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Amazon Ignored Internal Studies on Injuries, Senate Investigation Claims
A shocking new report by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions has revealed that Amazon deliberately disregarded its own internal research findings indicating high worker injury rates. This disturbing revelation comes as a blow to the company’s already tarnished reputation regarding employee well-being.
According to the investigation, Amazon conducted two studies in 2020 and 2021, known as Project Elderwand and Project Soteria, aimed at identifying the root causes of repetitive motions and work speed-related injuries within its warehouses. The findings were stark: both initiatives concluded that current working conditions were unsustainable and advocated for a relaxation of production pace to mitigate the risks.
Despite these unequivocal results, Amazon executives chose to ignore the studies’ recommendations, opting instead to maintain an arduous work environment that has been linked to numerous injuries. This decision is all the more egregious in light of previous investigations revealing alarming injury rates at Amazon facilities.
In 2019, Reveal published a study exposing excessive injury levels among warehouse workers, with some incidents resulting in serious harm. A subsequent investigation by The Washington Post further corroborated these findings in 2021, noting that Amazon warehouse employees suffer injuries at a rate nearly twice that of the warehousing industry average.
Amazon’s response to this Senate report has been characterized as dismissive, with a company spokeswoman claiming that the investigation relied on “out-of-date documents.” In an attempt to shift public perception, she also pointed out that a Washington State judge had rejected allegations of unsafe working conditions. However, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has issued citations against Amazon for failing to ensure worker safety at multiple warehouses.
The Senate Committee’s findings paint a stark picture of a company prioritizing profits over employee well-being. As the debate on corporate accountability heats up, this report serves as a potent reminder that even internal research cannot be ignored when it contradicts business interests.
What do you think about Amazon ignoring internal studies on injuries?
Source: http://www.engadget.com
