Report: L&I Moving Forward With Amazon Warehouse Classification

Monday, November 9, 2020 | 0

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries will decide by the end of November whether to create a new classification for Amazon’s warehouses to reflect the higher risk of injuries at fulfillment centers for the online retail giant, according to a report by the Seattle Times.

In 2020, the average cost of comp coverage for all warehouses in the state increased by more than 18%. The Times reports that a high rate of injury at Amazon’s automated fulfillment centers is largely responsible for the increase.

Under L&I’s proposal to create a new classification solely for Amazon’s facilities, the projected rate for all other warehouses would drop nearly 20% in 2021. The rate for Amazon’s warehouses, meanwhile, would increase 15% next year.

The Seattle Times reports only five written comments were submitted during a public comment period. A representative for the Washington Food Industry Association wrote to say non-automated warehouses in the state should not be offsetting costs for automated fulfillment centers.

Amazon reportedly did not comment on the proposal.

A spokesperson for L&I told the newspaper that the agency will issue a decision by Nov. 30.

The department’s proposal is here.