Oregon OSHA Withdraws All but One of its Safety Citations Against Amazon
An ongoing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation into safety practices at the Amazon operations network has been withdrawn, apart from one ergonomic citation.
This Ends Investigation Ongoing Since 2020
This ends an investigation started in 2020 and follows shortly on the heels of similar claims against Amazon that were dismissed by a Washington state judge.
The settlement was reached after Amazon produced years of data, thousands of documents, and detailed records that illustrated its safety progress.
Safety Improvements Made by Amazon
Amazon says it improved its:
U.S. recordable incident rate – work-related injuries that require more than basic first aid – by 28% since 2019.
Lost time injuries – requiring time-off work to recuperate – by 75%.
Ergonomic injuries – musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including strains and sprains which are the leading cause of work-related injuries across all industries – by 27% since 2019.
OSHA has withdrawn nine of the 10 ergonomic citations. Amazon has accepted the one citation relating to it bulk handling site in Illinois. Amazon has agreed to make changes to reduce ergonomic risks to employees handling TVs.
Amazon Agrees to Leverage Ergonomists to Ensure Compliance
- As part of the settlement, Amazon has agreed to continue to leverage its certified ergonomists to ensure compliance across its network of sites;
- Continue regular engagement with Associate Safety Committees;
- Continue mandatory ergonomics training programs;
- Track compliance to verify that regular training programs are conducted during onboarding;
- Maintain rigorous risk assessments at its network of sites.
Amazon Has Spent More than $1 Billion on Safety Since 2019
Amazon says it has allocated more than $1 billion to safety projects since 2019.
On its website, Amazon expresses gratitude to its 1.1 million front-line workers and more than 9,000 health and safety professionals around the globe who ensure safe, comfortable, and inclusive working environments.