Workers Comp

AG calls on Amazon compliance on safety probes

Louise Esola

December 15, 2020 Reprints

Regulation Workers Comp Coverage Workplace Safety More + Less -

Claiming that Amazon.com Inc. has made “billions during this pandemic relying on the labor of essential workers,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Monday announced a petition in the Sacramento County Superior Court requesting that the court order the online company to comply with outstanding investigative subpoenas regarding its COVOD-19 worker protections.

The state’s petition alleges that Amazon has failed to adequately comply with lawful requests for information as part of an ongoing investigation into the company’s coronavirus protocols and the status of COVID-19 cases at Amazon facilities across the state.

“It’s critical to know if these workers are receiving the protections on the job that they are entitled to under the law… Amazon has delayed responding adequately to our investigative requests long enough,” Attorney General Becerra said in a statement.

Following months of informal communication with Amazon seeking information about workplace health and safety measures, the California Department of Justice issued investigative subpoenas on Aug. 19, according to the statement.

The subpoenas seek specific details about the nature and extent of Amazon’s coronavirus prevention efforts, including with regard to sick leave policies and cleaning procedures, as well as raw data on the number of infections and deaths at their facilities in the state. To date, Amazon has failed to adequately respond, missing several additional opportunities to comply with the Attorney General’s information request, according to the statement.

Amazon did not return requests for comment.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.