The pressures of working at speed in an Amazon warehouse

Anyone who needs a Birthday present at short notice, or realises they have a missing ingredient for the cakes they are making for the school fair, will appreciate the speed and convenience of hopping onto the Amazon website and ordering a delivery for the next day.

However, items arriving at speed can put untold pressures on the employees servicing this need. Indeed, injuries caused by Amazon’s requirement that items be despatched fast and conveniently have increased in recent years.

A report on the BBC website from June last year outlined that Amazon warehouse injuries were 80% higher than competitors, according to a union-backed study of safety data.

The report sets out that, not only are Amazon workers injured more frequently than non-Amazon workers, they are also injured more severely.  A leaflet published by an Amazon warehouse in Tulsa was criticised as they referred to workers as ‘industrial athletes’, suggesting that they could be working up to 13 miles a day and lifting over 9 kilos before they complete their shift.

All of which puts untold demands on the body and leads to psychological pressures that ultimately cause accident and injury.

As an Amazon worker, you can help prevent such accidents happening by ensuring you take sufficient breaks, only lifting weight that you can reasonably manage (following sufficient manual handling training) and reporting any hazards or issues to your superior.

If the worst does happen, make sure any accidents (or near misses) are properly reported and encourage others to do the same.  Injuries should be treated appropriately, with first aid promptly administered and a visit to the GP or hospital if necessary.  Here at Oakwood we are always happy to discuss any issues you may have and, if you are injured through no fault of your own, we are here to help at no charge.

Prevention is always better than cure and, with online shopping always on the rise, please do all you can to keep yourselves and others safe in the workplace.

Further reading

For further information about accident at work and your rights, visit the FAQ here on our website.

General information and advice about employee rights can be found on the ACAS website.

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