Central Jersey Amazon Warehouse Fined by OSHA

By Carly Baldwin:

Robbinsville, NJ - The federal government is ordering Amazon to improve conditions in its Robbinsville warehouse, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday.

Workers at the Amazon fulfillment center at 50 New Canton Way in Robbinsville were made to stand during their entire shifts, which were sometimes up to 10 hours long, OSHA alleges. Workers also had to stand during mandatory overtime shifts, OSHA said.

Amazon also failed to report 26 work-related illnesses and injuries that occurred at the warehouse last year, the federal agency said. Some of the injuries include: A worker who tripped over a cart and hit her head on the floor; an employee unloading a trailer who was hit in the nose with a 15-20 pound box and an employee who sprained her ankle stepping off an order picker. Three employees felt their knees “pop” out after lifting boxes. Amazon allegedly failed to report all of these injuries and more to OSHA. You can read the entire citation summary here.

An Amazon spokesman said the company will be disputing the findings.

“We take safety very seriously. We do not agree with the findings and will be contesting the citation,” said Aaron Toso, an Amazon spokesperson.

That warehouse, which just opened in June, employs 2,500 people who handle thousands of orders a day, as Amazon promises ever-faster delivery of items into homes. In June, Amazon officials gave a tour of the site to officials in Gov. Chris Christie’s administration, according to the Asbury Park Press.

The OSHA investigation in Robbinsville is just the latest news about Amazon’s warehouses, which have increasingly been criticized for their workplace conditions.

OSHA’s investigation began July 1, 2015, after the feds received a complaint that employees at the warehouse were exposed to dangers such as fall, noise, electrical and amputation hazards. Additionally, warehouse staffers were not provided personal protective equipment, according to an anonymous complaint.

In addition to being forced to stand, Amazon exposed employees to stress from repeated bending at the waist and lifting and carrying items, OSHA found.

Amazon management did supply on-site medical care, but it was not licensed or certified to provide the level of care it gave out, OSHA says, and lacked the supervision of a board-certified qualified medical professional.

Amazon, which reportedly saw over $1 billion in revenue last year, was fined $7,000 after OSHA’s investigation.

Amazon has 15 days to either pay the fine and improve the conditions in its warehouse, or contest the findings.

Stock image.