Amazon Implements Worker Safety Measures to Settle OSHA Probe

Amazon has agreed to implement a range of safety measures across all its U.S. facilities to settle a federal investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which had accused the company of failing to prevent worker injuries, including back problems and other ergonomic issues. The settlement addresses claims made by OSHA at 10 of Amazon’s facilities, which were scheduled for trial before administrative judges next year.

Key Safety Measures and Settlement Details

As part of the settlement, Amazon will introduce ergonomic measures at all of its fulfillment, sorting, and delivery centers. These measures include adjustable height workstations, ergonomic mats, harnesses, job rotations, and a system to review and address hazards identified by workers. While certain policies are already in place at some facilities, these changes will now be rolled out across all U.S. operations.

Amazon spokesperson Maureen Lynch Vogel clarified that nine of the 10 complaints were withdrawn by OSHA. The remaining complaint involves an Illinois warehouse and centers on concerns about handling bulky items like televisions. She emphasized that the settlement did not require Amazon to adopt new measures but instead focused on continuing its efforts with certified ergonomists to ensure compliance.

Penalties and Impact on Workers

Amazon will pay $145,000 in penalties, which represents about 90% of the amount originally sought by OSHA in the complaints. The settlement is expected to have a significant impact on the safety of Amazon’s workforce, which includes hundreds of thousands of workers across the country. OSHA Director Douglas Parker stated that the agency is prepared to work with Amazon to monitor its progress in implementing the safety measures and verify the commitments made by the company.

Broader Context and Ongoing Controversies

This settlement comes amid ongoing labor unrest at Amazon. On the same day, workers at seven of Amazon’s U.S. facilities staged walkouts to protest what they describe as unfair treatment and unsafe working conditions. Worker safety concerns, particularly regarding production quotas and injury rates, have been central to unionization efforts at Amazon, where many workers are employed by third-party contractors. Unions and worker advocates have long criticized Amazon for allegedly pressuring employees to meet unsafe production targets.

While Amazon has denied imposing quotas and has invested over $1 billion in worker safety, the settlement with OSHA does not address a separate ongoing investigation by federal prosecutors in New York into allegations that Amazon concealed injury rates and safety hazards at its warehouses.