Amazon warehouses in three states are under investigation over alleged unsafe workplace conditions, officials have confirmed.
The investigations also will examine injuries resulting from workplace hazards, worker rate requirements, and the pace of work, as well as whether the retailing giant has appropriately reported on-the-job injuries.
Federal prosecutors in New York and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are inspecting a number of Amazon warehouses across the country, and inspections were launched on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
The investigations began in warehouses outside New York City, Chicago, and Orlando, and came in response to referrals received from SDNY, according to SDNY chief spokesperson Nicholas Biase.
Workers across Amazon warehouses have attempted to form unions in recent months amid complaints over working conditions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and safety issues.
A Staten Island, New York, facility voted in favor of unionizing in April, making it the first Amazon warehouse to be represented by a union in the United States.
“This morning, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration entered Amazon warehouses outside New York City, Chicago, and Orlando to conduct workplace safety inspections in response to referrals received from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York...
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