The Amazon fulfillment center in Kent was fined $60,000 by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for job hazards that could and has caused injury. The warehouse was inspected by the state labor department. The inspection found that 10 of the 12 work processes created a “serious hazard” for back, shoulder, wrist and knee injuries.
Officials said the the fast pace at Amazon warehouse put workers at risk of injury. The citation and fine can be appealed within 15 days or it is required to create a plan within 60 days to reduce the risk of injury, officials said. The company “has active appeals in the three previous cases.”
Based on reports, workers were being required to do repetitive jobs like lifting, carrying and twisting so quickly that it “increases the risk of injury,” the department said. This isn’t the first Amazon location accused of creating similar hazards, the agency said.
Kent, about 18 miles south of Seattle, did not have the only warehouse that was in violation. There were more warehouses on the list that had been violating the law. Other locations in Washington were also cited by the department.
“The most recent violation is classified as a willful violation and comes with a significantly higher penalty than those issued as a result of earlier inspections,” the department said.
The department also stated that Amazon “has consistently denied the association between pace of work and injury rates” and has “not yet made necessary changes to improve workplace safety.”
