OSHA claims Amazon failed to protect fulfillment center employees
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According to an OSHA investigation, Amazon has failed to provide proper healthcare for workplace injuries that occurred at one of its fulfillment centers. OSHA determined that the company failed to ensure injured employees received proper medical care.
At least six employees with head injuries and four with back injuries did not receive timely, necessary medical care. Injured workers were returned to their jobs and, in many cases, their injuries became worse as a result.
The agency put Amazon on notice previously about deficient on-site medical practices. OSHA issued a Hazard Alert Letter on this issue in January 2016 after an investigation at a Robbinsville, New Jersey, fulfillment facility. A similar warning was delivered to Amazon more recently after OSHA identified deficiencies in on-site medical practices in Deltona, Florida.
OSHA has proposed $15,625 in penalties, an amount set by federal statute. Currently, OSHA has 20 open inspections at Amazon locations in the U.S. In February 2023, OSHA cited the Castleton location for ergonomic violations, just weeks after the agency cited Amazon in December 2022 for recordkeeping violations there.
This marks the fourth time in 2023 that OSHA has cited Amazon for violations, including citations issued on Jan. 18, 2023, Feb. 1, 2023 and Feb. 23, 2023, for violations at seven warehouse facilities in Castleton, Deltona and in Aurora and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; Waukegan, Illinois and New Windsor, New York.
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