Amazon Staff Severely Injured at Two times the Charge of Different Warehouses, Learn about Unearths

Accidents at Amazon warehouses jumped final yr, in keeping with a learn about revealed Tuesday through union coalition the Strategic Organizing Heart. Harm reviews at Amazon warehouses exceeded 38,000 in 2021, an build up of greater than 20% over the former yr, in keeping with the learn about. Of the recorded accidents, greater than 89%, or more or less 34,000, have been categorised as “critical” accidents that left staff both not able to accomplish their common activity purposes or compelled them to leave out paintings solely. 

The SOC, a coalition of 4 exertions unions together with the World Brotherhood of Teamsters and Communications Staff of The usa, stated its learn about is in keeping with information submitted through Amazon to the USA Occupational Protection and Well being Management.  

In 2021, the speed of great accidents consistent with 100 staff was once 6.8, greater than two times the typical charge of great accidents at non-Amazon warehouses (3.3 consistent with 100), in keeping with the learn about. 

The figures come at a time when Amazon’s running prerequisites are beneath larger scrutiny. The corporate has confronted allegations of, amongst different issues, erroneous emergency procedures, inadequate precautions round COVID-19 and insufficient toilet breaks for staff. Workers in Staten Island, New York, not too long ago voted to grow to be the primary unionized Amazon warehouse, even though the corporate has since referred to as for a revote, alleging that low employee turnout and imaginable voter suppression contributed to the effects.

Based on the learn about, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated the rise in accidents is due partially to the COVID-19 pandemic. The corporate “employed tens of 1000’s of extra folks to assist us meet the unexpected call for,” which “like different corporations within the trade,” ended in an build up in recordable accidents, Nantel stated. 

Nantel additionally stated recordable accidents noticed a decline of 13% from pre-pandemic running prerequisites in 2019, however notes that the corporate nonetheless has extra paintings to do and “would possibly not be happy till we’re superb in relation to protection.”