From heatstroke to amputation: The hidden dangers facing Walmart workers
- Replies 3
When you stroll through the bright aisles of your local Walmart, you might be thinking about bargains, not bedbugs.
But behind those “Rollback” signs and cheery blue vests, a much darker story is unfolding—one that’s been quietly documented in hundreds of OSHA reports and is now coming to light.
At The GrayVine, we believe it’s time to pull back the curtain and ask: What’s really happening to the people who keep America’s biggest retailer running?
A Pattern of Peril: The Human Cost of Everyday Low Prices
Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States, with over 1.5 million workers. But according to a trove of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports obtained by The Daily Dot, the company’s relentless drive for efficiency may be coming at a steep human cost.
Since January 2023 alone, 244 OSHA reports have documented a litany of alleged hazards—ranging from heatstroke and chemical burns to traumatic amputations and even death.
Let’s take a closer look at what these reports reveal, and why it matters not just for workers, but for all of us who shop there.
Freezers, Ovens, and the Chilling Reality of Workplace Hazards
Imagine clocking in for your shift, only to face dangers that sound more like scenes from a disaster movie than a day at work.
In Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, a Walmart employee lost a finger when a freezer door slammed shut unexpectedly.
A report from a Bayonne, New Jersey Walmart franchise in October 2023 stated, “Automatic door in the freezer section of the Walmart automatically closed onto the employee’s head, causing head and neck injuries.” The replacement door lacked a safety sensor, leaving the same hazard unaddressed.
In Coldwater, Michigan, workers were exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide from a faulty oven. The only action management took to address the problem was asking the technician about the availability of a new oven.
Not long after, an associate was hospitalized with carbon monoxide levels in her blood reaching 10%—a concentration 2% to 4% higher than what's typically found in someone who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day, according to Sanford Health.
And it’s not just the equipment. “We do not have access to drinking water or a first aid kit. We are running a rotisserie oven and fryers that put off a lot of heat, combined with the lack of air ventilation, created an unsafe environment,” shared a report from the Deli Department of a Walmart located in Topeka, Kansas, to the OSHA.
In Wareham, Massachusetts, employees cleaned with hazardous chemicals without proper protective gear or training. In Dixon, California, workers were left to figure out how to use ovens safely on their own.
But the most tragic of all incidents happened on October 19, 2024 when Gumsimran Kaur, a former 19-year-old Walmart worker in Canada, died due to an incident with the walk-in oven in Walmart’s bakery department.
The investigation concluded that her death was not suspicious, but many concerns were sent to OSHA.
Cold Comfort: Freezer Nightmares and PPE Fiascos
If you thought the freezer section was just for frozen peas, think again. Reports from across the country detail a shocking lack of safety in these icy chambers.
Source: CBC News / Youtube.
In Bayonne, New Jersey, a freezer door without a safety sensor slammed onto an employee’s head. In Arcadia, Florida, workers endured -20°F temperatures for hours on end due to a broken door, with no proper protective clothing.
And when Walmart does provide jackets for freezer work? In Glendale, Kentucky, those jackets were infested with bedbugs. Management’s solution?
“Just spray them with bug spray.” (We wish we were making this up.) Employees’ personal jackets, stored in the same area, became infested too.
Not Just Employees: When Customer Safety Is at Risk
It’s not only workers who are exposed to hazards. In Wake Forest, North Carolina, restrooms were so neglected that blood, urine, and vomit were often present.
In Elk Grove, California, customers could reach into a freezer with exposed electrical wires. In Newton, Kansas, employees were told to climb shelves to retrieve products—an accident waiting to happen.
The Human Toll: From Heatstroke to Harassment
Some of the most heartbreaking stories are about what happens when workers feel they can’t speak up.
Janikka Perry, a Walmart employee in North Little Rock, Arkansas, died after reportedly feeling ill but fearing repercussions for calling off. Her death wasn’t even recorded as work-related by OSHA. She was said to be told to “pull herself together” during her shift by a general manager.
A report from a Walmart location in Coconut Creek, Florida, dated April 2023, stated, “Employees exposed to workplace violence due to harassment and verbal abuse.” However, the report did not specify the nature of the harassment or verbal abuse, nor did it identify the source.
In Wichita, Kansas, employees described daily threats of assault and verbal abuse from customers, with little help from supervisors. In Waxahachie, Texas, an off-the-clock employee was shot in the parking lot.
“One (1) of the individuals pulled a firearm and fired multiple shots and struck the employee twice,” the OSHA report said. The 18-year-old victim was sent to the hospital with numerous gunshot wounds.
Why Aren’t All Incidents Counted? The Problem of Underreporting
One of the most troubling aspects of these reports is what’s missing.
Not all workplace injuries and deaths are officially recorded as work-related, especially if the incident happens off the clock or if management disputes the circumstances. This means the true scale of the problem may be even greater than the reports suggest.
What’s Walmart Doing About It?
The OSHA records reviewed reveal a troubling pattern of ongoing and widespread safety issues throughout Walmart stores nationwide.
Employees in multiple states have reported working under hazardous conditions—from extreme heat and chemical exposure to the absence of essential safety measures—that put their health and safety at risk on a regular basis.
Although Walmart is the largest private employer in the US, it has repeatedly come under scrutiny for how it treats its workforce. Critics argue that the company’s emphasis on efficiency and profit has often come at the cost of basic worker safeguards.
As serious incidents continue to mount, so do demands for Walmart to implement meaningful reforms before more employees are harmed.
OSHA did not provide additional comment to the Daily Dot beyond the initial documents, and Walmart had not issued a public response to the reported violations at the time of publication.
Have you or someone you know worked at Walmart or another big-box retailer? What changes would you like to see? Do you think companies like Walmart are doing enough to protect their employees? Share your thoughts, stories, and suggestions in the comments below!
But behind those “Rollback” signs and cheery blue vests, a much darker story is unfolding—one that’s been quietly documented in hundreds of OSHA reports and is now coming to light.
At The GrayVine, we believe it’s time to pull back the curtain and ask: What’s really happening to the people who keep America’s biggest retailer running?
A Pattern of Peril: The Human Cost of Everyday Low Prices
Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States, with over 1.5 million workers. But according to a trove of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports obtained by The Daily Dot, the company’s relentless drive for efficiency may be coming at a steep human cost.
Since January 2023 alone, 244 OSHA reports have documented a litany of alleged hazards—ranging from heatstroke and chemical burns to traumatic amputations and even death.
Let’s take a closer look at what these reports reveal, and why it matters not just for workers, but for all of us who shop there.
Freezers, Ovens, and the Chilling Reality of Workplace Hazards
Imagine clocking in for your shift, only to face dangers that sound more like scenes from a disaster movie than a day at work.
Walmart employees across the US have reported widespread unsafe working conditions. Image source: Walmart / Youtube.
In Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, a Walmart employee lost a finger when a freezer door slammed shut unexpectedly.
A report from a Bayonne, New Jersey Walmart franchise in October 2023 stated, “Automatic door in the freezer section of the Walmart automatically closed onto the employee’s head, causing head and neck injuries.” The replacement door lacked a safety sensor, leaving the same hazard unaddressed.
In Coldwater, Michigan, workers were exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide from a faulty oven. The only action management took to address the problem was asking the technician about the availability of a new oven.
Not long after, an associate was hospitalized with carbon monoxide levels in her blood reaching 10%—a concentration 2% to 4% higher than what's typically found in someone who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day, according to Sanford Health.
And it’s not just the equipment. “We do not have access to drinking water or a first aid kit. We are running a rotisserie oven and fryers that put off a lot of heat, combined with the lack of air ventilation, created an unsafe environment,” shared a report from the Deli Department of a Walmart located in Topeka, Kansas, to the OSHA.
In Wareham, Massachusetts, employees cleaned with hazardous chemicals without proper protective gear or training. In Dixon, California, workers were left to figure out how to use ovens safely on their own.
But the most tragic of all incidents happened on October 19, 2024 when Gumsimran Kaur, a former 19-year-old Walmart worker in Canada, died due to an incident with the walk-in oven in Walmart’s bakery department.
The investigation concluded that her death was not suspicious, but many concerns were sent to OSHA.
Cold Comfort: Freezer Nightmares and PPE Fiascos
If you thought the freezer section was just for frozen peas, think again. Reports from across the country detail a shocking lack of safety in these icy chambers.
Source: CBC News / Youtube.
In Bayonne, New Jersey, a freezer door without a safety sensor slammed onto an employee’s head. In Arcadia, Florida, workers endured -20°F temperatures for hours on end due to a broken door, with no proper protective clothing.
And when Walmart does provide jackets for freezer work? In Glendale, Kentucky, those jackets were infested with bedbugs. Management’s solution?
“Just spray them with bug spray.” (We wish we were making this up.) Employees’ personal jackets, stored in the same area, became infested too.
Not Just Employees: When Customer Safety Is at Risk
It’s not only workers who are exposed to hazards. In Wake Forest, North Carolina, restrooms were so neglected that blood, urine, and vomit were often present.
In Elk Grove, California, customers could reach into a freezer with exposed electrical wires. In Newton, Kansas, employees were told to climb shelves to retrieve products—an accident waiting to happen.
The Human Toll: From Heatstroke to Harassment
Some of the most heartbreaking stories are about what happens when workers feel they can’t speak up.
Janikka Perry, a Walmart employee in North Little Rock, Arkansas, died after reportedly feeling ill but fearing repercussions for calling off. Her death wasn’t even recorded as work-related by OSHA. She was said to be told to “pull herself together” during her shift by a general manager.
Serious incidents such as amputations, heatstroke, and even deaths have occurred. Image source: Walmart / Youtube.
A report from a Walmart location in Coconut Creek, Florida, dated April 2023, stated, “Employees exposed to workplace violence due to harassment and verbal abuse.” However, the report did not specify the nature of the harassment or verbal abuse, nor did it identify the source.
In Wichita, Kansas, employees described daily threats of assault and verbal abuse from customers, with little help from supervisors. In Waxahachie, Texas, an off-the-clock employee was shot in the parking lot.
“One (1) of the individuals pulled a firearm and fired multiple shots and struck the employee twice,” the OSHA report said. The 18-year-old victim was sent to the hospital with numerous gunshot wounds.
Why Aren’t All Incidents Counted? The Problem of Underreporting
One of the most troubling aspects of these reports is what’s missing.
Not all workplace injuries and deaths are officially recorded as work-related, especially if the incident happens off the clock or if management disputes the circumstances. This means the true scale of the problem may be even greater than the reports suggest.
What’s Walmart Doing About It?
The OSHA records reviewed reveal a troubling pattern of ongoing and widespread safety issues throughout Walmart stores nationwide.
Employees in multiple states have reported working under hazardous conditions—from extreme heat and chemical exposure to the absence of essential safety measures—that put their health and safety at risk on a regular basis.
Although Walmart is the largest private employer in the US, it has repeatedly come under scrutiny for how it treats its workforce. Critics argue that the company’s emphasis on efficiency and profit has often come at the cost of basic worker safeguards.
As serious incidents continue to mount, so do demands for Walmart to implement meaningful reforms before more employees are harmed.
OSHA did not provide additional comment to the Daily Dot beyond the initial documents, and Walmart had not issued a public response to the reported violations at the time of publication.
Have you or someone you know worked at Walmart or another big-box retailer? What changes would you like to see? Do you think companies like Walmart are doing enough to protect their employees? Share your thoughts, stories, and suggestions in the comments below!
