A Senate investigation into workplace conditions at Amazon has found that the company manipulated data on warehouse worker injuries and disregarded internal safety recommendations.
The report, issued by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), highlights concerning practices within Amazon’s operations, including discouraging workers from seeking outside medical care and failing to implement safety measures that could reduce injury risks.
The report, which stems from a broader congressional probe into Amazon’s labor practices, outlines how Amazon warehouses recorded injury rates 30% higher than the industry average in 2023. Additionally, an analysis from The Washington Post in 2021 found Amazon’s injury rates were nearly double that of other businesses in the warehousing sector.
The investigation, which began in June 2023, relied on interviews with over 130 Amazon workers, along with internal documents provided by the company. These documents revealed that Amazon often ignored its own safety research in favor of maintaining high production quotas, which the committee believes contributed to elevated injury rates.
One significant finding from the report is that Amazon disregarded safety guidelines established by its own internal studies. For instance, a 2021 study known as “Project Elderwand” suggested limiting the number of repetitive motions warehouse workers could make during a 10-hour shift to reduce the risk of back injuries. However, the report states that Amazon never implemented the recommended measures, such as limiting the number of items a worker could pick per hour, due to concerns over potential impacts on customer service.
Similarly, a 2020 study called “Project Soteria” proposed slowing down the pace of work to reduce injuries, but Amazon rejected these recommendations. The committee also found that Amazon actively discouraged injured workers from seeking outside medical care and made it difficult for them to obtain necessary workplace accommodations.
Amazon has denied the committee’s findings. Company spokesperson Kelly Nantel criticized the report, claiming it relied on outdated documents and unverified anecdotes. Nantel also emphasized a recent legal victory in Washington state, where a judge dismissed a state regulator’s allegations that Amazon had violated health and safety regulations.
The HELP Committee’s investigation comes amid increasing scrutiny over Amazon’s safety record. Last year, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited multiple Amazon warehouses for unsafe working conditions, particularly those that led to joint and soft-tissue injuries. Additionally, Amazon faced a $5.9 million fine in California for failing to comply with laws aimed at protecting workers from productivity quotas that may jeopardize health and safety.
With input from the Washington Post and the New York Post.
