Amazon Denies Reports of Operations Continuing After Employee Death at Oregon Warehouse

Amazon has strongly refuted claims that operations continued while an employee’s body lay on the floor following a fatal medical incident at its Troutdale, Oregon fulfillment center earlier this week.

Two days after confirming the death, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel addressed what she called “misinformation circulating about a tragic incident” at the company’s PDX9 facility.

“Sadly, one of our teammates collapsed during his shift from what we now understand as a pre-existing medical issue,” Nantel said in a statement. “When our onsite team was notified, three CPR certified team members, including two from our on-site safety team, provided CPR and deployed an automated defibrillator until emergency medical services arrived shortly after.”

According to Amazon, the area where the incident occurred was immediately cordoned off while safety teams and emergency medical personnel attended to the employee. The company emphasized that its top priority was ensuring the affected worker received proper care while protecting their privacy.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees,” Nantel stated. “Our team focused on ensuring our employee received the care he needed, protecting his privacy, and ensuring the safety of everyone onsite instead of distracting from those efforts.”

Contrary to reports suggesting work continued around the collapsed employee, Amazon maintains that the affected area was evacuated and workers were sent home with full pay for the remainder of the day. The company also says it provided support resources for staff in the aftermath.

“When we resumed operations the following day, any employee who requested time off was given that time, and onsite grief counselors were provided to anybody who chose to come to work and needed them,” Nantel explained.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, has garnered significant attention after technology news outlet TechCrunch reported on the death. Some social media posts allegedly from facility workers claimed that the warehouse had been unusually warm, with speculation that recently installed soundproof curtains may have reduced airflow, potentially exacerbating the physical demands of warehouse work.

Amazon has denied these environmental factors played any role in the tragedy. The company stated that Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reviewed the case and determined the death was not related to workplace conditions.

In its initial statement following the incident, Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson had expressed the company’s condolences: “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of a member of our team, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their loved ones during this difficult time.”

The company says it has been in contact with the deceased employee’s family and is providing resources to support them “during this incredibly difficult time.”

Amazon extended gratitude to emergency services and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance during the incident.

The death comes amid ongoing scrutiny of working conditions at Amazon fulfillment centers, which have faced criticism in recent years regarding workplace safety, employee treatment, and labor practices. While this particular incident appears unrelated to workplace conditions according to official determinations, it highlights the intense public interest in Amazon’s operational standards and emergency response protocols at its massive distribution facilities.

Amazon employs hundreds of thousands of workers across its fulfillment network in the United States, with its Oregon operations representing a significant part of its Pacific Northwest logistics infrastructure.