As consumers enjoy the convenience of Amazon’s fast deliveries, federal safety investigators have uncovered working conditions at three of the company’s warehouses that they say are unacceptable. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the company for putting workers at a high risk of back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
OSHA announced the citations Wednesday at warehouses in Florida, Illinois and New York, which were inspected as part of an ongoing investigation into Amazon’s safety practices, as reported by The Associated Press.
According to OSHA, the constant bending, twisting and lifting of packages for hours on end poses a significant hazard for employees. In December, the agency handed out 14 separate citations to Amazon for more than a dozen violations, including failing to report injuries.
Data from labor unions reveals that Amazon workers are injured at a rate that is more than twice that of other occupations. In 2021, Amazon reported upward of 38,000 total injuries in the U.S. That’s a 20% increase from the year prior, according to the Strategic Organizing Center.
While the Seattle based e-commerce giant claims to be pumping in millions of dollars to improve that record, Amazon is not afraid to cut costs. The company announced massive layoffs in recent weeks that could impact as many as 18,000 workers.
Amazon has rejected OSHA’s findings and has 15 days to appeal the citations, facing $60,269 in total fines if the violations are upheld. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said OSHA’s “allegations don’t reflect the reality of safety at our sites.”
