The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced on Wednesday, January 18, that it will be fining Amazon
OSHA inspectors found that Amazon warehouse employees are put at serious risk of sustaining lower back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders in the course of their work. Employees perform bending, stretching, and twisting motions as often as nine times every minute, constituting an unacceptable hazard according to OSHA.
"While Amazon has developed impressive systems to make sure its customers' orders are shipped efficiently and quickly, the company has failed to show the same level of commitment to protecting the safety and wellbeing of its workers," said Doug Parker, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health.
At an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, workers need nearly double the number of injury-related transfers and days away from work than other workers in the industry, the OSHA inspectors reported. At two other facilities in New York and Florida, workers needed three times as many injury-related job restrictions as their peers at other companies.
In addition to hazardous physical activities, inspectors also found that Amazon warehouse employees are in danger of being struck by improperly stored merchandise, merchandise that may fall 30 feet or more before hitting the worker.
"Each of these inspections found work processes that were designed for speed but not safety," Parker said.
Amazon is facing a fine of $60,269, the highest amount allowed under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Repeated and willful violations of workplace safety regulations can result in higher fines.
The company has 15 days to challenge the citations. If Amazon fails to overturn OSHA's findings, it will also be required to correct any violations. Parker noted that making those corrections could mean a significant investment for the company.
"We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we strongly disagree with these allegations and intend to appeal," Kelly Nantel, Amazon's spokesperson, said in a statement. "We look forward to sharing more during our appeal about the numerous safety innovations, process improvements, and investments we're making to further reduce injuries."
"What's more, the vast majority of our employees tell us they feel our workplace is safe," she added.
According to Nantel, Amazon brought down its workplace injury rates by nearly 15% between 2019 and 2021.
While Amazon has faced OSHA citations in the past for recordkeeping violations, it hasn't yet been accused of similar safety violations. Parker says that means Amazon isn't part of OSHA's "severe violator program" yet, but it could be in the future.
