Amazon Warehouse Workers Instructed to Work Around Deceased Colleague
A damning new investigation has alleged that Amazon workers at a distribution centre in Troutdale, Oregon, were told to carry on with their duties while a colleague lay dead on the warehouse floor for over an hour. According to reports from The Western Edge, which first broke the story, employees were discouraged from assisting the man and were instead instructed to focus on their work.
"Just Turn Around and Not Look"
One employee, identified under the pseudonym Sam, described witnessing a lifeless body at the facility. He claimed that when he expressed a desire to help a woman performing chest compressions on the individual, his supervisor, reportedly with tears in his eyes, told him: "It has to be management or safety team" and instructed him to "just turn around and not look. Let's get back to work." Sam, who is trained in CPR, said he began sobbing and pleaded to assist, fearing the woman would tire, but was denied.
Witnesses reported that the incident occurred on April 6, with emergency services later attending the scene and the area being closed off. The response has left workers at the PDX9 facility deeply shaken, with many blaming middle management for what they described as a cold and callous reaction to a tragic event.
Wider Concerns Over Worker Treatment
The report highlights broader issues regarding the treatment of employees at large retail corporations like Amazon. An anonymous worker at the Oregon warehouse told The Western Edge: "Truthfully, I now have even less respect for our leadership team than I did before, which I didn't know was possible. It makes me feel more ashamed to work there knowing that people can drop dead and we have to carry on knowing it doesn't matter to the higher-ups, and everyone is replaceable."
This incident echoes past allegations against Amazon's distribution centres in the United States, though many cases have been resolved in the company's favour. It also follows recent protests under the #MakeAmazonPay banner from late 2025, where workers globally accused the company of labor abuses, environmental harm, and threats to democracy.
Amazon's Response and Aftermath
In a statement to the Mirror US, Amazon expressed deep sadness over the worker's passing, extending sympathies to his family and confirming they have been in touch to provide support. The company stated that on-site grief counselors and additional resources were offered to employees at the facility. They also thanked the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department and local emergency medical services for their efforts.
Amazon clarified that site operations were suspended shortly after emergency services arrived and remained closed for the rest of the day. When work resumed, staff were offered voluntary time off. The incident was ruled to be non-work related, but the allegations have sparked renewed scrutiny over corporate policies and worker welfare.
As this story unfolds, it raises critical questions about ethics in the workplace and the value placed on human life within large-scale industrial operations.
