Amazon is fixing the AC at a warehouse where a worker died on Prime Day

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

According to a report by NBC News, Amazon is installing new equipment at its warehouse in New Jersey. On a day when the temperature rose to 92 degrees, a worker at the facility died. Amazon blames Frias' death on a personal medical condition, denying reports that he told managers he was sick. There is an ongoing investigation by the OSHA.

The warehouse gets hot even in areas with fans, according to another employee. Last year, some of the company's warehouse workers in Kent, Washington said they had to work "power hours" during a historic heat wave in the region due to the workload. The incident was cited in a letter from US lawmakers as they demanded answers from the company.

Amazon doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to keeping its workers safe. A report published earlier this year claimed that the company's warehouse employees were more likely to be injured than people working similar jobs at other companies. OSHA expanded a nationwide investigation into workplace safety at the company, looking into whether the pace it sets for its workers pushes them to act unsafely. The investigation is looking at whether the company has reported on-the-job injuries to the government.

Related

Robots aren’t taking our jobs — they’re becoming our bosses

The air conditioning installation at EWR9 wasn't immediately responded to by Amazon. Amazon has safety teams that will take action to address any temperature-related issues, according to the company's spokesman.

According to NBC, management at EWR9 has responded to Frias' death by handing out extra snacks and water, as well as posting charts to help workers determine whether they're dehydrated based on the color of their urine. It was mentioned in a pamphlet leaked last summer that was meant to help employees prepare for their lives as industrial athletes.