US Attorney’s Office for Southern District of New York Conducts Investigation Into Amazon Warehouse Safety And Related Issues
August 10, 2022
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–The U.S. Department of Labor, Regional Director of Public Affairs, Leni Fortson has confirmed that OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating three worker deaths at Amazon facilities in New Jersey. The Amazon facilities are located in Cateret, Robbinsville and Monroe Township, NJ.
- A worker fatality on July 13 at an Amazon facility in Carteret, NJ
- An accident on July 24 at an Amazon facility in Robbinsville, NJ . The worker died on July 27.
- A worker fatality on August 4 at an Amazon facility in Monroe Township, NJ
OSHA has up to six months to complete each investigation. Since these are all open investigations, this is all the information available at this time.
Sam Stephenson, an Amazon Spokesperson told MidJersey.News “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of our colleagues and offer our condolences to their family and friends. Each of these tragic incidents have affected our teams greatly, and we are providing resources for families and employees who need them. Our investigations are ongoing and we’re cooperating with OSHA, which is conducting its own reviews of the events, as it often does in these situations.”
On attributable background:
- As part of their normal operating procedures, OSHA often investigates deaths that occur in the workplace. We’re working with them as they conduct a review of these situations.
- Regarding our EWR9 facility in Carteret, NJ, our internal investigation has shown that this was not a work-related incident, and instead was related to a personal medical condition. OSHA is currently investigating the incident, and, based upon the evidence currently available to us, we fully expect that it will reach the same conclusion.
The Robbinsville Township Police Department reported they responded at 8:06 a.m., on Sunday July 24, 2022, to 18 Applegate Drive (Amazon Warehouse) for a fall victim. The police report indicates that the worker fell from approximately three feet off a ladder striking his head. The accident was reported in an open docking bay. When police officers arrived, the worker was conscious and alert, but it was reported that CPR was conducted by workers on scene prior to police arrival. The victim was subsequently transported to Capitol Health Regional Trauma Center by Robbinsville Ambulance and Paramedics. Police notified OSHA of the incident on the same day.
United States Attorney’s Office for Southern District of NY Amazon Warehouse Investigation
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is investigating workplace safety and related issues at Amazon warehouses, including injuries resulting from workplace hazards, worker rate requirements and the pace of work, and whether Amazon appropriately reported on-the-job injuries. We would like to hear from current and former warehouse workers, supervisors, safety team members, AmCare staff, or anyone else with relevant information.
Thank you for taking the time to report your information regarding workplace safety and related issues at Amazon warehouses. We understand that not all these questions are applicable to every person’s experience, so please provide as much information as you are comfortable sharing and at the end you will have the opportunity to provide any additional information you would like to share.
If you have worked at Amazon and want to report safety and related issues at an Amazon warehouse you can access the form here: SDNY Amazon Warehouse Investigation
An accident on July 24 at an Amazon facility in Robbinsville, NJ . The worker died on July 27.
A worker fatality on August 4 at an Amazon facility in Monroe Township, NJ
Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. and Donald Norcross called on OSHA to investigate the abnormally high rate of serious injury at Amazon’s New Jersey warehouses. Following the death of a New Jersey warehouse worker during the Prime Day rush, we must have transparency and accountability.
U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) reiterated his call for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to investigate the safety of Amazon’s warehouses following reports of a death at one of the company’s warehouses in New Jersey. He also expressed surprise at the news that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is investigating Amazon warehouses. They have called on current and former Amazon warehouse workers to fill out this form to aid the investigation.
“Based on my experience in labor and workplace safety issues, it is exceptionally rare for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to get involved in worker safety problems, something that traditionally falls under the jurisdiction of OSHA. I am very interested to see where this investigation leads,” said Congressman Norcross. “Given the number of calls my office has received from Amazon employees, it is critically important for OSHA to conduct a thorough analysis and investigation of Amazon’s facilities to ensure warehouse workers are safe.”
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, it is “investigating workplace safety and related issues at Amazon warehouses, including injuries resulting from workplace hazards, worker rate requirements and the pace of work, and whether Amazon appropriately reported on-the-job injuries.”
Congressman Norcross called on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to investigate the abnormally high rate of serious injuries at Amazon warehouses in April 2022.
Southern New Jersey Amazon warehouse workers who have experienced or witnessed unsafe work conditions in New Jersey Amazon warehouses can also contact OSHA’s Marlton Area Office at (856) 596-5200.
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