‘Get back to work’: Amazon faces fresh scrutiny over workplace safety record

Amazon is facing renewed scrutiny over its workplace safety practices amid reports from employees and labor advocates alleging inadequate treatment of injured workers and high injury rates at its facilities. The company, one of the world’s largest employers, has been criticized for its handling of workplace injuries, including claims that injured workers are pressured to return to work prematurely. This follows recent incidents, including the death of a worker at a distribution center in Troutdale, Oregon, and past cases such as the 2019 death of Billy Foister, who suffered a heart attack inside an Amazon warehouse. Internal documents obtained reveal that Amazon’s in-house first aid unit, AmCare, reportedly emphasizes minimizing referrals to outside medical professionals and discourages sending workers home or excusing time off for injuries. A training presentation from August 2022 outlined strategies to “maximize AMCARE Utilization” by treating injuries internally and preventing workers from seeking external medical care on the first day of injury. Amazon has disputed the authenticity and current relevance of this document, stating it was never approved for use and does not reflect company policies. The controversy extends to individual cases such as that of Juan Loera-Gomez, who filed a lawsuit after sustaining a severe back and shoulder injury while working alone in an area typically staffed by multiple workers at an Amazon sortation center in California. According to the lawsuit, Loera-Gomez was instructed to continue working despite his injury, highlighting ongoing concerns about workplace safety and injury management at Amazon facilities. These developments come as federal workplace safety oversight undergoes changes under the current administration, intensifying focus on how large employers like Amazon manage employee health and safety. The company insists employee safety is a top priority, yet critics argue that systemic issues remain unresolved, raising questions about the effectiveness of internal safety protocols and the treatment of injured workers.