Adidas fined $396K for continuing to expose workers to fall hazards
An OSHA investigation has determined that Adidas America Inc. is continuing to ignore workplace safety standards. The company, which produces athletic apparel, specifically sneakers, had been cited in March 2022 for fall hazards at its warehouse and had paid $17,403 in penalties. OSHA conducted a follow-up inspection in January 2024 after the company failed to submit required proof that it had installed required guardrails and appropriately sized ladders for employees working on mezzanines. During those two years, Adidas did not correct the violations and was continuing to expose workers to falls of up to 10 feet. The company now faces $396,377 in penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Rita Young said, “When employers agree to correct a hazard, they must follow through and prove to OSHA that the hazards were addressed. Adidas America Inc. failed to do so, continued to expose their employees to potentially deadly and disabling injuries and are now liable for additional and sizable OSHA penalties.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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