Hundreds of staff injured at Amazon warehouses
Over 600 Amazon staff have been seriously hurt or narrowly escaped accidents in UK warehouses over the past three years, revealed figures obtained by GMB.
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The report has led to intensified concerns that safety in the warehouses could be worsening and there are calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the issue.
Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan and a Labour leadership contender, called for an investigation into Amazon. She said: “The warehouse injuries suffered by Amazon workers are beyond appalling. I stand ready, if and when Amazon’s workers take strike action and protest, I will be there with them.
“The Tories need to start taking workers’ rights seriously and standing up to businesses like Amazon. I call on an urgent investigation – workers simply cannot wait for their conditions to improve.”
The figures show that 240 reports of serious injury or near misses were sent to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the 2019 financial year.
Some of the injuries were serious enough to stop someone performing their normal duties for at least a week, or be on a list including fractures, amputation, scalping or burning.
Many of the accident investigations concluded that “the main root cause of this incident was failing to provide a safe working environment”.
GMB national officer Mick Rix said: "Amazon are spending millions on PR campaigns trying to persuade people its warehouses are great places to work.
"But the facts are there for all to see - things are getting worse. Hundreds of stricken Amazon workers are needing urgent medical attention. Conditions are hellish.
“We’ve tried over and over again to get Amazon to talk to us to try and improve safety for workers. But enough is enough – it’s now time for a full parliamentary inquiry.”