?The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) levied penalties on Amazon on Feb. 1 for safety violations at warehouses in Aurora, Colo.; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, N.Y. Two weeks ago, the e-commerce giant received citations for safety hazards at three other worksites.
OSHA investigators concluded that Amazon warehouse workers were at high risk for lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders because of heavy lifting and long hours required to complete assigned tasks. The agency said Amazon warehouse workers experienced high rates of musculoskeletal injuries.
Amazon faces $46,875 in proposed fines for the violations at the Aurora, Nampa and Castleton facilities.
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Other Locations
On Jan. 17, OSHA cited Amazon for ergonomic hazards after inspections at three warehouse facilities in Deltona, Fla.; Waukegan, Ill.; and New Windsor, N.Y. The retailer faces $60,269 in penalties for violations at those three sites. The company said it will contest the citations.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said, “We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we strongly disagree with these allegations and intend to appeal. We’ve cooperated fully, and the government’s allegations don’t reflect the reality of safety at our sites.”
Fraud Investigation
Federal prosecutors are asking whether Amazon executives knew about safety hazards and misled others about the company’s safety record. Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice’s civil division are investigating whether Amazon “engaged in a fraudulent scheme designed to hide the true number of injuries” to its workers, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. They also seek to determine if Amazon lied to lenders about its safety record to obtain credit. Nantel said the company disagrees with those allegations.
On Jan. 30, Judge Michelle Peterson with the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington ordered Amazon to hand over documents, like internal e-mails, on a rolling basis. Attorneys for both sides are expected to return to court in April.
Recordkeeping Violations
OSHA cited the same six Amazon facilities in December 2022 for not reporting workplace injuries, not reporting them in the proper time or misclassifying the injuries. The 14 recordkeeping citations resulted in $29,008 in proposed fines. Amazon can reduce the proposed fines through workplace adjustments, including hiring more staff to help move large merchandise.
Union Bids
Worker safety has been a focal point of nationwide union campaigns at Amazon facilities. Last year, Amazon workers at the warehouse in Castleton, N.Y., that was cited by OSHA voted nearly two-to-one against unionizing.
(Reuters)