Federal regulators from the Occupational Safety and also Health Administration (OSHA) discovered that 3 Amazon warehouse centers had broke regulations made to need companies to offer secure workplace. Investigations discovered that Amazon employees go to high threat for back injuries and also various other bone and joint problems (MSDs), particularly in warehouse settings that focus on rate over safety and security.
“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 well-being of its workers,” stated Doug Parker, an aide secretary at OSHA.
Amazon need to pay a $60,269 penalty for the infractions at stockrooms in Deltona, Florida, Waukegan, Illinois and also New Windsor,New York As component of the very same examination, OSHA discovered in December that 6 Amazon warehouse centers had stopped working to tape-record and also report employee injuries and also health problems. There are 3 comparable, continuous examinations at Amazon centers in Colorado, Idaho and also New York.
OSHA’s searchings for reveal a recurring pattern of worker injuries, consisting of stuck-by injuries while taking care of items over 50 extra pounds. An instance record from July checks out, “crushing/smashing; face; furniture (61 lbs).” Another checks out, “strain/sprain; lower leg; fitness equipment (148 lbs.)” The Florida warehouse was likewise pointed out for being also warm, which can possibly create heat-related health problem.
Amazon has actually onsite facilities called Amcare for workers that might experience injuries on duty, however OSHA asserts that these centers can be too high to employees getting ample treatment. Amazon workers informed private investigators that the Amcare facility in Deltona, Florida called for damaged employees to wait 3 weeks after an injury prior to they can be described a medical professional. OSHA likewise discovered that if a worker experienced head injury and also lightheadedness, they were not quickly described a medical professional.
A representative from Amazon informed TechCrunch that the firm refutes OSHA’s insurance claims.
“We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we strongly disagree with these allegations and intend to appeal,” Kelly Nantel, an Amazon speaker, stated in a declaration. “We’ve cooperated fully, and the government’s allegations don’t reflect the reality of safety at our sites. Over the last several months we’ve demonstrated the extent to which we work every day to mitigate risk and protect our people, and our publicly available data show we’ve reduced injury rates nearly 15% between 2019 and 2021.”
Amazon stated that the federal government does not supply details functional designs support to companies, so the firm has actually bought design technologies that can lower the requirement for employees to flex, spin and also get to in manner ins which can create injury. Warehouse employees likewise participate in extending teams called “huddles.”
“The vast majority of our employees tell us they feel our workplace is safe,” Nantel stated. “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. We know there will always be ways for us to improve even further, and we will — we’ll never stop working to be safer for our employees.”
Federal regulators have actually discovered difficulty in Amazon’s stockrooms for years, where employees normally work physically-demanding changes of 10 hrs with marginal breaks. According to information from the Washington State Department of Labor, the price of stress and also strains per 10,000 workers are 4 times greater at Amazon than they go to various other stockrooms. And in 2019, OSHA discovered the very same concern with Amcare centers that it’s reporting currently: Amcare personnel are dealing with workers onsite, instead of referring them to various other medical professionals when essential.