Amazon's annual Prime Day sales event, which begins this Tuesday, July 16 has been identified as a major cause of warehouse worker injuries, according to a year-long Senate investigation into Amazon's workplace safety, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
High Injury Rates During Prime Day Sales Week
(Photo : Simon Bak from Unsplash)
As Prime Day, the biggest shopping event in the country arrives, Amazon is pressed to respond to the recent findings of Senate's HELP regarding the workers' conditions.
According to CNBC, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's review found a spike in workplace injuries during Prime Day sales week in 2019.
The report, based on internal Amazon data, revealed that nearly 45 out of 100 workers sustained injuries such as muscle sprains, rotator cuff injuries, and herniated disks. These injury rates surged again during the holiday shopping season at the end of the year.
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Causes of Increased Injuries
The committee's investigation attributed these high injury rates to several factors, including understaffing, "unsustainable productivity requirements," and ignored safety protocols.
Amazon's internal data highlighted that during major sales events, the company often fails to meet its hiring targets, leading to insufficient staffing and increased pressure on existing workers.
Senate's Call for Accountability
Sen. Sanders, chair of the HELP Committee, expressed grave concerns over the findings. He criticized Amazon for the high level of injuries and hinted at the possibility of holding hearings where Amazon executives could testify about these issues.
"Despite all their wealth and profits, [Amazon and its executives] end up doing everything they can to stress out their workers and push them as hard as they possibly can to make as much money as they possibly can," Sanders told The Washington Post.
Amazon Denied Accuracy of Senate's Preliminary Results
Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel responded by emphasizing that employee safety is a top priority for the company. She noted that Amazon's recordable injury rate has improved significantly since 2019, from 8.7 injuries per 200,000 hours worked in 2019 to 6.3 in 2023.
Nantel dismissed the Senate committee's report as inaccurate and based on unverified anecdotes and outdated documents.
Impact of Prime Day on Warehouse Safety
Prime Day, which this year falls on July 16 and 17, is a major revenue generator for Amazon, with last year's event generating $12.7 billion in sales over two days, according to Adobe Analytics.
The popularity of Prime Day has led Amazon to introduce additional sales events throughout the year. However, the Senate report suggests that these events come at a significant cost to worker safety.
Continued Scrutiny and Federal Investigations
Amazon has long been under scrutiny for its workplace safety practices. The Senate review found that warehouse workers sustained "recordable" injuries at more than twice the industry average during Prime Day in 2019.
Recordable injuries are those requiring medical attention beyond basic first aid. Despite improvements in injury rates following the implementation of COVID-19 protocols in 2020, the Senate report suggests these rates might still be underestimated due to alleged underreporting.
Federal and State Violations
The Senate investigation also highlighted several federal and state recordkeeping violations by the Seattle giant, including failing to record injuries and misclassifying them.
This finding aligns with other ongoing federal investigations by OSHA and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as well as recent fines by California labor officials for violating state laws designed to protect warehouse workers.
Amazon's Efforts to Improve Safety
In response to these criticisms, Amazon claims it invested to improve safety initiatives. The company says it has automated several tasks and introduced more robotic systems to improve warehouse safety. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable to the critics.
As of now, the future of the Senate investigation remains uncertain, particularly if the political landscape changes. Nonetheless, labor advocates continue to criticize Amazon's workplace safety record and call for more stringent measures to protect warehouse workers.
Amazon Prime Day, while a boon for consumers and the company's revenue, poses significant risks to warehouse workers.
The Senate's investigation gives us an idea about the urgent need for better staffing and safety measures during peak sales periods. It's important that Amazon seriously addresses this issue or else it will have to face the consequences of its actions that might affect its e-commerce business.
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