- A mechanic died after he got trapped under a van at an Amazon distribution center in Florida.
- The 42-year-old man was working on an Amazon delivery van when the jack stand failed.
- Police said the incident appeared to be an accident and that they were working with OSHA.
A mechanic at an Amazon distribution center in southern Florida died early Tuesday morning after a van he was working on fell on him.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department told Business Insider in a statement that 42-year-old Andrew Tabannah became trapped under an Amazon delivery van when the jack stand propping it up failed.
Tabannah’s coworkers placed additional jacks under the van and were able to pull him out and performed “life saving measures until an ambulance arrived.”
The St. Lucie County Fire Department arrived at the scene shortly after midnight. Tabannah was transferred to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.
The Amazon distribution center in Port St. Lucie is located near Florida’s east coast, about 48 miles north of Palm Beach.
Police said they were investigating and that the incident appeared to be an accident, with no foul play suspected. They also said they had notified and were working with representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
In a statement provided to BI, Amazon said the person who died was a contractor.
“Our thoughts are with the contractor, their family, and friends during this very difficult time. As is standard procedure, we’ll work closely with the contractor’s employer as they investigate this tragic accident and conduct an internal investigation as well,” Maureen Lynch Vogel, an Amazon spokesperson, said.
Other Amazon employees and contractors who were scheduled to work were asked to stay home with pay.
OSHA did not respond to a request for comment from BI.
Amazon has been scrutinized in the past over workplace safety. Last year, federal inspectors with OSHA cited Amazon for workplace practices it said prioritized speed and put workers at risk for joint and back injuries.
A report released by the US Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in July found Amazon employees are frequently injured while fulfilling Prime Day orders.
Do you work at Amazon and have a news tip or a story to share? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.
