This article was originally posted at some time between 2015 and September, 2020. It is being re-posted now as part of our website reconstruction. Some of the dates mentioned in this article may reference the time period from which it was originally posted.
A few months ago, I wrote a blog about the OSHA mess that the retail giant, Dollar Stores, had gotten themselves into.
At the time, they had just had their 55th OSHA inspection, and received their 155th citation, mostly for blocked exits and electrical panels in storage rooms. The most recent penalty was $107,000.
But according to a recent news release by OSHA, it seems they still haven’t learned their lesson.
Responding to a complaint, OSHA inspectors again found blocked exits and other hazards, this time on Aug. 4, 2016, at the company’s store in Van Buren, MO. As a result, the agency issued one repeated, one serious citation and one other-than-serious safety citation on Sept. 1, 2016. The store now faces proposed total penalties of $97,988.
Since 2010, OSHA has found more than 100 safety and health violations at Dollar General stores nationwide. Headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, the company operates more than 12,000 stores in 43 states and employs about 100,000 workers. In fiscal 2015, the retailer recorded sales of $20.4 billion.
“In an emergency, every second matters. Neither workers nor customers should have to fight through way through piles of merchandise to exit a building safely,” said Bill McDonald, OSHA’s area director in St. Louis. “As an organization, Dollar General must take responsibility to review its safety and health programs and fix these hazards at all of its stores nationwide now before tragedy strikes.”
You can review the actual citations here.