Amazon warehouse employee dies while working at Oregon facility

An employee at an Amazon warehouse in Troutdale, Oregon, died while on the job last week, the company confirmed.

According to a report from Western Edge, which covers the Pacific Northwest, the worker collapsed on the floor inside the PDX9 fulfilment centre and remained there as other employees continued working nearby.

Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson expressed condolences in a statement, saying the company was deeply saddened by the loss and extended its sympathies to the worker’s family. He added that Amazon has been in contact with the family and has offered support resources. At the PDX9 facility, the company also arranged on-site grief counselling and additional support for employees. Stephenson noted that the company appreciates the response efforts from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department and local emergency medical services.

Discussion around the incident has also appeared online. On a Reddit forum used by Amazon fulfilment centre workers, several individuals who claimed to be employed at the PDX9 site said working conditions inside the building had been unusually hot. They pointed to recently installed soundproof curtains that may have reduced airflow and contributed to higher temperatures. Some workers speculated that the heat, combined with the physically demanding nature of warehouse work, could have contributed to the incident. The Western Edge reported that employees observed cooler conditions inside the building upon their return the following day.

Amazon, however, stated that the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that the death was not related to workplace conditions. The company said employees at the facility were sent home early following the incident and were paid for the remainder of their shifts. The night shift was also cancelled, with scheduled workers receiving pay.

The PDX9 facility has previously drawn attention for its working conditions. In 2018, an investigation by Reveal found that 26% of employees at the warehouse had experienced injuries. More recent data from 2024 OSHA reports indicate that Amazon’s fulfilment centres experience serious injuries at more than twice the rate of the overall warehouse industry.

Amazon’s warehouse operations have been the subject of multiple investigations by federal agencies and prosecutors into workplace safety practices. Authorities have examined allegations that the company manipulated safety data and did not properly document injuries. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into safety conditions at Amazon facilities.

In response to safety concerns, Amazon stated that it has reduced its global recordable incident rate by 43% since 2019. This metric tracks work-related injuries that require more than basic first aid. The company also said it has invested over $2.5 billion in safety improvements since 2019, including several hundred million dollars allocated in 2026 alone.