KENT, Wash. — Amazon is facing a serious violation and a $60,000 fine for knowingly putting workers at risk of injury at its fulfillment center in Kent, a news release from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries said.
An inspection at the warehouse found 10 of the 12 processes L&I evaluated created a serious hazard for work-related back, shoulder, wrist and knee injuries.
Ergonomic specialists with L&I said they found that many jobs at the center involve repetitive motions such as lifting, carrying and twisting.
“Workers are required to perform these tasks at such a fast pace that it increases the risk of injury,” the news release said.
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L&I officials said because they have cited Amazon for similar violations at three Washington locations, the company is aware of the hazards. As a result, the most recent violation was classified as a “willful violation,” which means there is a higher penalty than those levied in earlier inspections.
Officials said Amazon has not yet made the required changes to improve safety and “has consistently denied the association between pace of work and injury rates.”
The citation requires the company to submit a written plan to L&I within 60 days that details ways the company will reduce the safety issues.
“L&I provided numerous options Amazon can consider to reduce the risk of injuries. Some examples include installing height adjustable platforms to reduce awkward lifting, using powered equipment to move heavy pallets, and setting a safe pace of work for each process,” the news release said.
Amazon has 15 working days to appeal the latest citation and fine. The company has open appeals in the three previous cases.
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