Adidas America fined $235K for failing to fix repeat safety violations
Adidas America Inc. has agreed to pay $235,000 in penalties and take wide-ranging corrective actions following a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor. The case stems from a 2024 inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which returned to a warehouse in upstate New York to evaluate previously identified safety issues.
OSHA had cited the facility in 2021 for lacking guardrails and using an unsafe ladder. When inspectors revisited the site, they found the same hazards still present along with a new ladder-related violation.
As part of the May 30, 2025, agreement, Adidas is required to strengthen its safety systems at facilities in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. This includes launching a comprehensive safety management program, retraining workers on fall risks, auditing fall hazards at each location, and eliminating overhead storage use.
Adidas America Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Adidas AG, based in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany.
OSHA in the news
Bio-Lab Inc. fined $61K for improperly storing hazardous chemicals
A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that improperly stored hazardous chemicals were the cause of a fire at a Bio-Lab Inc. facility in Conyers.
Worker suffers fatal injuries after falling into unguarded blender, fertilizer manufacturer fined $31K
Mosaic Fertilizer LLC was cited for two serious violations and will have to pay $30,649 in penalties.
Hazardous chemical release sends 12 workers to the hospital, soap manufacturer fined $161K
The incident occurred in July 2024 when chemicals reacted during processing by AFCO employees.
Learn more about industrial safety
Wearable Tech Bridges Gaps in Emergency Management
A panic button attached to a cell phone can alert emergency personnel, says Kenny Kelley CEO of Silent Beacon.
Measuring Well-Being with AI to Increase Safety
AI can review patterns and predict actions before safety issues occur, says Serena Huang.
Bridging the Gap: Elevating Safety with Vertical Inspections
A complete safety approach must cover all levels—ground and heights—to protect people and assets effectively.
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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