Amazon's Warehouse Safety Under Scrutiny: A Summary of the Sanders Report

An investigation led by Senator Bernie Sanders has revealed that Amazon is aware of the high injury risks faced by its warehouse workers but continues to prioritize order fulfillment speeds over safety. The report, stemming from an 18-month probe, affirms long-standing allegations from workers and advocates regarding unsafe working conditions at Amazon’s facilities. According to the findings, Amazon’s US warehouses reported injury rates more than 30% higher than the industry average and nearly double the injury rates compared to workers in warehouses operated by other companies over the past seven years.

The investigative team conducted interviews with 135 individuals and reviewed over 1,000 documents, leading to the conclusion that Amazon rejected recommendations that could decrease work pace and improve safety. Notably, a review called Project Soteria examined the correlation between workplace speed and injury rates, but despite its suggestions—including increased breaks and cessation of punitive measures against workers for not meeting pace targets—Amazon chose not to implement these changes.

The company has historically faced criticism for its safety practices, a situation exacerbated during the Covid pandemic, which saw a surge in e-commerce and subsequently increased worker protests. While Amazon claims that the report contains “selective, outdated information” and dismisses the investigation as an attempt to manipulate data to fit a narrative, the Senate report has raised significant concerns over the company’s practices. Amazon asserts that it focuses on larger facilities for safety comparisons and highlights a recent decline in injury rates and a legal victory that dismissed safety complaints.

Despite these assertions, the investigation’s findings pose serious questions about Amazon’s commitment to employee safety, highlighting a potential conflict between corporate profitability and worker welfare. The report underscores a growing need for scrutiny and improvement of safety measures in large-scale warehousing operations.