Amazon's Workplace Safety Record Faces Intense Scrutiny Amid Worker Allegations
Amazon, one of the world's largest employers, is under fresh scrutiny for its workplace safety practices, with workers and labor advocates raising alarms over injury rates and treatment of injured staff. Recent incidents and lawsuits have brought renewed attention to the company's internal first aid unit, AmCare, which some employees describe as offering inadequate care.
Allegations of Minimal Care and Pressure to Work
Workers have voiced concerns about AmCare, comparing it to a school nurse service that provides little more than ice packs or water. An anonymous Amazon employee stated, "They only give you an ice pack or water. You can't get adequate help at AmCare. They'll try to keep you there to push you back to work, doing everything to not let you go home." This sentiment echoes broader claims that Amazon prioritizes low injury reporting over proper medical attention.
In a notable case, Billy Foister, a 48-year-old warehouse worker, died after a heart attack in September 2019, with managers allegedly telling staff to "get back to work." More recently, in Troutdale, Oregon, a worker's death was attributed by Amazon to an "existing medical issue," though reports of similar dismissive comments surfaced. Amazon has denied these allegations, emphasizing employee safety as a top priority.
Internal Documents and Legal Battles Highlight Systemic Issues
A Guardian-obtained PowerPoint from August 2022 outlined AmCare's "best practices," focusing on maximizing utilization by preventing workers from seeing compensation doctors. It advised against recommending rest and stressed early treatment to avoid formal injury logs. Amazon disputed this document, calling it outdated and unapproved, but it fuels ongoing debates about injury management.
Juan Loera-Gomez, a 46-year-old worker in San Bernardino, California, filed a lawsuit after sustaining a back injury in October 2024. He claims he was told to keep working post-injury and was later placed on unpaid leave before being terminated in January 2025. "They accommodated my work restrictions at first, but then forced me out. I was fired by a single email," Loera-Gomez said. Amazon has labeled many claims as false, expressing confidence in legal vindication.
Injury Rates and Regulatory Challenges
Amazon's injury rates have fluctuated, with a 2019 serious injury rate of 7.7 per 100 employees, nearly double the industry average. The company uses 2019 as a benchmark, citing normal operations, and reports a decline to 5.0 in 2025, though it remains above industry averages. In 2024, Amazon employed 39% of US warehouse workers but accounted for 56% of serious injuries, according to the Strategic Organizing Center.
Jeff Bezos pledged in 2021 to make Amazon "Earth's safest place to work," aiming to halve injury rates by 2025. However, by its own metrics, the company fell short, with a recordable incident rate dropping from 7.6 in 2021 to 5.0 in 2025. A December 2024 Senate report accused Amazon of manipulating injury data, a claim the company disputes.
Regulatory Settlements and Political Influences
Under the Trump administration, workplace safety oversight has shifted, with OSHA inspections dropping 20% and penalties falling 45% from 2024 to 2025. In December 2024, OSHA and Amazon settled multiple hazardous condition cases, involving nationwide assessments. A former OSHA official noted that Bezos blocking a Washington Post endorsement for Kamala Harris influenced the settlement, reflecting changing political dynamics.
Amazon's political donations have also drawn attention, with $1 million given to Trump's 2025 inaugural fund, compared to smaller amounts in prior years. The company maintains a collaborative approach with administrations, as stated by spokesperson Sam Stephenson, who highlighted a $2.5 billion safety investment and a 43% reduction in incident rates since 2019.
Ongoing Legal and Public Pressure
Additional lawsuits, such as those by Lashone Brown in Nevada and workers over heat conditions in California, underscore persistent safety concerns. Attorney Lauren Teukolsky, representing Loera-Gomez, remarked, "This isn't an isolated incident. There's a clear pattern in Amazon warehouses." As regulatory and public scrutiny intensifies, Amazon continues to defend its practices while facing calls for greater transparency and worker protection.
