According to a Senate committee’s investigation, nearly half of Amazon’s warehouse workers are injured during its Prime Day savings event. The report, published by Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on the day before this year’s sale began, claims that Amazon’s warehouses are “especially unsafe” during the event. The company’s internal data reveals that the total injury rate during the 2019 Prime Day event was almost 45 injuries per 100 workers, and when only counting those required to be disclosed to OSHA, the rate was more than 10 injuries per 100 workers, which is double the industry average.
The injuries range from minor cuts to serious issues like torn rotator cuffs and concussions, with Sanders suggesting that serious injuries are often underreported. He also points out that Amazon’s history of underrecording injuries means the actual number of injuries sustained on the job is likely higher. Sanders criticized Amazon for regularly understaffing its warehouses during peak seasons, leading to longer hours and increased risk of ignoring safety guidelines.
Despite making $12.7 billion in sales during last year’s Prime Day, Sanders criticized Amazon for its high injury rates and perceived lack of action to ensure worker safety. The interim report is part of an ongoing investigation into Amazon’s warehouse safety practices and is the first time the company’s internal data on injury rates has been made public.
In response to the report, an Amazon spokesperson stated that the data used is outdated and doesn’t reflect the current safety measures in place. The company claims to have made significant progress in reducing injury rates since 2019. Amazon also refuted the report’s claims and emphasized their efforts to staff up for major events and ensure safety across their network.
The report comes after OSHA cited three Amazon warehouses for putting employees at risk of injury last year. In addition, California fined the company $5.9 million last month for alleged violations of Warehouse Quota Law.
