STAGGERING NUMBER OF HEALTH & SAFETY INCIDENTS REPORTED AT SWANSEA’ S AMAZON WAREHOUSE

84 SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY INCIDENTS REPORTED AT AMAZON’S SWANSEA WAREHOUSE, GMB REVEALS

Amazon bosses apparently either don’t know or don’t care about the appalling health and safety record in their Swansea warehouse.

A total of 84 serious health and safety incidents at Amazon’s Swansea warehouses have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive since 2015/16, a GMB Union investigation has revealed. 

This was the second highest number of reported incidents for Amazon warehouses in the UK.

According to RIDDOR reports, workers have been hit by moving objects, hit by fixed objects, and tripped and injured during handling incidents.

The news comes five years after an undercover BBC investigation into conditions at the warehouse led to warnings that workers were at risk of “mental and physical illness.” 

The cost of £4.9 million road infrastructure around the Swansea warehouse was met in part by the Welsh Assembly Government. 

John Philips, GMB Wales Secretary, said:

“Amazon bosses apparently either don’t know or don’t care about the appalling health and safety record in their Swansea warehouse.

“No one deserves to go home from work in an ambulance – they are treating people like robots, not humans.

“This is the most valuable company in the world, owned by the richest man on the planet. Is he sacrificing health and safety to keep the bottom line growing?

“Amazon has been a significant beneficiary from public money – the least they can do is meet with GMB so we can help them address their terrible accident record.”

A spokesperson on behalf of Amazon commented : “Amazon FC and customer service employees across the UK – whether they are full-time, part-time, seasonal, or temporary – earns a minimum of £9.50/hour. [In the London area, it’s £10.50/hour] That’s on top of industry-leading benefits and skills training opportunities. We take pride in our buildings as safe places to work – according to the UK governments Health and Safety Executive RIDDOR, Amazon has 43% fewer injuries on average than other transportation and warehousing companies. We encourage you to compare our pay, benefits, and working conditions to others. Come see for yourself on one of the public tours we offer every day at our centres across the UK uk.amazonfctours.com.”