Amazon Workers Have High Warehouse Injury Rate
Just this past year, Amazon announced its expansion in the state of Louisiana, with new centers being built in Baton Rouge and Shreveport. The company is looking to hire thousands of new workers, with wages starting between $18–$22 an hour.
However, though new warehouse jobs are generally good for the economy, they are not necessarily ideal work environments for employees. Despite Amazon being a billion-dollar company, they are known for slacking when it comes to the health and safety of their workers.
In general, warehouse work is inherently dangerous and comes with an increased risk of injury. On a daily basis, workers perform numerous tasks that are labor-intensive and work with machinery, equipment, and materials that can put them at risk of sustaining injuries. So when an employer does not do their part to provide a healthy and safe environment, it can increase the number of incidents that occur.
If you sustain a warehouse injury while working for Amazon or any other employer, contact the workers’ compensation experts at Lunsford, Baskin, & Priebe, PLLC. We help injured workers in Louisiana and Mississippi file claims to ensure they get the full amount of benefits they need to cover the cost of medical expenses and lost wages.
Amazon is Notorious for High Workplace Injury Rates
Amazon is one of the largest e-commerce retailers in the country, growing its workforce from 33,700 to nearly 1.3 million between 2010 and 2020. Unfortunately, Amazon’s greed for money and speedy supply and demand processes places its workers under significant amounts of stress. As such, Amazon has earned itself a bad reputation for work conditions and now has the highest rate of injuries for warehouse workers.
In 2020, Amazon reported around 5.9 serious injuries for every 100 workers, which is 80% higher than serious injury rates for other warehouse employers. Additionally, Amazon workers who are injured are reported to have been forced off of work while recovering for an average of 46.3 days, which is a week longer than the recovery time for the average injured warehouse worker.
Furthermore, after a four-year analysis, results showed that Amazon warehouses were significantly more dangerous than other comparable employers, such as Walmart. Amazon’s overall injury rate of 6.5 per 100 workers is double that of Walmart’s at 3/100, and the severe injury rate was 2.5 times more.
Common Accidents and Injuries That Occur in Warehouse Settings
Warehouse workers perform a variety of tasks that put themselves at risk daily. Some of the most common warehouse related incidents and injuries include:
- Slip and falls
- Forklift accidents
- Overexertion
- Blunt force trauma
- Hazardous material exposure
Warehouse Injuries and Workers’ Compensation
Injured warehouse workers have a right to file a workers’ compensation claim when they are injured on the job. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning workers are eligible no matter how the incident occurred and without the need to prove fault. However, most warehouse accidents are the result of a negligent employer failing to provide safe conditions.
If you sustain an injury on the job, workers’ compensation can help you receive benefits to cover the cost of medical expenses and lost wages. The amount of lost wages you receive will depend on how much money you typically make as well as the extent of your injury. For example, if you are only temporarily disabled and unable to work while recovering from your injury, you could be eligible to receive Temporary Total Disability benefits until your treating physician approves your return to work.
Determining how much a worker is owed both for medical and lost wage benefits can be tricky. It’s also not uncommon for workers’ comp insurers to deny benefits or have them reduced to avoid paying out too much money. This is why injured workers must consult with an experienced attorney. With an attorney on your side, insurers are less likely to take advantage and will pay you exactly what you are owed.
Connect with an Experienced Mississippi and Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a warehouse incident while working for Amazon or any other employer, our team of skilled workers’ compensation attorneys is here to help. We understand how intimidating it can be to file a claim against a major company like Amazon, but you have a right to receive workers’ compensation benefits without fear of retaliation or being fired.
It is illegal for any company to punish its employees for filing a workers’ compensation claim. You have every right to file a claim to get the benefits you need and deserve to help cover your medical expenses and lost income.
For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Mississippi or Louisiana, contact Lunsford, Baskin, and Priebe, PLLC. After-hours visits are available.
