The injury rate at this Amazon warehouse is almost double the national incident rate, but the company claims the level is higher due to good workplace practices.
Amazon’s Texas warehouse had a workplace injury rate of 9.59 in 2019, according to a report, whereas the US national rate was 4.5.
By comparison, the incident rate at a prison is 7.3, according to Gizmodo.
READ MORE:
• Amazon warehouse tracking system automatically sacks underperforming workers
• Shocking details revealed of life working in an Amazon warehouse
• The Warehouse online platform TheMarket launches online subscription service
• Amazon fights back over talk of poor working conditions in its warehouses
Injuries like crushed hands and feet, concussions, fractures, hernias and electric shocks were just some of the incidents recorded at the Texas factory.
One in 10 incidents was even bad enough to be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the US equivalent of Safework Australia.
Amazon has previously said the incident rate is higher because the company has diligent reporting standards.
According to the tech giant, this means that even minor or near incidents are reported whereas other companies will ignore these incidents.
However, the 2019 incident rate represents three years of increases for the warehouse.
In 2017, the Texas warehouse had an incident rate of 8.15. That number rose 8.72 in 2018.
Over a three-year period, this represents a jump of more than 17 per cent, but an Amazon spokesperson told Gizmodo that other companies underrecorded safety incidents.
“Our practices encourage associates to notify us of all injuries and near misses, ensuring that we learn from these incidents and improve each day,” they said.
Amazon said they supported people at the warehouse by having trained professionals onsite 24/7 who could handle everything from sprains to first response during an incident.
“We believe so strongly in the environment provided for fulfilment centre employees, including our safety culture, that we offer public tours where anyone can come see for themselves,” the spokesperson said.
This report follows an interview with Amazon workers at a location in New York who claimed they were treated worse than robots.
Workers at the New York location created a petition asking for one half-hour break instead of two 15-minute ones, as it took 15 minutes to get to the break room.
CEO Jeff Bezos has also been criticised by workers for amassing a fortune while company employees struggle on minimum wage and few benefits.
Despite a costly divorce, Mr Bezos is still the world’s richest man with Bloomberg estimating his net worth at $US127 ($A190) billion.
AMAZON AUSTRALIA
Amazon has warehouses in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth in Australia.
The latest facility was opened in Perth’s Airport Business Precinct last year and will give customers in Western Australia the same delivery options as the east coast.
Amazon Australia director of operations Craig Fuller said the new facility reflected the brand’s development and investment in Australia.
“We strongly believe that this further investment will benefit both customers and the local economy and give Western Australian customers quicker delivery of high-demand items,” he said.
The ABC did a deep dive into the tech giant’s Melbourne facility where they were told that the workplace was “built on a culture of fear” and the high-pressure targets made workers “feel like they couldn’t go to the toilet”.
Anonymous workers told the ABC they felt dehumanised at the facility, and the company’s expectations left many stressed.
“They expect your rate to stay the same all day and you’re expected to keep that rate up all day,” said one worker.
“You can’t go to the toilet.”
Amazon has always defended its warehouse practices and says it upholds the highest safety standards to protect workers.
– news.com.au
Recent Comments