Police in Phoenix, Arizona, found a newborn baby dead inside a trash can at a women's restroom at an Amazon warehouse on Wednesday.

The baby was beyond resuscitation when first responders arrived, officers told local media.

Amazon said this was a "terribly sad and tragic incident," and that it is cooperating with police.

Business Insider has previously documented evidence of ambulance calls for maternity-related issues at Amazon distribution centers around the world.

A newborn baby was found dead in a trash can at an Amazon warehouse in Phoenix on Wednesday.

Someone made the discovery inside a women's restroom at the distribution center and called the police around 8:30 p.m., the local news site Arizona's Family reported.

The baby was beyond resuscitation and confirmed dead when first responders arrived at the scene, police told the local ABC15 news channel.

The baby was beyond resuscitation when first responders arrived, police told local media. Here, a worker collects orders at Amazon's fulfilment center in Rugeley, England, in December 2012. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Police have opened an investigation into the death, Arizona's Family said.

The baby's gender was not clear. Amazon declined to give further details to Business Insider on how the baby was found and who raised the alarm.

An Amazon spokesman told Business Insider in a statement: "This is a terribly sad and tragic incident. We are working with local authorities to support their investigation. The safety and wellness of our team is our top priority."

Amazon called Wednesday's incident "a terribly sad and tragic incident." Here, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Cliff Owen/AP Images

Business Insider has found evidence of poor work conditions at some Amazon warehouses. The company has said that it doesn't recognize this portrayal of its work conditions.

Amazon warehouse workers in the US, UK, and Germany previously told Business Insider's Shona Ghosh that pressure to hit targets makes it difficult to take toilet breaks or eat.

A Freedom of Information investigation revealed 600 ambulance calls to Amazon's UK sites between 2015 and 2018, three of which were for maternity and pregnancy-related issues.

Mick Rix, an officer for British trade union GMB, said UK Amazon warehouse workers had suffered miscarriages at pregnancy issues in the past.

An Amazon spokeswoman denied Rix's claims, telling Business Insider in an email: "Amazon is a safe place to work and reports to the contrary are simply wrong."

Business Insider has previously documented evidence of dire work conditions at Amazon distribution centers around the world. Reuters/Lucas Jackson

She added that requests for ambulance at warehouses "are predominantly associated with personal health events and are not work related."

"Once we know someone is pregnant we work closely with them and carry out a full risk assessment, and, if necessary, consult a doctor," she said.