<p>A US government agency on Wednesday issued citations against Amazon.com Inc for failing to keep warehouse workers safe, by exposing them to ergonomic hazards that resulted in serious injuries.</p>.<p>The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said inspections at three Amazon warehouses in New Windsor, New York; Waukegan, Illinois and Deltona, Florida, found that workers faced a higher risk of lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.</p>.<p>It said the risk stemmed from the high frequency with which workers were required to lift heavy packages; assume awkward postures such as twisting, bending and long reaches; and work long hours to complete their duties.</p>.<p>The agency said workers at the Florida facility were also exposed to "struck-by" hazards, where merchandise that was unevenly stacked or not secured was susceptible to collapse.</p>.<p>Doug Parker, the head of OSHA, said Amazon's processes were "designed for speed but not safety, and they resulted in serious worker injuries."</p>.<p>The Seattle-based online retailer faces $60,269 in possible fines for the violations, which OSHA classified as "serious" though not willful.</p>.<p>"We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we strongly disagree with these allegations and intend to appeal," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a statement. "We've cooperated fully, and the government's allegations don't reflect the reality of safety at our sites."</p>.<p>Amazon has said it invests hundreds of millions of dollars annually to ensure worker safety.</p>.<p>OSHA cited Amazon last month for 14 recordkeeping violations, with $29,008 of possible fines, in the probe.</p>.<p>The probe followed referrals from the office of US Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan.</p>.<p>Investigations at Amazon locations in Aurora, Colorado, Nampa, Idaho and Castleton, New York are continuing.</p>.<p>Amazon ended 2021 with 1.61 million employees.</p>.<p>Critics have long accused Amazon of putting profit over safety by requiring employees to work too fast and skip breaks in order to meet quotas.</p>.<p>Safety concerns, including after the deaths of six workers when an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, collapsed during a December 2021 tornado, have helped spur union campaigns at Amazon warehouses across the country. </p>
<p>A US government agency on Wednesday issued citations against Amazon.com Inc for failing to keep warehouse workers safe, by exposing them to ergonomic hazards that resulted in serious injuries.</p>.<p>The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said inspections at three Amazon warehouses in New Windsor, New York; Waukegan, Illinois and Deltona, Florida, found that workers faced a higher risk of lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.</p>.<p>It said the risk stemmed from the high frequency with which workers were required to lift heavy packages; assume awkward postures such as twisting, bending and long reaches; and work long hours to complete their duties.</p>.<p>The agency said workers at the Florida facility were also exposed to "struck-by" hazards, where merchandise that was unevenly stacked or not secured was susceptible to collapse.</p>.<p>Doug Parker, the head of OSHA, said Amazon's processes were "designed for speed but not safety, and they resulted in serious worker injuries."</p>.<p>The Seattle-based online retailer faces $60,269 in possible fines for the violations, which OSHA classified as "serious" though not willful.</p>.<p>"We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we strongly disagree with these allegations and intend to appeal," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said in a statement. "We've cooperated fully, and the government's allegations don't reflect the reality of safety at our sites."</p>.<p>Amazon has said it invests hundreds of millions of dollars annually to ensure worker safety.</p>.<p>OSHA cited Amazon last month for 14 recordkeeping violations, with $29,008 of possible fines, in the probe.</p>.<p>The probe followed referrals from the office of US Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan.</p>.<p>Investigations at Amazon locations in Aurora, Colorado, Nampa, Idaho and Castleton, New York are continuing.</p>.<p>Amazon ended 2021 with 1.61 million employees.</p>.<p>Critics have long accused Amazon of putting profit over safety by requiring employees to work too fast and skip breaks in order to meet quotas.</p>.<p>Safety concerns, including after the deaths of six workers when an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, collapsed during a December 2021 tornado, have helped spur union campaigns at Amazon warehouses across the country. </p>