Washington Fines Amazon For 'Unsafe Work Practices' In Kent

Seattle WA

21 March, 2022

2:25 PM

Description

SEATTLE — The state Department of Labor & Industries cited and fined one of Washington's largest employers this month after inspectors ruled that Amazon "knowingly put workers at risk of injury" at a Kent fulfillment center. In a news release Monday, L&I said inspectors found 10 of 12 company processes they evaluated created a "serious hazard for work-related back, shoulder, wrist, and knee injuries." Specifically, inspectors found many jobs at the facility involved repetitive motions, lifting, carrying and other physical work that employees were required to perform at a pace that increased their risk of injury. The citation requires Amazon to submit a plan to the state within 60 days detailing precisely how they will correct the safety issues. L&I also provided a list of recommendations, like using powered machinery to move heavier pallets and installing adjustable platforms to cut down on awkward lifting. L&I said Amazon was previously cited for similar infractions at three other Washington facilities, which investigators said elevated the latest to a "willful violation," which resulted in a higher penalty. The company will have two weeks to appeal the findings — a process that is still underway in the previous three cases. Any fines that are paid will go into the state's workers' compensation supplemental pension fund, which supports families of workers who have died in workplace incidents.