Key Takeaways:
– New York warehouse workers face higher rates of injuries than any other employees in the state.
– This rise in injuries prompts a new safety legislation waiting for Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature.
– The legislation focuses on ’ergonomic hazards,’ a primary cause of warehouse-related injuries.
– Opposition is mounting from corporate stakeholders who believe the measures duplicate existing safety standards.
– The legislation requires companies to work with state-certified ergonomists to make warehouses safer.
Increasing Risks Face Warehouse Workers
In recent times, New York warehouse workers have been getting hurt more often than employees in other sectors. The rate of reported injuries hits more than one per nine workers in 2023 – a figure that is over double the injury rate for their national peers.
E-Commerce Sector Growth Puts Workers At Risk
E-commerce has driven fast growth in the warehouse industry. The number of jobs has increased by tens of thousands around the state. As a result of this rapid expansion, labor advocates urge Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a safety bill for warehouse workers.
What is the Safety Bill About?
The safety legislation’s aim deals with “ergonomic hazards” in warehouses; situations causing awkward posturing, repeated motions, and inadequate breaks which lead to nearly half of all warehouse injuries. Unions and labor groups support this bill, including the Alliance for a Greater New York, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, and multiple Teamster locals.
Who Opposes the Safety Bill?
Despite its aim to increase worker safety, the bill faces opposition. Logistics industry leaders like Amazon and UPS, both owning warehouses in New York, are amongst the opponents. The Business Council, a lobbying group with both Amazon and UPS as members, seeks amendments to the bill. Previously, they had pushed Hochul to veto the legislation.
The Impact of Ergonomic Hazards on Worker Safety
Ergonomic hazards have a significant impact on worker safety. Musculoskeletal issues, such as sprains and body aches resulting from repetitive motions, make up nearly half of all warehouse-related injuries.
How Can the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act Help?
The Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act mandates warehouses to develop programs to reduce these hazards. As per the bill, state-certified ergonomists would consult on the programs and perform annual workplace inspections.
Are There Current Measures in Place to Protect Workers?
While the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for workplace safety regulation, it does not currently have a specific rule for ergonomics. According to a watch report by the federal Government Accountability Office, OSHA rarely cites warehouses for ergonomic hazards.
What Does the Bill Mean for Warehouse Owners?
For warehouse owners, this bill means stepping up their safety measures and possibly reviewing current standard operating procedures. If signed into law, it enables state labor regulators to step in where federal ones may be lacking.
Criticism and Potential Amendments to the Bill
The Business Council calls for updates to the bill. They argue the original bill’s measures are unnecessarily burdensome and duplicate current regulations. Frank Kerbein, director of the Business Council’s Center for Human Resources, suggests the bill should resemble Minnesota’s legislation for ergonomic hazards. Comparatively, the New York legislation would make the ergonomists’ assessments binding.
What This Means for Large Warehouse Owners Like Amazon
Irene Tung of the National Employment Law Project argues that companies like Amazon would not need to make major changes if they adopted the Minnesota model since they already have internal ergonomics programs. But despite this, external inspections have revealed various ergonomic risks in Amazon warehouses.
In conclusion, the future of New York warehouse workers hinges on Hochul’s decision on the bill. As negotiations continue, stakeholders on all sides eagerly await the outcome. While the Business Council pushes for amendments, advocates for the workers hope that the necessary safety measures will finally take effect.