Democratic senators press Amazon over injury rates | TheHill – The Hill

Agroup of senators, including Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownMcConnell displays mastery of Senate with impeachment victory End of impeachment trial to leave deep scars in Senate Trump bashes 'Medicare for All' in swipe at Sanders MORE (D-Ohio) and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSanders campaign to request partial Iowa recanvass Trump under pressure to renew last nuke treaty with Russia Buttigieg takes delegate lead in Iowa after updated results released MORE (I-Vt.),pressed Amazon in a letter on Mondayover the higher-than-industry-average injury rates in its U.S. warehouses, pushing the company to take "concrete actions" to ensure its facilities are as safe as possible.

Citing recent reports from aunion-backed advocacy groupand the Center For Investigative Reporting, the senators accused Amazon of placing profit over worker safety. The letter emerges amid reignited scrutiny ofhow Amazon treatsits hundreds of thousands of employees, some of whom havegone public with personal anecdotes that blame Amazon for encouraging them to work until they injured themselves.

"Amazons dismal safety record indicates a greater concern for profits than for your own workers safety and health,Sanders, Brown and Sen. Tammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne BaldwinWhat the impeachment vote looked like from inside the chamber Dairy industry doesn't own the word 'milk' Senators ask FDA to crack down on non-dairy milks, cheeses MORE (D-Wis.) wrote.We urge you to overhaul this profit-at-all costs culture at your company and take the immediate steps identified in this letter to ensure Amazons managers treat your workers fairly and do not require them to risk their own health and safety in the course of doing their jobs."

The Center for InvestigativeReporting reported that the rate of "serious" injuries for 23 of Amazon's fulfillment centers across the U.S. was more than double the national average for warehouse employees.

Amazon says some of the allegations are based on faulty math. The company says it "over-reports" employee injuries, meaning its injury rates lookhigher than averageonly becausemany other companies donot report the bulk of injuries they come across. Amazon reports any injury that can't be addressed by first aid, thetech behemothsaid on Monday.

And it noted that around 70 percent of all injuries reported are strains, pulled muscles, stiffness or soreness.

Twelve Democratic senators, including 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenTrump under pressure to renew last nuke treaty with Russia In New Hampshire, high anxiety about beating Trump Moderates battle for edge in crowded lane ahead of New Hampshire MORE (D-Mass.), signed on to the letter alongside Sanders, Brown and Baldwin.

"We urge you to take immediate steps to protect your employees from workplace injuries. Your employees lives and well-being depend upon your swift action," the senators wrote.

They laid out a set of proposalsaround how Amazon should tackle the rising number of workplace injuries,some of which Amazon already does and some that would mark a significant change for the company.

For example, the senators suggested that Amazon "reduce workers quotas and speed requirements" and ensure its on-site medicalrepresentatives are licensed professionals.

The senators also called called for a "comprehensive ergonomic evaluation of all warehouse tasks." The company said it has already employed many ergonomic experts to observe and update how workers are advised to move on the job.

The senators asked for a written response by Feb. 21.

Labor activists and lawmakers have long criticized Amazon over its bruising working conditions, pointing to reports that found Amazon warehouse workers weretreated like robots, were forced tourinate in bottlesin order to save time andlived in fearof harsh treatment by managers. Multiple Amazon workers have spoken up on the issue,with some groups of employeespushingto unionize. Amazon has disputed those charges.

Amazon has insisted it is investing enormous sums of money and manpower into ensuring its warehouses are safe for all of its workers.

Updated 8:49 P.M.

Originally posted here:

Democratic senators press Amazon over injury rates | TheHill - The Hill