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Amazon Ignored Internal Studies on Injuries, Senate Investigation Claims
For years, reports have surfaced detailing alarming injury rates among employees and contractors at Amazon’s warehouses. The issue has been attributed to the fast-paced environment, with workers being pushed to meet demanding production targets. However, a recent investigation by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has shed new light on the matter.
According to the report, Amazon’s own internal research, conducted in 2020 and 2021, reached conclusions similar to those previously reported by journalists and advocacy groups. Despite these findings, executives at the company chose not to act on them.
The Senate Committee investigation details two internal initiatives that aimed to study worker injuries: Project Elderwand and Project Soteria. The first initiative identified an upper bound of repetitive motions workers could perform before suffering substantial risk of injury. It noted that current quotas were above this rate, indicating a clear link between workload and injury risk. Meanwhile, the second project established a connection between work speed and the likelihood of injury.
Both studies recommended relaxing the pace of work to mitigate these risks, but it appears that Amazon’s executives ignored their own research. This inaction has serious consequences for the well-being and safety of thousands of workers employed by the company.
Amazon’s response to the report was dismissive, with a spokeswoman claiming that the Senate Committee used “out-of-date documents” from 2020 and 2021. However, this does little to alleviate concerns about the company’s handling of worker injuries. Amazon has previously been cited for failing to maintain a safe working environment by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with a dozen warehouses being issued fines in 2022.
Independent investigations have corroborated these findings, with a Washington Post report from 2021 revealing that Amazon warehouse workers were seriously injured at a rate nearly twice that of the warehousing industry average. A similar investigation by Reveal in 2019 reached similar conclusions.
It is imperative that Amazon takes concrete steps to address these issues and prioritize the well-being of its employees. The Senate Committee’s report serves as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and transparency from corporate leaders.
In light of these findings, it is crucial that policymakers and regulators take immediate action to ensure the safety and dignity of workers in all industries, not just Amazon. The situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive labor reforms that put worker well-being above profit margins.
Source: www.engadget.com
