Amazon Global Workplace Safety Chief Recaps 2024 Achievements

• Amazon’s VP Global Workplace Health & Safety, Sarah Rhoads, took to the company’s “About Amazon” blog to tout the achievements of the 10,000 safety professionals working for the organization.
• In 2024, those professionals conducted 7.8 million inspections globally, up 24% from the 6.3 million conducted in 2023, and audited 331 sites across Amazon.
• Rhoads said Amazon’s recordable incident rate (RIR), which includes any work-related injury that requires more than basic first-aid treatment, has improved 34% over the past five years and over 6% year over year in 2024.
• The company’s lost time incident rate (LITR), which includes any work-related injury that requires someone to take time away from work, has improved 65% over the past five years and 13% YoY.
• Over the past five years, the rate of musculoskeletal disorder recordable incident rates at Amazon has improved 32%, but they still make up about 57% of all recordable injuries at the company.
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Airborne Chemicals Found to Put Hairstylists Serving Black, Latina Women at Risk

• Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that hairstylists, especially those providing services to Black and Latina women, are exposed to high concentrations of harmful airborne chemicals in their workplace.
• The study published in the Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, is the first to report indoor air concentrations of several volatile organic compounds in U.S. hair salons serving this group of women, according to the university.
• The researchers found that actions as simple as opening doors and windows when available during chemical-intensive services can improve the indoor air quality in the shops.
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Syracuse Construction Workers Offered 10-Hour OSHA Course

• New York’s Syracuse Builders Exchange and the Syracuse Housing Authority are sponsoring a free OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Course this spring.
• The two-day training seeks to help workers recognize and address common safety and health hazards in the construction industry.
• The course is specifically available to Section 3 workers in Onondaga County, providing essential safety skills for individuals working in or seeking employment in construction.
• Attendance required on both days of a session to receive an OSHA completion card. The sessions will be held April 2–3 and May 13–14, 2025.
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