Amazon settles with OSHA in hazardous working conditions case

Amazon has decided to settle with OSHA, which was set to begin trials in 10 cases related to hazardous working conditions at Amazon facilities.

The agreement requires Amazon to take action at the corporate level to ensure ergonomics requirements are effectively implemented at fulfillment centers, sorting centers and delivery stations, and provides for an alternative dispute resolution process intended to address and correct ergonomic hazards raised by workers.

“This corporate-wide settlement agreement focuses on improving conditions for several hundred thousand Amazon workers nationwide,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker. “The agreement requires Amazon to assess ergonomic risk across its facilities, including through annual updates, and investigate and implement controls to reduce ergonomic risk. The ball is in the company’s court. OSHA stands ready to work with their ergonomics team to evaluate their progress and verify the commitments they made to OSHA.”

The agreement memorializes ergonomic safety measures that Amazon has implemented at facilities cited by OSHA for ergonomic hazards in 2023.

In a U.S. Department of Labor news release, it was noted that OSHA retains the right to conduct an onsite inspection and enforce under the OSH Act if Amazon fails to meet the requirements of the corporate-wide ergonomics plan or otherwise fails to comply with the agreement, or if OSHA believes that additional controls exist that are feasible and likely to reduce ergonomic risks.

The agreement does not impact the ongoing investigation by the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York concerning, among other things, whether Amazon is engaged in a fraudulent scheme to hide its true injury rates and worker safety hazards at Amazon warehouses around the country.