On Friday December 10, 2021, an EF-3 tornado devastated the Midwest,
including the community of Edwardsville, Illinois. The Amazon warehouse in
Edwardsville was hit by the tornado, causing the sides of the warehouse to
collapse and the roof to cave in. Six were killed and one other hospitalized.
The Monday following the deadly event, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) confirmed that it had sent compliance
officers to the Amazon warehouse over the weekend. OSHA stated it is
investigating the warehouse’s compliance with building codes and other
workplace safety and health regulations.
An Amazon spokesperson stated that the facility was
constructed to code, and the six that died were in the south side of the
building, while other workers had sought shelter in the north side of the
building. The Amazon warehouse is 1.1 million square feet, and workers only had
minutes to take shelter. While the Amazon spokesperson stated the warehouse was
compliant with building codes, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated he was
speaking with state lawmakers regarding updating the state’s building codes.
OSHA will have six months to complete its investigation, and Amazon could face monetary penalties if OSHA discovers violations. Amazon is also likely to face private civil lawsuits.
