Ambulances have been called to a Welsh Amazon warehouse for incidents including traumatic injury, chest pain and breathing problems. A union rep claimed workers at the Swansea fulfilment centre were being “pushed to their absolute limits by a harrowing work environment.”
A Freedom of Information request by the Observer revealed ambulances were sent to Amazon warehouses across the UK more than 1,400 times in the five years up to 2024. The figures show there were 34 callouts to the Swansea centre over the same period including 20 cases where someone was taken to hospital — which would mean an average of one callout per 53 days.
The incidents at the Swansea centre include categories such as chest pain, convulsions, unconsciousness, pregnancy-related issues, traumatic injuries, allergies, breathing problems, falls, heart problems, transport incidents, and other incidents. Marie McDonald, an organiser in Wales for the GMB union, expressed concern about the working conditions at Amazon, stating that workers are forced to meet secret targets set by a computer algorithm similar to something from the Hunger Games.
Despite the high number of ambulance callouts, the Swansea centre was not among the Amazon warehouses with the highest rates. Locations in Bristol and Dunfermline had significantly more callouts. An Amazon spokesman defended the company, stating that their injury rates are lower than other businesses in the UK transportation and warehousing industry according to Health and Safety Executive figures.
However, the Observer reported serious incidents at various Amazon centres, including attempted suicides, exposure to hazardous substances, electrocution, and severe burns. The newspaper highlighted that callout rates at Amazon warehouses appeared to be higher compared to some other firms. It also mentioned lower callout rates at warehouses for companies like Boohoo and Tesco in comparison.
The Amazon spokesman emphasised that most ambulance callouts are related to pre-existing conditions and not work-related incidents. Despite criticisms, Amazon invited people to visit their fulfilment centres to see the operations first-hand. The Swansea centre, operational since 2008, stores tens of millions of items and spans over 800,000 square feet.
In conclusion, the situation at the Swansea Amazon warehouse has sparked concerns about worker welfare and safety, as evidenced by the frequency of ambulance callouts. The company’s response to these issues suggests a discrepancy between public perception and internal data on workplace incidents and injuries.