The Information Investigation: Amazon Delivery Stations Have More Than Double the Injury Rate of Other Warehouses

Working at an Amazon warehouse is more dangerous than working at the typical warehouse. But working at an Amazon delivery station, a small shipping hub where delivery vans whiz in and out daily, appears to be the most hazardous warehouse job of all.

In 2019 and 2020, injury rates at Amazon delivery stations were more than double the industry average, and higher than the rates for Amazon fulfillment centers, sortation centers and air hubs, according to The Information’s analysis of workplace injury data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. And these injuries weren’t just minor scrapes or bruises. Companies only report to OSHA about those that require medical treatment beyond first aid, including serious injuries that cause the employee to miss work or have to transfer to a different position. Most of the injuries Amazon reported to OSHA fell in the latter two categories.

Amazon has opened hundreds of delivery stations across the country in the past two years as part of its effort to reduce its reliance on third-party shippers like UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. The breakneck pace of that expansion is also reflected by inaccurate submissions Amazon made to OSHA. The Information identified more than 100 instances where Amazon appears to have grossly overstated the number of employees working at delivery stations in 2019, based on The Information’s analysis of filings and press releases. Though the employee count for a particular facility does not affect OSHA’s injury rate calculations, it is unclear why Amazon misstated the figures and why it has yet to correct the filings.