by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday it issued citations to e-commerce giant Amazon for exposing workers to unsafe conditions, including at its fulfillment center in Nampa.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened investigations into six warehouses last year after allegations that Amazon pressures employees to work at a pace that risks injury and does not appropriately staff its on-site first-aid centers.
“At all six locations, OSHA investigators found Amazon exposed warehouse workers to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders,” DOL said in a news release.
OSHA also issued the company 14 citations in December under the same investigation for recordkeeping violations at the six warehouses, “including failing to record injuries and illnesses, misclassifying injuries and illnesses, not recording injuries and illnesses within the required time, and not providing OSHA with timely injury and illness records.”
In addition to the Nampa warehouse, DOL cited Amazon for conditions at warehouses located in Deltona, Florida; Waukegan, Illinois; Aurora, Colorado; and New Windsor and Castleton, New York.
“Amazon’s operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries,” Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker said in a news release. “They need to take these injuries seriously and implement a company-wide strategy to protect their employees from these well-known and preventable hazards.”
Amazon has rapidly increased its Treasure Valley presence in recent years to include sorting and distribution centers in Boise and an unopened warehouse in Meridian.
The citation issued specifically to the Nampa warehouse levies a $15,625 proposed penalty. Citations across the six warehouses for unsafe conditions total $107,144 in proposed penalties. The company has 15 business days after receiving the citation to comply, meet with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings.
Logan Finney | Associate Producer
Logan Finney is a North Idaho native with a passion for media production and boring government meetings. He grew up skiing, hunting and hiking in the mountains of Bonner County and has maintained a lifelong interest in the state’s geography, history and politics. Logan joined the Idaho Reports team in 2020 as a legislative session intern and stayed to cover the COVID-19 pandemic. He was hired as an associate producer in 2021 and they haven’t been able to get rid of him since.
