As more business heads online, more fulfillment centers are popping up across the country. Shakopee and Minneapolis are home to Amazon fulfillment centers, and other fulfillment warehouses exist throughout the greater Twin Cities area. Even during the “slow” season, working in these fulfillment centers can be fast-paced and dangerous. Today, we take a closer look at some of the dangers posed by these fulfillment centers, and what to do in the event of an injury.
Workplace Dangers of Fulfillment Centers
Fulfillment centers often involve large packages, heights and heavy machinery, all of which can be a danger to the health of an employee. In fact, fulfillment centers are often ranked as some of the most dangerous places to work in America.
As reported by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health in their report on the “Dirty Dozen,” which is a list of 12 companies whose workers are often exposed to severe and preventable injuries, the company with the widest ranging fulfillment centers made the list. Amazon was placed on the 2017 Dirty Dozen list because seven workers have been killed in its warehouses between 2013 and 2017.
In their report, the NCOSH wrote that Amazon’s fulfillment centers exhibit “a disturbing pattern of preventable deaths,” marked by a five week span in 2017 that involved fatal workplace accidents at three different Amazon fulfillment centers. The report also stated that Amazon’s relentless demand to fill orders and meet fulfillment demands continually exposes their employees to an increased risk of injury.
Injuries And Your Right To Compensation
So while it’s clear that fulfillment centers can be dangerous places to work, employees may also face pressures to not file a compensation claim out of fear of losing their job. It may not be outrightly stated, but considering the efficiency and output demands, it’s not unheard of for employees to say that they feel like they can’t file a claim because they know their employer would retaliate.
Employee retaliation for filing for workers’ compensation is illegal, and any such mention of repercussions should be documented and brought right to your lawyer. Do not let them bully you into forgoing compensation you are entitled to claim. Whether you’re dealing with a repetitive stress injury, an acute trauma injury or a life-changing injury, make sure you get the benefits you’re rightly owed.
At Margolis Law Firm, we have experience getting compensation for workers who have been injured in fulfillment centers or other large warehouses. Many times you may be able to get a large award because a lot of these places have previous safety violations that have gone unaddressed. Don’t rush to settle, because we can likely help get you a lot more than their first offer. To speak with a lawyer about your injuries and to see if you have a case, contact Dean Margolis and his team today.
