The workers also say they didn't receive adequate (if any) emergency response training. Several said that they were actively discouraged from taking time off for natural disasters. One of the victims, his last text to his girlfriend was
"Amazon won't let us leave." This was most likely during a break because Amazon has re-instituted their phone ban policy, meaning employees wouldn't be getting weather notifications. This isn't the first time it's been an issue with them, either. Source for
all the above:
https://theintercept.com/2021/12/13/amazon-illinois-tornado-safety-protocols/
Tech companies always say they're "disrupting the industry." I guess Amazon is trying to "disrupt" the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory or something. Hopefully OSHA finally does something, it'll have been long overdue; if they do something,
I hope it's something big enough to make even a company the size of Amazon take note.
Sincerely,
Jack Reidy (he/him)
Research Safety Specialist, Assistant Chemical Hygiene Officer
Environmental Health & Safety
Stanford University
484 Oak Road, Stanford, CA, 94305
Tel: (650) 497-7614
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Monona Rossol
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2021 4:42 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Did anyone catch that OSHA was at the Amazon Warehouse on Sat?
I think you are right. And they are supposed to hold drills. Monona
-----Original Message-----
From: pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**ROCHESTER.RR.COM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Sent: Mon, Dec 13, 2021 7:00 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Did anyone catch that OSHA was at the Amazon Warehouse on Sat?
I believe that Amazon warehouse was nominally within "tornado alley" and so should have been equipped with some sort of reinforced sheltering area, since it had no
basement.
Not sure if folks saw it - but OSHA went to the Amazon Warehouse that was hit by the tornado on Friday - on Saturday.
It wasn't exactly clear - why this site was chosen - but they are doing an investigation.
I don't know about everyone on the list - but warehouses and the distances to a variety of safety items (fire-extinguishers, exits, first aid, etc.) has started cropping
up in a number of discussions. My students indicated that "breaks" and "break times" are greatly reduced due to the distances that have to be traversed between break rooms, and work stations.
Additionally, communication - is a huge issue in large spaces - another potential concern.
It will be interesting to see what comes from this investigation.
Frankie Wood-Black, Ph.D., REM, MBA
Principal - Sophic Pursuits
NOTE - ADDRESS CHANGE - Mailing Address - PO Box 433, Tonkawa, OK 74653
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