Amazon defends management practices

Retail giant Amazon has defended its management practices following a number of criticisms levelled at the company over conditions in its American warehouses.

Reports have alleged workers are pressured to work in high temperatures with minimal breaks, but Amazon has said in a statement it believes its conditions are sound.

“From January 1, 2006 to September 30, 2011, our US fulfillment network had an annual average recordable incidence rate ranging from 2.5 to 4.2.”

“These rates are lower than for auto manufacturing, the warehousing industry, and even for department stores. In other words, it’s safer to work in the Amazon fulfillment network than in a department store.”

The company said it will “continue to measure our safety performance”.