Working in a fast-paced environment is appealing to some people in North Carolina, especially those who are up to a challenge. However, fast-paced should not be synonymous with dangerous. The unfortunate reality is that many men and women who are employed in these types of environments are not safe at work. In particular, workers for the online retailer Amazon face an extraordinarily high injury rate, although the company believes it can successfully lower the rate of workplace injuries.
Is a wellness program enough?
Amazon recently announced that it would be rolling out its WorkingWell program to all of its U.S.-based operations by the end of 2021. The program provides a number of services to Amazon workers, including physical, nutritional and mental support. The goal is to cut recordable incident rates by 50% over the course of the next five years.
One of the most common types of injuries that affect Amazon workers are musculoskeletal disorders — MSDs — which account for approximately 40% of all reported injuries. While MSDs can affect any worker in any industry, they largely affect newer workers at Amazon. Considering that the company hired more than 500,000 new workers in 2020 alone, that is a lot of people at risk for serious and life altering injuries. Some of the new interventions Amazon is implementing to cut those numbers down include daily meetings that provide reminders and guidance things like:
- Gripping
- Handling
- Pushing
- Pulling
- Nutrition
Employers are responsible for providing safety training, gear and interventions to protect workers. Even with these precautions, workplace injuries can and do still happen all the time. Victims of work injuries often feel helpless too, and may be unsure of where to turn for help. These men and women might not be aware of the temporary benefits that are available through North Carolina’s workers’ compensation system.