Amazon is under intense criticism following a Senate investigation accusing the company of prioritizing operational speed over employee safety while allegedly manipulating injury data to minimize risks in its warehouses.
The investigation, led by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders, spanned 18 months. It analyzed seven years of injury records and included testimonies from over 130 Amazon employees.
The report reveals that injury rates at Amazon warehouses were significantly higher than the industry average, with employees reportedly facing nearly double the risk of injury compared to peers at other warehouses. In 2023 alone, Amazon’s facilities recorded 30% more injuries than the sector average.
The investigation concluded that Amazon’s intense work pace undermines its own safety protocols, exposing workers to preventable risks. “Amazon’s ongoing and daily endangerment of the nation’s second-largest private-sector workforce must stop. Congress cannot allow any company to treat its employees as disposable,” the report stated.
Amazon Denies Allegations
Amazon has strongly contested the report’s findings, calling the investigation biased and misrepresentative of its safety initiatives. In a statement, the company argued that the report distorts the facts to fit a misleading narrative and emphasized its efforts to reduce workplace injuries.
“This investigation wasn’t about uncovering the truth but about collecting selective information to support a preconceived agenda,” Amazon stated.
The company also defended its injury rate comparisons, which the report criticized as misleading. The investigation claims that Amazon benchmarks its injury data against larger warehouses with over 1,000 employees, which typically report higher injury rates. However, many Amazon facilities have smaller workforces, and broader industry comparisons would reportedly paint a less favorable picture for the retail giant.
Injured Workers Allegedly Discouraged from Seeking Care.
The report also accuses Amazon of discouraging employees with workplace injuries from seeking external medical treatment. Evidence from testimonies and records suggests that Amazon’s on-site health centers obstruct workers from accessing appropriate care by placing blame on employees for their injuries, withholding expert consultations, and denying referrals to external healthcare providers.
These findings align with earlier claims by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which determined last year that repetitive tasks like twisting, bending, and long-reaching movements in Amazon’s warehouses pose a significant risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
The Senate report further details cases of chronic pain, mobility issues, and permanent disabilities among Amazon workers, attributing these conditions to unsafe practices within the company’s facilities.
Despite Amazon’s assertions that its safety measures are effective, the investigation has intensified calls for stricter oversight and tighter regulations for warehouse operations. As public and regulatory pressure increases, Amazon is under growing scrutiny regarding its approach to worker safety and injury reporting practices.
