SHAKOPEE, Minn. — The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined a Shakopee Amazon facility $10,500 for safety hazards to workers in a warehouse.
OSHA conducted an occupational safety inspection in October and issued two citations in April.
The first citation was for a new Minnesota law that went into effect last August that requires warehouse distribution centers to report quota information and work rate data to certain employees. However, the Amazon facility did not provide a written copy of the quota to employees before they were expected to meet the requirement, OSHA said.
According to OSHA, Amazon also failed to protect workers from ergonomic hazards while sorting, packing and shipping products. OSHA launched an occupational safety and health program in January aimed at reducing the risk of ergonomic injuries in the workplace, and has since been surveying sites and engaging with employers.
“It is important that work processes are designed with the aim of eliminating workplace injuries and that employees are informed of expectations that have a direct impact on their safety and well-being,” said Nicole Blissenbach, Commissioner of the Ministry of Labor and Industry.
Amazon has disputed both quotes.
