EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the death of six people at the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville, on Friday night.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was in Edwardsville, Monday, and discussed state efforts to make sure proper safety protocols were followed. At a news conference, Amazon officials explained there is one shelter area on the north side of the building. All six people who were killed, and one who was injured, were not in that space. Instead, Amazon officials speculate that because they were working on the south side, they congregated there.
Pritzker said, “I just came from the Amazon warehouse site where state and local public safety officials briefed me on the latest developments in the disaster response.”
Pritzker was asked what regulations the state has regarding workplace emergency safety protocol & employee safety. He cited local building codes.
“So, it makes us wonder,” said Pritzker, “and I’ve spoken to legislators about whether or not we need to change code based upon the climate change we’re seeing all around us.”
Amazon officials say 46 people were in the building – 39 on the north side, and 7 on the south side. They were asked how employees were notified about the tornado warning.
“A couple of different ways,” said Amazon Media Relations Director Kelly Nantel. “There was a siren. There were alerts on phones. Our leaders took to using bullhorns. They were using radios to get people to move to the shelter in place location.”
Nantel further explained the phone alerts were not specific to Amazon employees, but the same alerts members of the public would receive.
Amazon Senior Vice-President of Global Delivery John Felton was asked if Amazon did everything it could to make sure employees were in designated areas and able to take shelter.
“As tornado warnings happened, ‘take shelter’ happened both on the north side of the building and the south side of the building. Everything we’ve seen is all procedures were followed, correctly,” said Felton.
Pritzker vowed there would be a thorough investigation.
“We are ensuring there is a full understanding of what happened to these individuals in their final moments,” said Pritzker.
Pritzker also said the Edwardsville Community Foundation is collecting donations for the victims’ families. Amazon kicked off that process with a $1-million donation.
Pritzker said, “I want to help spread the word that the foundation stands ready to help survivors and families and those out of work through the holidays and beyond.”
You can donate here.