Workers at Amazon warehouses were injured at almost twice the rate as all other warehouse workers in 2021, according to a new report.
The report, prepared by Rutgers labor Professor Carmen Martino and New Jersey Policy Perspective’s research Director Nicole Rodriguez, is being used as ammo by advocates who say it shows the online retailer had an abysmal workplace safety record at its warehouses and that the Port Authority should reject a proposed $400+ million Amazon freight hub at the Newark Liberty International Airport.
As the report shows, Amazon warehouse workers suffered 7.7 injuries per 100 workers in 2021, compared to 4 injuries per 100 workers for all other warehouse employees. Other key findings in the report:
- Workers at Amazon’s 53 facilities in New Jersey suffered 1,605 injuries on the job in 2021, including 1,386 serious enough to cause time away from work or work duty restrictions.
- The overall injury rate at Amazon’s New Jersey warehouses in 2021 increased by more than 54% from 2020.
- Amazon accounted for 47% of New Jersey’s general warehouse and storage industry workforce, but over 57% of serious injuries for that sector.
- Workplace injuries at Amazon’s New Jersey facilities resulted in nearly 14,000 days of lost time and over 47,700 days of light or restricted duty.
According to advocates, these numbers warrant concern about safety conditions in Amazon warehouses, which have long been subject to scrutiny for functioning as a production system built for speed and profit and not for the people who make the system work. They say it should give officials pause on approving more warehouses, especially those from Amazon, which have surged in recent pandemic years thanks to an e-commerce boom.
As a firm that fights for workers and families in both personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, Levinson Axelrod, P.A. supports efforts that encourage our lawmakers and officials to prioritize safety and ensure that corporations create safe working environments for their employees.
Comprised of award-winning attorneys, many of whom are New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation and Civil Trial Law, we also help warehouse workers across the state evaluate their options for seeking benefits following work-related injuries. To speak with an attorney about your potential matter, call (732) 440-3089 or contact us online.