OSHA Probes Recent Deaths of Three Amazon Workers in New Jersey

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is currently investigating the deaths of three Amazon workers in New Jersey over the past month, raising concerns about workplace safety at the company’s facilities.

The most recent fatality occurred last week at an Amazon facility in Monroe Township, approximately 20 miles northeast of Trenton, according to a statement from Department of Labor spokesperson Denisha Braxton. The second investigation is related to a July 24 incident at an Amazon facility in Robbinsville, where a worker sustained injuries that led to their death three days later.

Robbinsville Police Chief Michael Polaski reported that on July 24, police responded to the PNE5 warehouse after a worker fell from a three-foot ladder, striking their head. Despite being conscious and alert upon police arrival, the worker had received CPR from colleagues before being transported to the hospital. OSHA was notified on the same day.

The deaths of these Amazon workers come amid heightened scrutiny of the company’s workplace safety practices. OSHA’s investigations will delve into Amazon’s injury rates and safety procedures, areas long criticized by labor and safety advocates for their perceived inadequacy.

Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson expressed the company’s condolences and stated, “Our investigations are ongoing, and we’re cooperating with OSHA, which is conducting its own reviews of the events, as it often does in these situations.”

Last month, OSHA initiated another investigation into a worker fatality at an Amazon warehouse in Carteret, New Jersey, during the company’s Prime Day shopping event. The worker was identified as 42-year-old Rafael Reynaldo Mota Frias. Amazon claims their internal investigation suggests the incident was not work-related but rather connected to a personal medical condition.

The latest deaths add to the ongoing scrutiny of Amazon’s operations, with OSHA inspecting facilities in New York, Illinois, and Florida in July based on referrals alleging health and safety violations from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The civil division of the U.S. attorney’s office is also investigating safety hazards and alleged fraudulent conduct aimed at concealing injuries from OSHA and others.