Amazon Workers Comp Claims for Warehouse Injuries
In 2019, data leaked to the investigative-journalism site Reveal shocked the world with Amazon’s high number of injured workers. While Amazon has been under fire after this “whistleblower” report, many still question how seriously the company takes their employees’ safety.
Thousands of Workers Comp cases are filed annually on behalf of workers who were injured in Amazon facilities – especially in warehouses, receiving centers, and fulfillment centers.
The Amazon Whistleblower Work Injury Data
According to the leaked data, Amazon employees suffered 14,000 serious injuries in 150 US Amazon warehouses in 2019. (Injuries are considered serious if an employee has to take time off work and/or changes needed to be made to their job.)
Amazon employee injury rates per 100 workers increased every year since 2016. And the Amazon rate of worker injury was 33% higher in 2019 than it was in 2016. Even worse, Amazon’s employee injury rate is almost twice that of what is considered “standard” in the industry.
And, as might very well be expected, Amazon employee injuries spiked dramatically during the busy shopping season leading up to Christmas – and during Amazon’s huge “Cyber Monday” and “Prime Day” shopping events.
Why Robots Increase Amazon Worker Injury Rates
Surprisingly to “outsiders”, the whistleblower data also showed that injury rates were higher on average in warehouses that used robots than in non-robotic facilities. The leaked data actually showed that the average rate of injury in Amazon facilities with robots was 50% higher than those without robots.
While one would think robots eased worker hardships, quite the opposite is true. Amazon employees have reported that prior to the implementation of robots, employees were expected to process 100 items per hour. But, after the robots came into use, workers were expected to process up to 400 items per hour!
California Amazon Worker Injury Rates
We’ve separated out just the California Amazon worker injury rates, so you can see how well (or poorly) your Amazon facility is doing in terms of worker injuries.
Amazon Worker Injury Rates Per 100 Workers:
- Fresno: 13.1
- Fontana: 9.9
- Redlands: 9.0
- Riverside: 10.3
- Rialto: 6.6 (warehouse)
- Rialto: 7.5 (receiving center)
- Rialto: 13.6 (large item warehouse)
- Patterson: 11.4
- Tracy: 11.6
- San Bernardino: 6.4 (sortable warehouse)
- San Bernardino: 5.9 (warehouse)
- Moreno Valley: 3.6 (warehouse)
- Moreno Valley: 7.7 (receiving center)
- Redlands: 14.8
- Sacramento: 10.6
- Stockton: 6.8
- Eastvale: 3.7
Workers Comp Attorneys for Injured Amazon Workers
Of course, this has been a public relations nightmare for Amazon who continually counters these claims with statements such as: “We continue to see improvements in injury prevention and reduction through programs focused on improved ergonomics, delivering guided physical and wellness exercises, providing mechanical workstation assistance equipment…”
However, Amazon warehouse injuries resulting in Workers Comp claims continue at record rates.
If you were injured or made ill at any Amazon facility, our experienced workers comp attorneys are here to help you. Your consultation with our workers’ comp lawyers is 100% confidential, and neither Amazon nor your insurance company will be notified that you requested a consultation with us.
Our attorneys will help you understand your rights and work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the maximum workers’ comp benefits for which you qualify.