Information recently released by OSHA has found that Amazon warehouse workers here in Nebraska are 53% more likely to be injured than those found in other states. These injuries are all considered preventable and could lead to being disabling.

Irene Tung, a Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst for the National Employment Law Project (NELP) spoke with The Daily Record about their findings as well as their push to get a Warehouse Protection Bill passed in the state. The Legislature held a meeting about the bill on the 13th of this month.

Tung pointed out the correlation between the rise in injuries at Amazon’s warehouses with their return to their productivity quotas, which are electronically tracked, and employees often are not aware of the metrics behind it, leading to them pushing themselves harder and harder to make sure that they are not falling behind.

While injuries are high in Amazon warehouses across the country, Tung stated that “Nebraska injury rates do stand out.” Nebraska’s Amazon warehouse injury rates are 44% higher than any other Amazon warehouse. At these rates, nearly one in nine (1 in 9) employees are being seriously injured from overwork. In comparison, the injury rate for those working in non-Amazon warehouses was half of what Amazon currently sees. “Law makers need to take notice and take action; these are serious injuries,” Tung stated.

The NELP is currently pushing for the passage of LB 502, the Warehouse Workers Protection Act, which will establish transparency in quotas; will require Amazon to be up-front about their requirements; allow employees to request the data for their performance at any time; and will prohibit any quotas that limit bathroom breaks. As Tung pointed out, these are “basic human needs that need to be addressed.” As it stands, Federal OSHA guidelines do not cover any transparency of quotas.

“We hope Nebraska lawmakers will pass this as soon as possible,” Tung urged, “because every day they wait Nebraska workers are at risk of serious injury.”

LB 502 has been introduced to the Unicameral at this time. This year’s session, the 108th Legislature, is set to end one June 9th.