Amazon air hub cited for violations

Workers say they weren't given adequate shade and water during last year's 100-plus-degree days

Amazon's regional air freight hub in San Bernardino was cited three times by CAL/OSHA for endangering workers amid heat that topped 100degrees last summer, according to newly available documents from the state agency.

The citations issued last month to the 2535 E. Third St. facility, otherwise known as KSBD, allege unsafe work conditions discovered during investigations that began July 28 and ended Jan. 19.

In one citation, California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health said Amazon used the shadow under a Boeing 767-300 as shade in the ramp area for employees to take their “cooldown rest.” No chairs were available, the citation said, so workers were forced to remain standing.

“The employer provided a van that was inadequate to accommodate the number of employees on recovery or rest periods so that they can sit in a normal posture, fully in the shade without having to be in physical contact with each other,” CAL/OSHA said.

Amazon is disputing the claims.

The problems were brought to light through a July 25 complaint filed with CAL/OSHA by workers at the San Bernardino facility who are members of the Inland Empire Amazon Workers United. The complaint prompted CAL/OSHA to conduct inspections and on-site interviews with employees.

Regina Hermann, who works on the ramp at the 658,500-square-foot air hub, said conditions last summer were “scary.”

“We work out on the tarmac without enough shade, and sometimes without enough water,” Hermann said in a statement. “We sometimes had to crouch or stand under the planes for shade. We knew we had to do something before someone was seriously injured.”

Each CAL/OSHA citation includes a penalty.