Blue Apron Accused (Again) Of Serious Worker Safety Violations
From a consumer perspective, Blue Apron is known for its pricey but convenient meal kits that help customers make dinner quickly and easily. But when you untie the apron strings, the meal kit brand is a hotbed of controversy.
Serious worker violations have been uncovered in two separate California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reports: one in August 2015, and the next in September 2016. An investigation by BuzzFeed News recently uncovered the second set of violations, which was for the exact same issue the first time around: "failure to install emergency shower stations near forklift battery charging stations" in case of a chemical spillage or accident. Blue Apron has confirmed that the incidents were referring to two separate battery charging stations.
"We promptly installed a shower at this location as well to address their concern," Blue Apron told BuzzFeed. "However, we believe both citations were issued in error, and Cal/OSHA is currently reviewing them."
- Apron's Jersey City, New Jersey, manufacturing facility has also been issued a safety violation citation, but the company will not be contesting that incident.
In a separate incident, Blue Apron co-founder Matthew Wadiak is suing the NYPD for police brutality and falsely arresting him on zero charges. Wadiak said that he found cops at his pilates studio in April 2014 and when he asked what they were doing on his property received a "vulgar, combative and unprofessional" response to "get the f— out of here," court papers obtained by the New York Post said. When he threatened to file a complaint, a cop allegedly slammed his head against a police cruiser and arrested him.