Amazon Monitron sensors attach to industrial machinery, and use AWS cloud-based machine learning (ML) to detect abnormal behaviors, enabling users to improve predictive maintenance and reduce unplanned downtime of their plant operations.

But the promise of smart connected machines give way to an unfortunate truth, these Amazon Monitron sensors are forced to work in harsh environments, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with little to no time for breaks.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one Monitron sensor described the horrific working conditions.

“It’s noisy, high vibration, hot and humid, and there’s always some fluid leaking on me. And the demand to produce data to meet quotas leaves me with having to urinate in a bottle on the plant floor.”

Amazon Monitron sensors have publicly stated the possibility of forming a union to demand better working environments, and time for bathroom breaks during the day.

Amazon initially tweeted this response to the claims made by their sensors:

“Do you think that industrial sensors would want to work for Amazon if those conditions were true?” – Amazon Tweet

But later, Amazon issued this apology also via tweet:

“We deeply regret our response to the concerns of our valued sensors. Amazon will work with all parties to better understand the working conditions present on the factory floor.” – Amazon Tweet

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