRP) requires large warehouse employers to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries through on-site assessments, training, and medical support.

Here’s what the legislation means and how WorkCare can help.

What’s Changed?

The new mandate amended the 2022 Warehouse Worker Protection Act, expanding it to include a statewide injury reduction initiative. The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Program specifically targets injuries tied to manual material handling like lifting, pushing, or repetitive motion tasks.

Who’s Affected?

This isn’t a blanket rule for every New York business, but if you manage a warehouse distribution center that meets one of the following thresholds, you’re required to comply:

• 100 or more workers at a single warehouse site
• 1,000 or more workers across multiple warehouse sites in New York State

That includes employers who directly or indirectly control hours, wages, or working conditions for those employees.

What is Required?

Key program elements include: 

• Conducting and documenting worksite evaluations to identify MSD exposure risks 
• Taking steps to eliminate risks by changing workstations, practices, or procedures  
• Providing MSD prevention training programs for employees and their supervisors  
• Staffing on-site medical and first-aid stations with qualified medical professionals 
• Conducting ergonomic evaluations to investigate reported exposure-risk concerns 
• Involving employees and union representatives in program development and roll-out

Why It Matters

The number of people working in in distribution centers in the U.S. has increased by 34% since early 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers in this industry sector have been found to have five times the rate of serious injuries when compared to employees with other types of private-industry occupations. 

By requiring proactive occupational health and workplace safety strategies, New York aims to reduce MSD incident rates and related social and economic costs, encourage employers to prioritize workforce well-being, and engage employees in prevention. 

How WorkCare Can Help

At WorkCare, we partner with logistics and warehousing operations nationwide. We’re already supporting New York-based employers and their employees with: 

• Ergonomic Consulting Services: Subject matter experts (SMEs) conduct thorough evaluations through a customized approach to ergonomic observations, assessments, and analyses taking into consideration the nature of the work environment, specific job demands, and the unique characteristics of each worker.
• Incident Prevention + Wellness Programs: Our team conducts and documents ergonomic assessments, lift training, stretching programs, and on-floor coaching to educate employees and target the root causes of MSDs. 
• On-Site Clinical Services: WorkCare provides real-time injury triage and evaluation, first aid, return-to-work coordination, and wellness screening on-site, with 24/7 telehealth back-up support.  

These services are compliant with New York requirements and can be scaled to meet your company’s workforce health and safety management objectives. 

Ready to Go Above and Beyond Compliance?

Whether your operations are covered by the New York law or you want to adopt best-in-class injury prevention strategies, WorkCare is here to guide you. Contact us today to get started.