Senate committee issues second scathing report against Amazon

A Senate committee is urging lawmakers to pass regulatory changes aimed at reducing injuries in Amazon Inc.’s warehouses in response to the findings of an 18-month investigation that suggests the large online retail company “manipulates” its injury data.

Released on Sunday by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the 160-page report includes seven years of workplace injury data from Amazon, covering the period from 2017 to 2023. It also incorporates claims made in interviews with 135 Amazon workers. In July, the committee published a similar report highlighting a rise in injuries during peak shopping events, such as Prime Days.

In response to these allegations, Amazon issued a statement on Monday, accusing Mr. Sanders of releasing “another report that’s wrong on the facts and features selective, outdated information that lacks context and isn’t grounded in reality.”

The latest report urges lawmakers to pass legislation that would protect workers from performance-based quotas, which the committee identifies as a contributing factor to high injury rates at the company. It also calls for policies that require more reporting to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Additionally, the committee is advocating for OSHA to develop an ergonomics-based standard to safeguard workers from musculoskeletal injuries commonly found in warehouse operations.