Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1569032.015 - Boxify Logistics, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Fairview Heights Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 8:27 p.m. on December 10, 2021, Employees were performing end of shift duties, some returning vehicles after completion of delivery routes and a tornado struck the Amazon DLI4 delivery facility, located in Edwardsville, IL. Severe storms had entered the area at approximately 8:00 pm. Management at the site began notifying contracted delivery company dispatchers to decide if delivery drivers would return to the site or seek shelter at their locations. Electronic warning systems delivered storm and tornado warnings to the site, between the periods of 8:06 pm and 8:16 pm, via a web-based application. After the alerts, the on-site manager and accompanying process assistant began running through the warehouse and shouting in order to get employees to the northern end of the building, where a tornado shelter had been designated. At approximately 8:18 pm, tornado sirens sounded in the Edwardsville, IL area. Approximately 10 people did not take shelter at the northern end of the building, and sought shelter in a restroom at the southern end. At approximately 8:27 pm, a tornado touched down in front of the delivery facility; cut through the building, moving in a west to east direction; and, lifted just after it reached the end of the property line. The tornado lifted the roof of the building, which caused a section of the southwest wall to fall inward, and a section of the southeast wall to fall outward. The section of the collapsed southwest wall fell on the restroom at the southern end, where the employees took shelter, which caused the restroom to be crushed. Of the 10 workers located within the restroom, six were killed due to crushing, and one was critically injured and hospitalized. Three were trapped, but rescued with minor abrasions. All remaining personnel were evacuated from the building, after the site was cleared by emergency responders.

Keywords: Blunt force trauma, Building Collapse, Crushed, Weather