This story originally appeared at Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Inside a partially completed Amazon warehouse here, workers last summer walked on conveyor belts four stories high without safety harnesses, welders used plasma torches while surrounded by flammable cardboard boxes, and laborers raised metal racks alongside a moving forklift, putting their feet in danger of being crushed.
Contractors and subcontractors who spoke to Stateline on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation said supply chain issues and other COVID-19-related delays put the warehouse construction behind schedule. In the rush to complete the project on time, they said, safety standards fell by the wayside.
Amazon did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
“Everyone that’s spoken up has been fired for holding up production,” said a contractor who spoke to Stateline on condition of anonymity. “It’s going to sound bad, but whistleblowing is not going to pay my bills.”
Federal and state agencies tasked with enforcing workplace safety rely on whistleblower complaints, but the agencies are so understaffed it can take years for complaints to be investigated, experts say. Advocates say the delays and the stigma associated with whistleblowing dissuade most workers who witness unsafe conditions from speaking up.
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