Copies of `hazard alert letters’ OSHA sent to Amazon and three other companies

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent “hazard alert letters” to three companies in addition to Amazon.

The letters come with no fines or citations, but they urged the companies to improve their guidelines for sheltering during a storm.

“These tragic deaths have sparked discussions nationwide on the vital need for comprehensive workplace emergency plans,” said OSHA’s Regional Administrator William Donovan, in Chicago. “Employers should re-evaluate their emergency plans for the safest shelter-in-place locations and prepare before an emergency to ensure workers know where to go and how to keep themselves safe in the event of a disaster.”

Five of the workers who were killed and one who was injured were delivery contractors. They all took shelter in a bathroom on the south side of the warehouse. Two worked for AB&C D.A.D Inc. of Belleville, one worked for Boxify Logistics of St. Louis, and two of the deceased and the injured worker worked for XSeed Delivery of Bolingbrook.

This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 4:31 PM.