’Hundreds’ of workers have been injured or seriously hurt in accidents in Amazon warehouses in the UK, according to an investigation by the GMB Union.
The investigation showed 240 reports of incidents or near misses at Amazon warehouses over the past year.
The reports were sent by the GMB workers union to the Health and Safety Executive last year and showed 662 injury cases were reported over the past three years.
The GMB discovered the reports through Freedom of Information requests.
Amazon is currently running TV advertisements featuring happy warehouse staff and said critics wanted to create a “false picture”.
GMB national officer Mick Rix said: “Amazon are spending millions on PR campaigns trying to persuade people its warehouses are great places to work. But the facts are there for all to see – things are getting worse.
“Hundreds of stricken Amazon workers are needing urgent medical attention. Conditions are hellish. We’ve tried over and over again to get Amazon to talk to us to try and improve safety for workers. But enough is enough – it’s now time for a full parliamentary inquiry.”
An Amazon spokesman told the BBC: “Amazon is a safe place to work. Yet again, our critics seem determined to paint a false picture of what it’s like to work for Amazon. They repeat the same sensationalised allegations time and time again.
“Our doors are open to the public, to politicians and indeed to anyone who truly wants to see the modern, innovative and, most importantly, safe environment we provide to our people.”
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