Troutdale, Oregon: An Amazon fulfilment centre employee in Troutdale, Oregon died during a shift on April 6, with co-workers alleging that operations continued for some time after the incident.

The case, first reported by Western Edge and later confirmed by the company, involved a 46-year-old employee who collapsed while working as a “tote runner”, a physically demanding role that involves moving stacked bins across the warehouse floor. Emergency services were contacted shortly before 2 pm, with a caller reporting that the worker had suffered a head injury and was bleeding.

Employees told to turn around and continue work

Several employees claimed that supervisors instructed nearby staff to keep working even as the situation unfolded. Some workers alleged they were told to “turn around and not look” while loading and sorting continued in adjacent areas.

Amazon disputes allegations

Amazon has challenged parts of these claims, stating that the employee collapsed due to a pre-existing medical condition. The company said trained staff immediately began CPR and used a defibrillator until paramedics arrived.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees,” the company said, adding that the area was secured so emergency responders could work without disruption. It also explained that a full evacuation was avoided to prevent interference with life-saving efforts.

According to Amazon, employees were sent home with pay shortly after emergency teams arrived and operations were halted for the rest of the shift. The night shift was also cancelled. However, some workers alleged that staff remained in certain parts of the facility longer and were not immediately informed about the death.

The company said it has been in touch with the worker’s family and offered counselling services to employees. It also allowed staff to take time off when operations resumed the next day.