‘They provide jobs’
Not everything has been rosy for Amazon in Pennsylvania.
In 2011, the Allentown Morning Call reported that some workers in the company’s Breinigsville, Lehigh County, warehouse fainted or were overcome by heat when temperatures inside soared above 100 degrees duringthe summer.
Amazon arranged to have paramedics parked in ambulances outside to treat workers who became dehydrated or suffered other heat-related issues, according to the newspaper.
In a statement, Amazon said its fulfillment centers are climate controlled and that in 2012 it invested $52 million to retrofit all of its existing centers with air conditioning.
“Safety is a top priority for us, which is why we support people who are not performing to the levels expected with dedicated coaching to help them improve and work with them to find new responsibilities in the fulfillment center to align with their abilities,” it stated.
In Pittsburgh, the Fairywood sortation center was the subject of a 2015 complaint filed with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration involving workers experiencing headaches because of painting in one area. By the time OSHA inspected the facility, the work had been completed. No action was taken against the company.
On the whole, municipalities in the eastern part of the state have welcomed Amazon’s investment.
In Upper Macungie Township where the Breinigsville warehouse is located, the company employs about 2,700 people and partners with the community on events, said township manager Bob Ibach.
“I definitely would say it’s a positive. They provide jobs. Obviously, with any type of distribution center — and we do have our fair share — traffic is a concern,” he said.
In South Middletown, where Amazon has a fulfillment center totaling more than 800,000 square feet, the company has been a key part of the township’s economy, manager Cory Adams said.
“Having a facility like that and the reputation Amazon has as an innovative company, we’re more than thrilled to have them here in the community,” he said.