The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to three Amazon warehouses for hazardous working conditions leading to serious worker injuries.
Inspectors reported that employees faced long hours and awkward positions while lifting items, resulting in high rates of musculoskeletal disorders.
The investigation into the Aurora, Nampa, and Castleton facilities began in August 2022, following inspections of six other warehouses for similar workplace injury violations. OSHA has previously fined Amazon nearly $30,000 for failing to record or misclassifying injuries and illnesses.
Amazon disputes the allegations and intends to appeal the citations. The company has reduced injury rates in the U.S. by 15 per cent between 2019 and 2021 and says it takes the safety and health of its employees seriously.
Last year, Amazon signed a pledge to reduce musculoskeletal disorder injuries by 25 per cent by 2025 and announced a $300 million investment in safety projects aimed at cutting all recordable injuries in half by the same deadline.
The company has also invested in warehouse robots and is testing technology to improve safety and track injuries.
