OSHA reaches largest-of-its-kind settlement with Amazon over hazardous working conditions
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reached a settlement with Amazon over allegations of hazardous workplace conditions, ABC News first reported Thursday. The settlement requires that Amazon adopt "corporate-wide ergonomic measures" to reduce the risk of injuries to workers.
The 10 facilities cited in the settlement, located in New York, Florida, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Illinois and New Jersey, all had a high number of complaints of workplace injury. Amazon will have to pay a $145,000 penalty, adopt workplace safety measures and allow OSHA access to inspect those facilities for the next two years, according to the terms of the settlement.
Though the settlement only mandates oversight on those 10 facilities, all Amazon facilities will be required to adopt new safety measures and provide procedures for their employees to voice their concerns about workplace conditions.
A Department of Labor official said the settlement is the "largest of its kind" and "will resolve all outstanding ergonomic litigation" by the agency against Amazon. The official noted, however, that the settlement will not affect the investigation into the company by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York over allegations Amazon conspired to conceal injuries and risks to workers at its warehouses. Amazon has denied those allegations.
"Today's agreement acknowledges our progress and notes that we should keep implementing and following our existing comprehensive ergonomics policies and procedures," Amazon said in a statement following the announcement of the settlement. "There isn't a claim of wrong-doing on Amazon's part for the withdrawn citations, nor a directive to adopt new safety controls. We appreciate OSHA's willingness to consider all the facts and reach today's agreement with us, and we look forward to continuing to work with them going forward."
ABC News reached out to Amazon for additional comment.
This settlement comes as Amazon workers have gone on strike at facilities across the country, citing low pay, lack of benefits and poor conditions.
