Easy Cash4ads»
[1/2] The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo
NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) – A U.S. government agency on Wednesday issued citations against Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) for failing to keep warehouse workers safe, by exposing them to ergonomic hazards that resulted in serious injuries.
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said inspections at three Amazon warehouses in New Windsor, New York; Waukegan, Illinois and Deltona, Florida, found that workers faced a higher risk of lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.
It said the risk stemmed from the high frequency with which workers were required to lift heavy packages; assume awkward postures such as twisting, bending and long reaches; and work long hours to complete their duties.
The agency said workers at the Florida facility were also exposed to "struck-by" hazards, where merchandise that was unevenly stacked or not secured was susceptible to collapse.
Doug Parker, the head of OSHA, said Amazon's processes were "designed for speed but not safety, and they resulted in serious worker injuries."
The Seattle-based online retailer faces $60,269 in possible fines for the violations, which OSHA classified as "serious" though not willful.
"We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we strongly disagree with these allegations and intend to appeal," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a statement. "We've cooperated fully, and the government's allegations don't reflect the reality of safety at our sites."
Amazon has said it invests hundreds of millions of dollars annually to ensure worker safety.
OSHA cited Amazon last month for 14 recordkeeping violations, with $29,008 of possible fines, in the probe.
The probe followed referrals from the office of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan.
Investigations at Amazon locations in Aurora, Colorado, Nampa, Idaho and Castleton, New York are continuing.
Amazon ended 2021 with 1.61 million employees.
Critics have long accused Amazon of putting profit over safety by requiring employees to work too fast and skip breaks in order to meet quotas.
Safety concerns, including after the deaths of six workers when an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, collapsed during a December 2021 tornado, have helped spur union campaigns at Amazon warehouses across the country.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
British luxury brand Burberry is seeing "very promising" signs in China so far this month after the lifting of strict COVID-19 curbs in the country, Chief Financial Officer Julie Brown said on Wednesday.
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.
Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology.
The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs.
The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals.
Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile.
Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts.
Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks.
All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.
© 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved