Amazon worker dies at Oregon warehouse, operations continued around body. Here’s what we know

An employee at an Amazon fulfilment centre in Troutdale, Oregon, died while on duty last week, with reports suggesting work inside the facility continued even after the individual collapsed. The incident occurred at the company’s PDX9 warehouse, where the worker reportedly fell to the floor during their shift, according to a report by TechCrunch.

In a statement, Amazon confirmed the death and said it was in contact with the employee’s family while also offering support to staff at the site. “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,” Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson said.

The company added that employees were sent home early following the incident and were paid for the remainder of their shift. The night shift was also cancelled, with workers still compensated.

Amazon responds to Oregon case

Responding to the news, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel termed it “misinformation about a tragic incident that occurred at our PDX9 facility in Troutdale, OR." She said, “Sadly, one of our teammates collapsed during his shift from what we now understand as a pre-existing medical issue. 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 (EMS) arrived shortly after.”

Nantel said, “Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees, and 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 by focusing on immediately evacuating other areas of the building in those early moments.”

Nantel added that employees were sent home with pay for the rest of the day, and when the following day, any employee requested time off, they were given that time, and “onsite grief counsellors were provided to anybody who chose to come to work and needed them. We’ve been in touch with our teammate’s family and are providing them resources during this incredibly difficult time, and we’re mourning the loss of a valued member of our team.”

What employees said

However, an investigative report by The Western Edge claimed that the employee’s body remained on the warehouse floor while operations continued around him. Online posts by individuals identifying themselves as workers at the facility suggested that conditions inside the building had been unusually warm at the time.

Some employees attributed the heat to the installation of soundproof curtains, which they said may have reduced airflow within the warehouse. They speculated that the higher temperatures could have increased the physical strain of the work. The report added that the facility appeared cooler when staff returned the following day.

Amazon said the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration had reviewed the case and determined that the death was not related to workplace conditions.

The PDX9 facility has previously faced scrutiny over safety standards. A 2018 investigation by Reveal found that 26 per cent of employees at the warehouse had sustained injuries. Data from 2024 also indicated that injury rates at Amazon fulfilment centres were more than double the warehouse industry average.