OSHA fines for very specific, repeated, and drastic violations can reach millions of dollars. Oil company BP has been fined multiple times amounting to more than $10 million for spills and violations related to refinery accidents. But the cap on fines for the types of safety violations that can result in back injuries, broken bones or sprains is much lower, providing little incentive for companies to change. “OSHA’s fines have always been incredibly low, but the company received the highest fines possible, I believe, for every violation cited,” said Georgetown’s Berkowitz.
OSHA typically attempts to persuade companies like Amazon to prevent future injuries through detailed inspection letters that include suggestions to improve injury-causing processes. These “danger” letters were sent on January 17 to three Amazon facilities inspected by OSHA during this investigation, in Deltona, Florida; Waukegan, IL; and New Windsor, New York.
A letter sent to the Waukegan plant describes more than 20 sprains, fractures, bruises and lacerations to feet, arms, faces and other body parts caused by workers losing control of packages weighing more than 50 pounds.
Another, sent to the Deltona facility, described “inadequate supervision of clinical staff with appropriate clinical skills” in Amazon’s internal clinic for workers, including incidents in which athletic trainers conducted or supervised exams beyond the scope of their license. “Amazon does not appear to have quality management processes in place for its clinical staff with major gaps in care documentation. This represents a significant departure from standard clinician practices in the United States,” inspectors at the Deltona facility wrote in the letter.
OSHA doesn’t seem to be done with Amazon. The details of the danger letters and the scope of the findings suggest an ongoing investigation and likely more citations and fines, Berkowitz says. The agency said today it continues to investigate three additional Amazon facilities, in Aurora, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, New York.
“While Amazon has developed impressive systems to ensure its customers’ orders are shipped efficiently and quickly, the company has failed to demonstrate the same level of commitment to protecting safety and well-being of its workers,” said Deputy Secretary Doug Parker. of work for occupational safety and health in today’s announcement by OSHA. Amazon may soon be fighting more than one citation from the agency.
