Two new federal bills introduced last week are aimed at preventing a repeat of the six deaths at an Amazon facility in Edwardsville last December.
Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis County, put forward the Worker Safety in Climate Disasters Act and Wind Safety Act, which she said would each create new protections for warehouse workers during extreme weather.
鈥淲hat happened at Edwardsville has impacted our communities forever 鈥� two of my constituents died,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, it was not an aberration, but part of a nationwide trend of unsafe work conditions during climate disasters.鈥�
Bush explained the bill focused on worker safety would prevent employers from firing workers who seek shelter during emergencies and offer them paid time off if extreme weather prevents them from being able to go to work.
The other act would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to create a wind safety standard that would establish when high winds make for dangerous working conditions both indoors and outdoors, she said.
鈥淭he climate crisis is already devastating our community with increasingly frequent and severe heat, tornadoes and floods,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淲ithout new protections, our workers and communities will continue to be subjected to deadly conditions at work and at home.鈥�
Although these bills would apply to companies beyond Amazon, Bush was clear in saying they were a response to the six warehouse workers who died last year.
Since then, . J Lopez, who works at an Amazon facility in St. Charles, explained the company coaches workers to prioritize their jobs even when there is a tornado warning.
鈥淲orkers are being told to finish their work at their station, put equipment away, sign out,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 zero urgency to move to sheltered areas.鈥�
When Lopez鈥檚 warehouse came under a tornado warning this spring, he said Amazon was unprepared and workers were told to stand by. Those who spoke up about the situation were reprimanded, Lopez added.
鈥淲orkers shouldn鈥檛 have to decide to risk their jobs to feel safe or to follow the company's orders and fear for their lives,鈥� he said.
Lopez said he doesn't see his employer making any changes to safety protocols unless forced to by new laws or regulations. He points to the company鈥檚 decision to rebuild its warehouse in Edwardsville .
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty clear with them rebuilding that warehouse without any additional shelter, without any additional precautions for weather,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l make those policies that suit them and not us.鈥�
Bush pointed to an .
鈥淗onestly, it doesn鈥檛 take an investigation to show that they aren鈥檛 building storm shelters,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a brazen and problematic move and highlights the need for these further protections.鈥�
Eric Schmid covers economic development for 漏 2024 外网天堂.
