Is Amazon a Safe Place To Work?

• July 3, 2024
• Attorney David Mann
• Workplace Accidents

In an era that eCommerce greatly influences, Amazon stands as a giant in the global marketplace. With their extensive network of warehouses and a workforce that is scattered across the globe, it’s hard to escape the reach of this retail titan. Amazon has unquestionably transformed how we shop, but behind its smooth delivery of goods, there is a pressing question: Is Amazon a safe place to work?

This blog answers this all-important question and sheds light on Amazon’s safety culture. If you or a loved one sustains a work injury at Amazon, contact Mann Law Firm immediately to learn your legal options.

Why Hire Mann Law Firm to Help With Your Amazon Workers’ Comp Issues?

At Mann Law Firm, we know and understand the plight of Amazon workers. Our experience in this field has helped us build strategies to go against the organization in your favor.

When your hard work has helped Amazon add to its profits, and you are hurt at work, it isn’t fair that you should worry about how you will feed your family. Call Mann Law Firm at (478) 742-3381 for a free consultation about your workers’ compensation issue.

Amazon Workplace Safety

The working conditions and safety standards within Amazon’s commercial center have been the subject of intense scrutiny, with passionate criticisms. However, those who work there and those who have been injured on the job can categorically say that Amazon is not always a safe place to work — they believe that the company is more focused on speed of delivery than it is on the safety of its workers.

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) also deemed Amazon’s workplace unsafe, as the company has been gracing the council’s Dirty Dozen list for a few years now. But Amazon keeps trying to put a lid over the safety issue.

If you’ve been hurt at work as an Amazon employee, it is a good idea to get the advice of a knowledgeable work injury law firm, especially if the company is claiming your injuries were not work-related. You need trusted workers’ compensation attorneys by your side, and you can contact us concerning your workers’ comp issues.

Amazon’s Working Conditions

According to state labor regulators, the working conditions at Amazon expose its staff to an increased risk of injury, especially musclular and skeletal injuries. These workers sustain this kind of injury because they awkwardly twist and bend when moving goods in the warehouse.

The tools that are being used in the company’s warehouses are not suitable for favorable work conditions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued citations against the company at six warehouses in December 2022 and January and February of 2023 over their unsafe working conditions and failure to properly report injuries.

One of their many warehouses was cited in early 2023 for exposing workers to ergonomic risks. In 2021, the company’s warehouses had a rate of 7.7 injuries per worker, almost two times the average rate of 4.0 injuries for every 100 workers in other warehouses. Regarding serious injuries, compared to different warehouses with a rate of 3.3 per 100 workers, Amazon has a rate of 6.8 per 100 workers.

Amazon Employee Safety

The company has tried to deny the safety allegations on several occasions. However, a worker at one of the warehouses said the company has yet to make any changes since the OSHA citations were issued. The worker further stated that they were not surprised that violations were found in the warehouse.

The management at that particular warehouse pushed production goals on the workers for very long hours, with little to no thought for the workers’ safety. Workers have reported that there is a specific production rate they are supposed to meet each hour for every processing path. One of them gave an example of the packing department, where 200 units are expected per hour and failure to meet the demand results in warnings, write-ups, etc.

Another Amazon worker said for years he spoke up about the lack of enforcement of safety rules, until he was eventually fired in 2022. Before getting sacked, he had been injured in March 2021; he had accidentally tripped on a safety wire cage, fell, and hit his head on the frame of a conveyor belt. The warehouse where he worked and was injured had the highest injury rate of any Amazon warehouse in 2021.

He said the company constantly stated that they are concerned about their workers, but this is a fallacy they like to put forth — they are more concerned about profit. Any time workers try to protest, the company responds to their grievances by suspending the workers involved in the protest.

How to Ensure a Safe Work Environment

A safe work environment is an environment where workers feel safe, comfortable, and at ease both physically and emotionally. Creating and maintaining a safe work environment for employees should be a top priority for organizations. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Law, employers have the responsibility to create and maintain a safe work environment and abide by the given regulations.

The following are some ways to ensure a safe work environment:

• Eliminate Potential Hazards: Employers should provide their employees with a safe working environment that is free from serious recognized hazards and make sure it complies with OSHA standards, rules, and regulations.
• Provide Workers With the Right Equipment: Organizations should ensure their workers use safe tools correctly. They should also make sure each piece of equipment is maintained correctly.
• Properly Train Employees: Every organization should provide safety training for their workers in the language they understand.
• Use Safety Aids and Messages: Employers should have posters, color codes, labels, and signs in necessary places to warn workers of potential risks and hazards.
• Hold Timely Safety Meetings: An organization should make sure that it holds a timely committee meeting among the employees of every level and department. The purpose of the panels should be to keep management and employees informed about safety topics, update operating procedures, inspections, illness and injury statistics, and proper communication of other relevant issues.

Amazon Labor Conditions

Due to research carried out by OSHA investigators, which is required by federal law, the administration found that Amazon warehouse workers are at high risk of workplace injury based on their labor conditions. The risks they face are related to the following:

• The amount of time (hours) required to complete tasks
• Heavy items handled by workers
• The high frequency with which these workers must lift packages or items
• Workers’ twisting, bending, and extending themselves to lift these heavy items.

The organization’s operating methods are causing dangerous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries.

Is Amazon a Safe Place To Work FAQs

The following are some of the questions our clients ask concerning the safety of Amazon’s workplace:

Can Employees Refuse to Work in Unsafe Conditions at Amazon?

In many organizations, employees can refuse any work they believe to be unsafe without fear of retaliation. Amazon generally has policies in place to protect this right.

Can I Seek Legal Recourse if I Experience a Workplace Injury at Amazon?

In case of a workplace injury, an injured worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Consulting with a legal professional is advisable in such cases.

What Should I Do After a Work Accident at Amazon?

Report your injury to your supervisor or manager, get medical treatment, gather as much evidence as possible, and get legal representation.

Get Help From Mann Law Firm

If Amazon tries to discourage you from filing a workers’ comp claim, denies your claim, or cuts short benefits you are already getting, consider contacting a workers’ compensation lawyer. At Mann Law Firm, we have experienced attorneys who can help you with your workers’ compensation issues. Contact us at (478) 742-3381 for a free consultation.