Amazon’s own health and safety teams warned of dangerous quotas, but executives chose profits over worker safety.
At a Glance
- Senate investigation reveals Amazon ignored internal safety warnings
- Production quotas linked to high injury rates in Amazon warehouses
- Amazon’s injury rates nearly double the industry average
- Company disputes findings, claims outdated and unverifiable information
Amazon’s Profit-Driven Neglect of Worker Safety
A Senate labor committee report, spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders, has uncovered a disturbing pattern of neglect within Amazon’s warehouse operations. Internal documents reveal that the e-commerce giant’s own health and safety teams raised red flags about the correlation between rigid production quotas and soaring injury rates among workers. However, in a move that prioritizes profits over people, senior executives reportedly dismissed these warnings, refusing to ease quota enforcement despite clear evidence of its detrimental impact on employee well-being.
The investigation’s findings support claims from worker advocates and some officials that Amazon’s relentless pursuit of productivity is directly contributing to an unsafe work environment. This revelation comes as a damning indictment of the company’s labor practices, particularly as it continues to expand its workforce and warehouse operations across the country.
Internal Studies Ignored, Safety Recommendations Shelved
Two internal studies, codenamed Project Elderwand and Project Soteria, identified clear links between work pace and injury rates. These studies recommended changes to mitigate the risks, but shockingly, these recommendations were not implemented. Instead, Amazon executives expressed concerns that implementing safety measures could negatively impact productivity and customer experience, revealing a troubling prioritization of profit over worker safety.
Amazon’s Pushback and Disputed Claims
In response to these alarming findings, Amazon has gone on the defensive. Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, dismissed the Senate report, claiming it relied on outdated and unverifiable information. This pushback, however, rings hollow in the face of mounting evidence and regulatory action against the company.
“Sen. Sanders’ report is wrong on the facts and weaves together out-of-date documents and unverifiable anecdotes to create a preconceived narrative,” Nantel claimed.
Despite Amazon’s claims of improved safety measures and declining injury rates, the facts paint a different picture. Federal and state regulators have cited Amazon for numerous safety violations, with OSHA proposing fines and California regulators penalizing the company for quota-related violations. These regulatory actions suggest that Amazon’s safety issues are far from resolved.
The Human Cost of Amazon’s Productivity Push
Perhaps most concerning are the reports from Amazon employees who claim they’ve been disciplined for not meeting productivity targets. This contradicts Amazon’s public statements about flexible performance targets and raises serious questions about the company’s commitment to worker well-being. The Senate report also criticizes Amazon’s method of comparing its injury rates to industry averages, suggesting that the company may be manipulating data to downplay the severity of the problem.
Furthermore, the investigation alleges that Amazon makes it difficult for injured workers to receive appropriate medical care, often discouraging them from seeking external medical attention. This practice, if true, is not only morally reprehensible but potentially illegal.
