Yes we’re all doing our part doing the elbows up thing, shopping local as a way to support Canadian business.

Right?

But here’s another huge reason.

Google “amazon injury rate”.

You will see a series of concerns raised. In 2023 A senate investigation showed a 30% higher rate of injury.

I noticed this reading a post from Dan Price on Twitter/X.

On Prime Day, the rate is even higher.

Alas Amazon doesn’t seem to be doing enough to prevent injury, particularly when their volume goes up on Prime Day.

Amazon Management can protect workers, if they choose to do so. I have a bit of experience with this, having been a Mail Services manager from 1990-2020 at the University of Toronto. We worked to protect our staff with regulations. Customers adjusted their behaviours, understanding that they needed to call us when there were larger than usual pickups. People are really nice when you give them a good reason, when you explain your concerns.

We set up runs so that workers did the heaviest deliveries earlier in the day, when they were fresh. And when necessary staff had assistance, a second person ready to assist.

But the bottom line has to be a concern for staff, rather than a concern for the financial bottom line. If profits are a higher priority than health & safety of staff, workers will get hurt.