Amazon’s Settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Requires Amazon to Implement an Ergonomics Program
Amazon’s warehouses (fulfillment centers) have hazardous working conditions.
Countless media reports and investigations talk about these problems. And one study from the Center for Urban Economic Development at the University of Illinois-Chicago found that more than half of Amazon warehouse employees who had been at the company for over three years have suffered injuries.
We have firsthand knowledge of these problems because we have spoken to many Amazon employees and litigated and resolved many Amazon workers compensation claims in Virginia – with occupational injuries occurring in Chesterfield, Richmond, Clear Brook, Fairfax, Fishersville, Virginia Beach, and other locales. So we were not surprised when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued ten citations for unsafe work conditions following investigations at several Amazon sites in 2022.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a settlement agreement between OSHA and Amazon for these citations. Trials would have started this month.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the corporate-wide settlement agreement will improve workplace conditions for several hundred thousand Amazon employees and require “Amazon to assess ergonomic risk across its facilities.” Assessing this risk means completing annual updates and investigating, reviewing, and improving work processes and safety training.
The agreement applies to all Amazon fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and sortation facilities under federal OSHA’s jurisdiction. It includes the following terms:
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- An alternative dispute resolution process (similar to mediation or arbitration) to address ergonomic hazards reported by Amazon workers
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- At least two meetings per year between OSHA and Amazon to discuss injury statistics and what Amazon can and will do to decrease risks to employees
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- Amazon will pay a penalty of $145,000
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- OSHA can conduct inspections at the locations where it cited hazards and will receive access to documents and witnesses to Amazon’s implementation of the ergonomics program
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- Amazon must give employees multiple ways to communicate ergonomic concerns and solutions (employees may report these concerns anonymously)
Amazon does not have to admit wrongdoing.
In addition, the agreement lists ergonomic safety measures Amazon has implemented at some sites. Examples of ergonomic improvements designed to reduce the number of warehouse work injuries include:
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- Adjustable height workstations
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- New conveyor belts
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- Harnesses for scanner
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- Job rotation (presumably from more physical to less physical jobs)
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- Updated Go Carts
We would love to hear about your experiences working at Amazon and whether this agreement goes far enough to make Amazon fulfillment warehouses and sortation centers safer.
You can reach us at 804-251-1620 or by completing this online form.
