The Washington state Department of Labor & Industries announced an $85,800 fine against Amazon, alleging that the company knowingly put workers at risk of injury at its Spokane, Wash., fulfillment center.
In a news release Wednesday morning, L&I said the violations are considered “willful” and carry a higher penalty than past citations because of prior cases at three Amazon locations in the state: DuPont, Kent, and Sumner.
Amazon’s appeal of those citations is the subject of an ongoing hearing before the state Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
The company said Wednesday that it plans to appeal the latest citation, as well.
“We disagree with the allegations, and especially with the ‘willful’ characterization,” said Maureen Lynch Vogel, an Amazon spokesperson, in a statement. “Once again, L&I is relying on prior citations we have challenged – and that are being challenged in court right now – as a basis for alleging that we willfully exposed employees to ergonomic hazards. That is categorically false.”
The latest safety citation in Amazon’s home state comes amid broader scrutiny of working conditions at the company’s fulfillment and delivery centers across the country, the linchpin of its e-commerce operations.
Wired reported Wednesday that Amazon’s internal first-aid clinics, AmCare, “can put employees at risk of further injury by keeping them working instead of referring them to appropriate medical care.” Vogel, the Amazon spokesperson, disputed that characterization in the Wired story, saying, “Any suggestion that we intentionally or systematically delay or discourage employees from seeking needed medical care is false.” (See update below.)
Amazon achieved its fastest delivery speeds ever in major cities in the second quarter after overhauling its operations to put more items closer to customers, while improving overall worker safety, according to the company.
The L&I investigation at the Spokane facility, near the Spokane International Airport, “found that Amazon requires workers to execute repetitive motions, lifting, and other physical work at such a fast pace that it puts workers at risk for developing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders,” the agency said.
In addition to the ergonomic violations, L&I also cited Amazon for noise levels that exceeded allowable thresholds when employees were not wearing ear protection.
Amazon said it disagreed with L&I’s characterization of the noise hazards.
“Perhaps more than any other company, Amazon has the means and the know-how to invest in solutions that keep their workers safe,” said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Amazon asserts that it has been doing just that, citing its efforts to improve working conditions through ongoing changes in safety practices, and robotic automation designed to reduce repetitive tasks for workers.
In its latest safety report, the company said it improved its recordable incident rate by 11% from 2021 to 2022, and reduced its lost time incident rate by 14% over the same time period.
“We look forward to a full and fair hearing on the citations we’ve already challenged, because the fact is, we’re making measurable progress and have improved recordable incident rates in the U.S. by 23% since 2019,” said Vogel, the Amazon spokesperson. “We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of all of our employees.”
Amazon in May named a new leader of Worldwide Workplace Health and Safety with the promotion of Sarah Rhoads into the role. Rhoads was previously vice president in charge of Amazon’s Global Air operations.
Update: Amazon provided this statement on the Wired story.
“We gave Wired a lot of information that contradicts the assertions in this story, and it’s disappointing they chose not to include most of the facts we provided. Any claims about systemic medical mismanagement at our facilities are false – made worse by using anonymous anecdotes and excluding contradictory voices. While we offer on-site first aid to our employees, our policy clearly states that anyone who wants or needs outside medical attention is allowed and encouraged to seek it immediately. Onsite medical representatives must adhere to our policy, and if they’re ever directed to deviate from it, they should report that behavior immediately. We work hard to create a safe environment for our employees, and you can read more about our programs and progress in our annual safety report.”
