How do I make our data warehouse OSHA compliant?

Submitted by gil on

Ed. note: the cowards at the DBA Stackexchange deleted this post. It has been re-posted here for posterity.

How do I make our data warehouse OSHA compliant?

What are the safety techniques that we should follow in our data warehouse to guarantee OSHA compliance? The existing literature isn't very helpful. I bought yellow high visibility vests for all of my DBAs but they're refusing to put them on. - asked Apr 1, 2020 at 12:01


  • As with most questions on this network, you are encouraged to start with the official docs and update your post with specific regulations that concern you. Your General Counsel and HR should be made aware of any updates to your safety policy as well as any merges to the master branch. – Peter Vandivier Apr 1, 2020 at 12:20
  • Did you try switching the hi-vis vests to the dark mode? Many IT professionals prefer that for mental health reasons. – mustaccio Apr 1, 2020 at 12:56

I bought yellow high visibility vests for all of my DBAs but they're refusing to put them on.

Joint and severable liability of employer and employee for OSHA compliance is a longstanding dialogue1. For the time being, you are limited to internal HR procedures to discipline your employees for infractions.

Assuming your management troubles are sorted though, here's a few specific items you may find helpful to consider for workplace safety in your data warehouse

  • Employees should not lift more than 50 GB (48 GiB in Puerto Rico and USVI) of data unassisted. Those on reduced work orders are limited to 500 MB (450 MiB)
  • High-bandwidth cabling should be labelled and insulated. Any network pipe of capacity >1GB/sec must not be serviced unless two or more technicians are present.
  • Clearly labelled emergency stops should be easily accessible at all partition switching locations.

Stay safe out there.

– answered Apr 1, 2020 at 12:18 Peter Vandivier