Dept. of Labor Investigates Worker Deaths at Amazon Distribution Centers
The week after the U.S. Department of Labor's
Occupational Safety and Health Administration began
an investigation into a death at the Amazon warehouse
in Carlisle, OSHA cited five companies in the death
of another Amazon warehouse worker in New Jersey.
June 15, 2014
The U.S. Department of Labor has launched an investigation into worker safety at distribution centers for online shopping giant Amazon following the second fatal accident at
company facilities within the past six months,Bloomberg News reported.
company facilities within the past six months,Bloomberg News reported.
The most recent incident occurred on June 1, when an employee at an
Amazon “fulfillment center” in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, died after the
motorized pallet jack she was operating crashed into some shelves,
resulting in her being pinned underneath.
Amazon “fulfillment center” in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, died after the
motorized pallet jack she was operating crashed into some shelves,
resulting in her being pinned underneath.
The Associated Press identified the employee as 52-year-old Jody Rhoads.
Coroners in Cumberland County determined she died from “multiple
traumatic injuries.”The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has launched its own investigation into her death. Amazon promised to
cooperate with OSHA’s probe.“Any accident that occurs in a facility is one
too many and we take these matters seriously,” the company said in a
statement.
Coroners in Cumberland County determined she died from “multiple
traumatic injuries.”The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has launched its own investigation into her death. Amazon promised to
cooperate with OSHA’s probe.“Any accident that occurs in a facility is one
too many and we take these matters seriously,” the company said in a
statement.
The “fulfillment centers” are Amazon’s hubs for shipping outgoing orders
and inspecting incoming items, and are often staffed with hundreds of
employees. The company has been accused of implementing stressful
working conditions in the warehouse, such as establishing unattainable
work goals to instill a sense of insecurity among workers.
and inspecting incoming items, and are often staffed with hundreds of
employees. The company has been accused of implementing stressful
working conditions in the warehouse, such as establishing unattainable
work goals to instill a sense of insecurity among workers.
Amazon.com places a high emphasis on the safety at its warehouse
operations, but some workers have stepped forward with other issues
pertaining to how Amazon manages them.Photo Illustration/IBTimes
The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that OSHA levied fines of $6,000
apiece against five companies working for Amazon following the December
2013 death of another employee, Ronald Smith, at a facility in Avenel,
New Jersey. Smith was killed after getting stuck in a conveyor system and
crushed. “Temporary staffing agencies and host employers are jointly
responsible for the safety and health of temporary employees,” OSHA said
in a statement at the time. “These employers must assess the work site to
ensure that workers are adequately protected from potential hazards. It is
essential that employers protect all workers from job hazards — both
temporary and permanent workers.”
apiece against five companies working for Amazon following the December
2013 death of another employee, Ronald Smith, at a facility in Avenel,
New Jersey. Smith was killed after getting stuck in a conveyor system and
crushed. “Temporary staffing agencies and host employers are jointly
responsible for the safety and health of temporary employees,” OSHA said
in a statement at the time. “These employers must assess the work site to
ensure that workers are adequately protected from potential hazards. It is
essential that employers protect all workers from job hazards — both
temporary and permanent workers.”
OSHA found that a Pittsburgh-based firm, Genco, was cited for not ensuring
that the facility had been checked for health hazards before assigning
employees to work there. Genco was hired by Amazon to supervise
employees hired through four temporary staffing agencies at the Avenel
facility.
that the facility had been checked for health hazards before assigning
employees to work there. Genco was hired by Amazon to supervise
employees hired through four temporary staffing agencies at the Avenel
facility.
The four agencies — Corporate Resource Services, Remedy Intelligent
Staffing, Staffmark, and Abacus, which employed Smith — were also
cited for failing to check the building for health hazards before placing workers there.
Staffing, Staffmark, and Abacus, which employed Smith — were also
cited for failing to check the building for health hazards before placing workers there.
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