An employee at an Amazon fulfilment centre in Troutdale in Oregon, US died during a shift on April 6, with accounts from co-workers alleging that operations continued for a period following the incident, according to reports.
The case, first reported by Western Edge and later acknowledged by the company, involved a 46-year-old worker who collapsed while carrying out duties as a tote runner, a physically demanding role involving the movement of stacked bins across the warehouse floor, as reported.
Emergency services were contacted shortly before 2 pm, with one caller stating that the worker had sustained a head injury and was bleeding, as informed.
Several employees alleged that supervisors instructed nearby staff to continue loading and sorting packages as the situation unfolded, with some accounts stating that workers were told to turn away and avoid looking while operations continued in adjacent areas, as reported.
Amazon has disputed aspects of these claims, stating that the worker collapsed due to a pre-existing medical condition, as stated. The company said trained personnel on site immediately administered CPR and used a defibrillator until paramedics arrived, and added that the area was secured to allow emergency responders to operate without disruption, as informed.
The company further stated that ensuring employee safety remained its highest priority and that a full evacuation was not conducted in order to avoid interfering with life-saving efforts, as reported.
Amazon maintained that employees were sent home with pay shortly after emergency teams arrived and that operations were suspended for the remainder of the shift, with the night shift also cancelled, as stated. However, some workers reported that staff remained in parts of the facility for a longer period and were not immediately informed of the death, as informed.
The company also stated that counselling services were offered to employees and that staff were permitted to take time off when operations resumed the following day, adding that it has been in contact with the worker’s family, as reported.
First Published on April 17, 2026, 3:29:51 PM IST
