OSHA asks Amazon to improve workplace safety

Amazon has been asked to voluntarily improve safety procedures by federal workplace safety officials.  The new alert comes in the wake of the Illinois warehouse collapse in which six workers were killed and many injured in December. In a "hazard alert letter" dated Tuesday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration expressed concerns about the potential risk to employees at the 1.1 million sq. foot facility during severe weather emergencies. 

The workplace safety regulator stopped short of fining or formally penalizing Amazon although they identified several holes in the facility's emergency procedures. OSHA also said that Amazon met “minimal federal safety guidelines for storm sheltering.” 

In early December, the tornado tore threw the Amazon warehouse, tearing the roof off and collapsing several exterior walls. Six people were killed in the south end of the building. Amazon's designated shelter area was near the restrooms at the north end of the warehouse where most of the workers stayed during the storm. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement that the company will carefully consider OSHA's recommendations and that they have started holding more emergency drills at the facility. 

Source: The Washington Post