Amazon has been cited by federal authorities for safety violations at three of its warehouses.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor announced Wednesday that it had issued citations to the company following inspections at facilities in Florida, Illinois, and New York.
It stated that workers at those sites were subjected to ergonomic hazards or equipment hazards, such as performing tasks that could result in lower back injuries and other muscle-related conditions.
“While Amazon has developed impressive systems to ensure that its customers’ orders are shipped efficiently and quickly, the company has failed to demonstrate the same level of commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of its workers,” said Doug Parker, the department’s assistant secretary for occupational safety and health.
According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company will appeal the decisions, which “do not reflect the reality of safety at our sites.”
According to the agency, the company faces a $60,000 fine for the violations. Following referrals from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Labor Department launched an investigation.
Citations issued by the department follow a similar action taken in December. The agency then issued citations to Amazon at six of the company’s warehouses for failing to report injuries in a timely manner. Amazon stated at the time that it was still confident in the number of injuries reported.
Many Amazon employees have complained about the speed with which they are expected to complete their tasks, claiming that it causes injuries. Workers claim they must package or sort hundreds of items per hour, with repetitive motions and few breaks.
According to federal labor data, Amazon has had higher injury rates than its delivery-industry peers in recent years. The company has previously stated that it reports incidents with greater care than others in the industry. Workers have cited working conditions as one of the reasons for attempts to unionize facilities.
California passed legislation last year requiring Amazon and other employers to disclose productivity metrics that apply to employees in the state. The law prohibits companies from imposing quotas and penalties that endanger employees’ health and safety.
Amazon has stated that it has attempted to improve worker safety, including through educational courses and changes to the way it tracks employees. Between 2019 and 2021, the company claims to have reduced injury rates at its facilities by nearly 15%.