Amazon warehouse worker dies at Oregon facility

An Amazon employee died last week at the company's PDX9 warehouse in Troutdale, Oregon, according to a spokesperson's confirmation to TechCrunch. The worker collapsed on the floor and lay dead as other employees continued working, according to a report from the Western Edge, an investigative outlet covering the Pacific Northwest. Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson said the company is "deeply saddened" and has provided grief counselors and support to employees at the facility. On Reddit forums for Amazon warehouse workers, several people claiming to work at PDX9 suggested heat may have been a factor, noting the building had become especially hot after soundproof curtains were installed. They speculated that limited airflow compounded the physical demands of warehouse work. Some employees reported the building was cooler the next day. Amazon stated that Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the death was not work-related. Employees were sent home early with pay, and the night shift was cancelled with compensation. The PDX9 facility has faced scrutiny over working conditions. A 2018 investigation found 26% of employees there had sustained injuries, and 2024 OSHA data shows Amazon fulfillment centers report serious injuries at more than twice the warehouse industry average. Amazon said it has reduced its global recordable incident rate by 43% since 2019 and invested over $2.5 billion in safety improvements, including hundreds of millions this year alone.