Amazon is not only one of the largest employers in the U.S. but also one of the major providers of safety roles, granting many individuals interested in a safety career their first significant work experience in occupational safety. With a reputation for innovativeness and efficiency, Amazon offers numerous positions in its vast network of warehouses, making it a popular choice for safety professionals. At the same time, the corporation's size and systematization might cause some apprehension about whether the working environment and the challenges of a large organization could limit the impact of any one individual. This post is an attempt at a balanced portrayal of a safety career at Amazon, with some insights for those considering becoming an Amazionian.
&nbsp;
Before diving into what we&rsquo;ve heard from employees, let&rsquo;s start where most job seekers start: the company career page. The company's safety department appears to be made up of six major job categories: WHS Coordinator, WHS Specialist, WHS Manager, Health Manager, Occupational Nurse, and Occupational Doctor. Each role has its distinct tasks and objectives, yet they all play a crucial part in ensuring a safe work environment within Amazon's vast network of warehouses.
&nbsp;
These positions generally fall into two groups. On one hand, there's the Safety advisor or officer roles such as WHS Coordinator, Specialist, and Manager. These professionals are mainly responsible for implementing and maintaining safety standards, providing guidance, and driving safety projects. Some safety experience or education is generally required for entry level positions in this group.
&nbsp;
On the other hand, there are the roles concentrated on the health aspect, including Health Manager, Occupational Nurse, and Occupational Doctor. These roles work within the medical center of each fulfillment center, providing first aid, health checks, and conducting medical tasks. As you&rsquo;d expect, medical training and certification is generally required for roles in this group.
&nbsp;
Regardless of the specific role, safety personnel are involved in inspections, observations, incident reports, and engaging in "hearts and minds" type activities. These activities focus on promoting safety awareness and a strong safety culture among the workforce. They might also find themselves involved in a more specialized daily routine, like reviewing Kanban or area boards. These boards display important metrics for each department, and are designed to keep safety front and center in daily operations.
&nbsp;
While these roles may seem diverse, a common theme emerges in reports given by current and former employees: leadership is key. Being able to secure buy-in from operations is a must for effectiveness in any safety position at Amazon. The interaction with different layers of the company, from warehouse workers to area leads and HR, requires strong communication and persuasive ability.
&nbsp;
The experiences described by those employees are fairly consistent, and give us the ability to peer through the walls of one of the world's largest companies.
&nbsp;
Working at Amazon is generally considered a great learning opportunity. Despite the corporation's high level of systematization, employees are granted a level of freedom that encourages growth and development, and may be surprising at companies of their size. This is particularly beneficial for those who are new to the safety field and seek to gain exposure to safety concepts and practices at large corporations. In their roles, safety professionals will learn about federal and state regulations, risk assessments, incident investigations, and other safety concepts important to Amazon's operations.
&nbsp;
Yet, the size and structure of Amazon also bring on some challenges. Employees report that it can be difficult to effect change, given Amazon&rsquo;s established culture and large bureaucracy. There's an emphasis on efficiency and minimizing errors, which can lead to pressure during busy times like the holiday season. Moreover, the high degree of systematization means that much of the work is guided by predefined policies. While this can simplify tasks, it can also limit opportunities for independent problem-solving that are found more readily in smaller organizations.
&nbsp;
Amazon's performance in safety is another consideration. Based on data collected by WSI, their injury rates are on the rise. In 2021, the company reported over 37,000 injuries, giving them a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 7.41, higher than the industry average of 5.6 for warehousing and storage. This included 12,000 Days Away From Work (DAFW) cases and 23,000 cases of job transfer. For more information about Amazon's safety performance, visit their company page here.
&nbsp;
Despite these challenges, many former employees consider their time at Amazon as a positive stepping stone in their safety career. The company's focus on career growth, pay, and benefits, combined with the possibility of upward mobility, explain why it continues to be a popular place to work. Moreover, having a recognizable name like Amazon on your resume will help when applying for future jobs.
&nbsp;
To sum it up, working as a safety professional at Amazon presents unique opportunities and challenges. While the systematized environment can limit certain learning experiences, it also provides a structured framework for understanding safety concepts and practices. The key to thriving in the workplace seems to hinge on strong leadership skills and the ability to secure buy-in from operations. Therefore, individuals considering a safety position at Amazon should weigh their preferred work environment, skills, and career goals in determining whether a job there is right for them.
&nbsp;

Behind the Vest: Safety as an Amazonian

Workplace safety is a critical concern for organizations and governments around the world. As industries evolve and globalization continues to bring countries closer together, it's important to examine and learn from different approaches to occupational safety. In this blog post, we will take a comparative look at occupational safety regulations, practices, and trends across various countries and industries, highlighting unique approaches and lessons that can be applied globally.
&nbsp;
United States: OSHA and a Focus on Enforcement
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the main regulatory body in the United States, responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards. While OSHA has made significant progress in reducing workplace injuries and fatalities since its inception in 1970, the agency's focus on enforcement and penalties has faced criticism. Some argue that this approach can create an adversarial relationship between employers and regulators, potentially hindering collaboration and continuous improvement efforts.
Advantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Clear, well-defined regulations and standards provide a framework for organizations to follow.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Enforcement and penalties can deter non-compliant employers and help maintain a level playing field.
</li>
</ul>
Disadvantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
A focus on enforcement may create an adversarial relationship between employers and regulators, potentially hindering collaboration and continuous improvement.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Regulatory compliance may not always equate to an effective safety culture or practices.
</li>
</ul>
Lesson: Balancing enforcement with collaboration and education can lead to more effective and sustainable improvements in workplace safety.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
European Union: Harmonized Standards and Worker Participation
The European Union (EU) has a comprehensive set of directives and regulations aimed at ensuring a high level of occupational safety across its member states. One key feature of the EU's approach is the harmonization of standards, which promotes consistency and facilitates cooperation among countries. Additionally, the EU emphasizes the importance of worker participation in safety matters, requiring companies to establish safety committees or designate safety representatives to involve employees in decision-making processes.
Advantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Harmonized standards promote consistency and facilitate cooperation among countries, reducing confusion and barriers to trade.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Emphasis on worker participation in safety matters fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among employees, leading to more effective safety practices.
</li>
</ul>
Disadvantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Implementing harmonized standards may be challenging due to differences in language, culture, and legal systems.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Excessive bureaucracy could lead to slow decision-making and hinder the adoption of new safety measures.
</li>
</ul>
Lesson: Harmonized standards and employee involvement can lead to more effective safety policies and practices.
&nbsp;
Japan: Kaizen and a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Japan is known for its strong culture of continuous improvement, and this extends to the realm of occupational safety. Many Japanese companies adopt the Kaizen philosophy, which emphasizes small, incremental improvements in processes and workplace safety. This approach encourages employees at all levels to identify potential hazards and work together to implement safety improvements.
Advantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The Kaizen philosophy encourages employees at all levels to identify potential hazards and work together to implement safety improvements.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Continuous improvement fosters a proactive approach to safety, addressing issues before they lead to accidents.
</li>
</ul>
Disadvantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
A focus on incremental improvements may overlook the need for larger-scale changes or innovations in safety practices.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The Kaizen approach may not be easily transferable to different cultural contexts, where collaboration and continuous improvement may not be ingrained values.
</li>
</ul>
Lesson: Fostering a culture of continuous improvement can help organizations proactively address safety concerns and prevent accidents.
&nbsp;
Australia: A Risk Management Approach
In Australia, the focus of occupational safety regulations is on risk management. Employers are required to identify, assess, and control risks in the workplace, while also involving employees in the process. This approach promotes proactive safety management and encourages organizations to go beyond compliance with minimum safety standards.
Advantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The risk management approach promotes proactive safety management, encouraging organizations to go beyond compliance with minimum safety standards.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Involving employees in risk assessment and control processes helps create a more comprehensive safety strategy.
</li>
</ul>
Disadvantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The risk management process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, potentially diverting attention from other important safety initiatives.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
A focus on risk management may lead to an overemphasis on documentation and bureaucracy, detracting from practical safety measures.
</li>
</ul>
Lesson: Emphasizing risk management can help organizations develop comprehensive safety strategies that protect workers more effectively.
&nbsp;
Scandinavian Countries: Safety as a Social Responsibility
Scandinavian countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Finland, consistently rank among the safest places to work in the world. A key aspect of their approach to occupational safety is the belief that safety is a social responsibility shared by employers, employees, and the government. This holistic approach encourages collaboration, communication, and continuous learning, leading to high safety standards and low accident rates.
Advantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Viewing safety as a shared responsibility fosters a culture of collaboration and communication among employers, employees, and the government.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
High safety standards and low accident rates are often attributed to this holistic approach.
</li>
</ul>
Disadvantages:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
The success of this approach may be partially dependent on cultural factors, such as trust and social cohesion, which may not be easily replicable in other countries.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
High safety standards may sometimes come at the cost of increased regulations and potential loss of flexibility for businesses.
</li>
</ul>
Lesson: Viewing safety as a shared responsibility can foster a culture of collaboration and lead to better overall safety outcomes.
&nbsp;
Conclusion
By examining occupational safety regulations and practices from around the world, we can learn valuable lessons and adopt best practices to improve workplace safety globally. Key takeaways include the importance of collaboration, employee involvement, continuous improvement, risk management, and viewing safety as a shared responsibility. By implementing these lessons, organizations and governments can work together to create safer workplaces for everyone.

Comparing Safety Regulations in Different Countries

Imagine a world where work safety information is just as accessible and clear as restaurant food safety ratings. That's the vision behind the Work Safety Index (WSI).&nbsp; We are dedicated to making safety data accessible and easy for everyone to understand.
That&rsquo;s not the case currently. Work safety information is obscure, laden with jargon, and difficult to aggregate. This is odd given how important it. The explanation for this bizarre state of affairs lies in the system's design. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the government body responsible for workplace safety, gathers data per "establishment" - a term used to define a facility or a distinct building within a company.
These establishments maintain logs that document their safety information, but there's a catch: these logs don't represent the safety performance of the entire organization. They're like puzzle pieces, each holding valuable data, but they're scattered, not giving us the whole picture.
Enter SafetyScores. Our aim at the WSI is to assemble these pieces and provide that comprehensive view of a company's safety performance. We gather data from all the establishments within an organization, weigh them, use some fancy forecasting, and come up with a score. This score reflects not just the organization's safety performance, but also how it fares compared to others in the same industry.
A SafetyScore doesn't just provide a snapshot of an organization's safety record, it also indicates the effectiveness of the company's safety program, the resources allocated towards safety, and the trends in safety performance within the organization.
Think of SafetyScores as a standardized rating system that can be applied to any organization, regardless of its size or industry. Scores take into account factors like incident rates, citations, and compliance. They offer an at-a-glance view of a company's safety practices and allow for easy comparison with industry standards and peers.
Every organization and location profile on our platform features its SafetyScore prominently, and it's continually updated as new safety information is added. The intention is to make the SafetyScore a reliable reflection of a company&rsquo;s safety performance at all times.
SafetyScores can be a potent tool for organizations, allowing them to identify areas for improvement, benchmark their safety measures against industry standards or competitors, boost their public image, and foster a culture of safety and accountability.
Improving a SafetyScore takes commitment and a continuous desire for improvement. Regular safety audits, comprehensive safety training, effective hazard control measures, and clear reporting and communication channels will benefit organizations with better safety outcomes that will lead to a higher score.
To summarize, SafetyScores are much more than just a number. They represent a tangible, objective way to evaluate an organization's safety performance, providing the complete picture that's been missing from establishment-based performance metrics. With SafetyScores, we're taking a step towards a safer, more accountable work environment.

Upgrade Your Plan

Free

$0

Premium

$25

Featured

Behind the Vest: Safety as an Amazonian

Recent

Comparing Safety Regulations in Different Countries

Introducing Safety Scores