During a recent inspection, federal inspectors once again identified ergonomic hazards and insufficient medical care that were endangering the safety and health of employees at an Amazon Fulfillment Center, specifically at a facility located in Logan Township.
In response to a filed complaint, investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inquiry in January 2023, revealing the company had been subjecting its workers to ergonomic risks with the potential to cause significant physical harm, according to an Aug. 3 news release.
“The work done by Amazon employees in the company’s fulfillment centers is physically demanding, which makes the availability of proper medical care extremely important,” OSHA Area Director Paula Dixon-Roderick, in Marlton, N.J., said in the release. “Amazon needs to do more to protect the safety and health of its employees, including implementation of a companywide strategy to address well-known and preventable hazards.”
The OSHA investigation, initiated in January 2023, revealed Amazon employees were exposed to ergonomic risks that could lead to significant physical harm, the release said. Workers were tasked with activities that placed strain on their bodies, resulting in, or likely to result in, musculoskeletal disorders.
As a consequence of these findings, OSHA issued a citation for specific ergonomic hazards and proposed fines totaling $15,625, according to the release. Additionally, a Hazard Alert Letter was issued addressing further ergonomic dangers identified.
During the course of the investigation, OSHA discovered Amazon had failed to implement established protocols to ensure proper medical care for injured employees, the release reported. This lapse led to the issuance of a second Hazard Alert Letter, highlighting the inadequate medical treatment issue.
Similar concerns were also identified in other Amazon facilities, such as those in Deltona, Fla., and Castleton, NY., resulting in Hazard Alert Letters in January and April 2023, the release said.
In 2023, OSHA has taken action against Amazon for violations on multiple occasions, with the recent citation being the sixth such instance this year. Previous citations were issued in various warehouse locations, including facilities in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, according to the release.
Amazon has been given 15 business days from the receipt of the current citations and proposed penalty to address the issues, engage in an informal discussion with OSHA's area director or challenge the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the release said.
