Watchdog group releases list of top offenders in workplace safety
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The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health on Wednesday released a report drawing attention to employers nationwide whose unsafe working conditions have led to deaths or serious injuries.
Its list includes several household names as top offenders, according to the Somerville, Massachusetts-based advocacy group: Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc., Mooresville, North Carolina-based Lowes Cos. and Glendale, California-based Dine Brands Global Inc., which owns Applebee’s and International House of Pancakes locations.
“While any serious incident is one too many, we learn and improve our programs working to prevent future incidents,” an Amazon spokeswoman said in an email. “We are proud of safety record and thousands of Amazonians work hard every day innovating ways to make it even better.”
Attempts to contact the other companies were unsuccessful.
The 48-page report includes details on worker injuries and deaths and information on workplace safety violations.
Using U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the report also highlights the increase in workplace deaths nationwide: 5,190 in 2016; 4,836 in 2015; 4,821 in 2014; and 4,585 in 2013.
“All these deaths were preventable. These workers would still be alive if their employers had followed through and corrected the safety hazards identified in citations issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration,” the report states.
The release coincides with Workers’ Memorial Week, April 23-27, which aims to draw attention to workplace safety lapses that lead to death, according to the report.
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