An Amazon employee at a warehouse in Troutdale, Oregon, died on the job last week, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch.
The worker collapsed and died on the floor of the PDX9 warehouse as workers continued working around him, according to a report by Western Edge, an independent research organization covering the Pacific Northwest.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our team and extend our deepest sympathies and thoughts to their loved ones during this difficult time,” Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson told TechCrunch. “We have been in contact with his family and provided resources to support them. We have provided on-site grief counselors and additional support to employees at the PDX9 facility. We are grateful for the work of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department and local emergency medical services.”
On a Reddit forum for Amazon fulfillment center employees, several people claiming to work at PDX9 said the building became especially hot after soundproof curtains were installed to restrict air flow. They speculated that the heat may have contributed to the employee’s death because of the added physical strain associated with working at the distribution center. Western Edge said some employees noticed the building was cooler when they returned to work the next day.
But Amazon said the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined the incident was not work-related. Employees were sent home early and paid for the remainder of their shifts. The company said night shifts have been canceled and employees who were scheduled to work have been paid.
PDX9 warehouses are known for harsh working conditions. In 2018, a study by investigative journalism organization Reveal found that 26% of warehouse workers were injured. The company’s distribution centers report serious injuries at a rate more than twice the warehouse industry average, according to the report, which is based on 2024 OSHA data.
Amazon’s fulfillment centers have faced multiple investigations by federal agencies and prosecutors over warehouse safety, with investigators alleging the company manipulated data and failed to properly record workplace injuries. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is conducting an ongoing investigation into workplace safety at Amazon warehouses.
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Amazon told TechCrunch that since 2019, its global recordable accident rate has decreased by 43%. This is a metric that tracks work-related injuries that require more than basic first aid. The company said it has invested more than $2.5 billion in safety improvements since 2019, including hundreds of millions of dollars in 2026 alone.
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