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What happened: A new report claims that Amazon was responsible for more than half of all serious injuries recorded at U.S. warehouses in 2022. The report from the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) says Amazon's injury rate has not improved, despite promises by the company to ramp up workplace safety. What the numbers say: Amazon's rate of worker injuries was 70% higher when compared to other warehouses last year, according to the SOC. The union coalition says Amazon's "serious injuries," which it defines as injuries that prevent workers from doing their regular job functions or force them to take time off work, are happening at more than double the rate of other warehouses. Amazon's injury rate, or those recorded for every 100 workers, has remained largely unchanged over the years since 2017. Why it matters: In 2019, Amazon began piloting a safety and injury prevention program, and later pledged to spend $300M to cut down on its recordable incident rates in workplaces. The SOC's latest figures, taken from OSHA, seem to suggest that Amazon is not prioritizing workplace safety enough to make significant progress in this area. Response: Amazon fired back at the allegations, saying the health and safety and health of workers remain its "top priority." A spokesperson called it "unsurprising that a self-interested group like this would work to twist the facts to paint an inaccurate picture." |
