Most people have negative connotations with Amazon warehouses due to the countless headlines surrounding employees’ treatments and injuries across the United States.
However, most people underestimate exactly how many accidents happen on the warehouse floor. Between dangerous equipment, shifting work environments and distracted co-workers, accidents happen almost every day. Some of the daily incidents that employees suffer from include:
Slips, trips and falls
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, slips, trips, and falls cause nearly 700 fatalities per year and many more in injuries. Warehouses are perfect conditions for a severe fall due to:
- Water and chemical spills
- Significant amounts of dust or powder
- Electrical cords positioned in walkways
- General clutter surrounding the work areas
- High use of ladders
While employers can prevent these hazards, most workers will attest to consistent falls still happen on the warehouse floor.
Forklift accidents
Forklifts are an excellent resource for most warehouse employees. However, they are also a source of significant injury. About 100 employees are killed due to forklift accidents, and 95,000 injuries happen every year across all industries, including retail and distribution. It means at least 250 forklift-related injuries occur a day.
The reason for the high volume of forklift injuries usually falls back on training. Employers have to adequately train, evaluate and certify any employees who intend to operate the forklifts. The employers also have to ensure that the forklifts are adequately maintained to prevent any malfunctions while in use. It creates a perfect storm for user error and injury among warehouse staff.
Lifting injuries
Back injuries are widespread in warehouses due to the constant lifting and moving of packages and products. Lifting injuries happen consistently and only get worse over time. Most employers, including Amazon, try to emphasize the importance of proper lifting techniques.
However, if supervisors and higher employees aren’t watching for proper form, many workers will likely continue to lift improperly for years and cause long-term damage to their bodies.
Due to the frequency of injuries, it’s critical that staff members seek medical attention quickly after an injury. If you wait too long, the recovery and the compensation will only get worse.