Investigating Why So Many Amazon Workers Are Dying

Since 2018, numerous Amazon workers have died on the job, with evidence suggesting cover-ups of incidents. Amazon has been listed as one of the most dangerous employers in the US due to ignored safety standards and dystopian workplace policies that force employees to work through injuries, extreme heat, and even natural disasters, all to fulfill rapid delivery promises.

Several incidents highlight Amazon's disregard for worker safety. Ronald Smith died in 2013 after his arm was caught in a conveyor belt. In 2021, a worker collapsed and died from a heart attack after being denied time off due to lack of 'unpaid time off' (UTO). Another 61-year-old man died from a heart attack in 2022, with cardboard bins used to obscure the body while work continued. These are not isolated incidents; many Reddit users and news reports corroborate a pattern of indifference to worker deaths, often instructing employees to continue working.

Amazon's on-site medical clinics, AmCare, staffed by EMTs, are often criticized for downplaying serious medical conditions. Billy Foster, suffering from headaches and chest pains, was sent back to work by AmCare and died a week later from a heart attack. Employees frequently report being told minor injuries like sprains are fine, only to discover later they have broken bones. OSHA investigations have warned that AmCare returns injured workers to regular jobs, exacerbating their conditions and limiting recovery.

Amazon's injury rates are significantly higher than the industry average, with a 2021 report finding Amazon had more than twice the injuries of Walmart warehouses. A concerning policy prohibits employees from calling 911 directly, instead requiring them to contact security or AmCare. This delay can be fatal, as seen in the death of Jeff Lockhart Jr. in 2013, where 9 minutes passed before 911 was called after he collapsed, and paramedics took 20 minutes to reach him. Many AmCare workers are restricted to first aid due to lack of medical directors.

Many deaths are linked to heart conditions, exacerbated by work-related stress. Amazon employs invasive surveillance and AI to monitor employee movements and productivity, creating immense pressure. Workers are given an 'expected rate' for tasks with a countdown timer, and failure to meet this leads to 'time off task' (TOOT) warnings, potentially resulting in termination. This pressure leads some workers to urinate in bottles or avoid drinking water to save time, leading to dehydration and other health issues.

Amazon's delivery drivers face similar pressures, monitored by navigation software that demands deliveries be made on time, threatening termination for failure. This leads to reckless driving and fatal accidents, such as the death of a 2-year-old girl in 2022. Amazon often outsources deliveries to independent companies, creating a layer of plausible deniability and avoiding liability for accidents. Drivers are often forced to skip meals, urinate in bottles, and forgo seatbelts to meet quotas. The company's installation of AI surveillance in delivery vans, like Netradyne, prioritizes speed over safety, often penalizing drivers for unavoidable actions.

Amazon has faced accusations of influencing OSHA investigations. In 2017, Philip Lee Terry died after a forklift fell on him; records showed he received no formal training. An OSHA inspector, John Stallone, was pressured to blame the deceased and lift fines, specifically because Indianapolis was a finalist for Amazon's new headquarters. Stallone resigned after refusing. Later, Amazon settled with OSHA, placing full blame on the employee. Similar incidents occurred in 2022 when three workers died in New Jersey warehouses during a heatwave. OSHA's investigations were allegedly manipulated, with reports suggesting heat was a contributing factor, despite Amazon not being held responsible. Reports regarding these deaths remain unreleased, leading to lawsuits by workers' rights groups.

In December 2021, an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, was hit by a deadly tornado. Despite severe weather warnings, employees were told to continue working, with some threatened with job loss if they left. Managers initially instructed drivers to keep delivering. The emergency action plan was flawed, with a megaphone locked away and no clear shelter instructions. Six employees, including Clayton Cop, died when a concrete wall collapsed in an uninsured bathroom. The building itself was later found to have a code violation regarding unanchored support columns. Jeff Bezos's initial response on Instagram, focusing on his space venture, caused outrage.

Lawsuits for wrongful death and emotional trauma were filed against Amazon and the building's constructors. While OSHA cited issues in the Edwardsville incident, no fines were issued. Senator Bernie Sanders' report highlighted how Amazon discourages outside medical care and manipulates injury data. Amazon attributes injuries to employee 'frailty' and promotes wellness programs as a solution, rather than addressing systemic issues like demanding work rates. Amazon has tried to improve safety through increasing robotics, but critics argue the data is skewed due to pressure on employees to work while injured. The company maintains a strong anti-union stance, exemplified by the closure of Canadian warehouses after successful unionization. The article concludes by urging consumers to support local businesses or buy directly from manufacturers to avoid supporting corporations like Amazon that prioritize profit over employee well-being.