Amazon Fights Washington State Department of Labor and Industries in Worker Safety Case

Amazon “probably changed the world” and has done an “amazing job of setting up a system” for fast delivery for online shopping, according to Elliot Furst, an attorney representing Washington State in a case against Amazon before the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). “But…the only reason that we are here today is because when they set up this highly efficient system, they did not factor in…the safety of their workers,” Furst added. Indeed, according to local news reports, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries has accused Amazon of being a repeat violator of worker safety regulations. Since 2021, L&I has fined Amazon four times for worker safety violations, finding that Amazon put workers at a high risk of injury at their warehouses due to the requirement that workers perform repetitive motions and the fast pace of work involved. Amazon appealed all four L&I citations, and came before the Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, a state agency that hears appeals related to workers’ compensation and safety citations made by L&I, in late July. Washington State L&I, through the Board of Industrial Appeals Judge, seeks to force Amazon to make changes to its warehouses to enhance worker safety, such as replacing old equipment with new equipment and rotating workers so that they avoid injuries caused by repetitive motion. Amazon, who alleges that such changes would be “tremendously disruptive”, has asked the Board to dismiss the citations. The warehouses that are the subjects of the citations are located in Kent, Sumner, and DuPont (with DuPont receiving two citations).

Repetitive Stress Injuries and Mississippi Workers’ Compensation

A repetitive stress injury can occur when a person constantly performs the same motion over and over again. A repetitive stress injury is a type of strain injury that causes damage to the muscles, tendons, or nerves. Workers who constantly perform the same movements, such as workers on an assembly line, food processing, or in a production factory, are at risk of developing repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Just like other types of workplace injuries, in Mississippi, if a worker is disabled from work due to a workplace repetitive strain injury, they may be entitled to important Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws.

Help for Injured Mississippi Workers

If you were injured at work in Mississippi and you are now disabled from doing our regular job, you may be entitled to important Mississippi workers’ compensation benefits. The best way to determine your entitlement is to speak with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer. The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your Mississippi workplace injury and to see if they can help get you Mississippi workers’ benefits due. The Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe take on cases on a contingency basis, and only get paid if they settle or win your case. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe and speak to an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer about your case today.

Source:

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