Another Dollar Store Cited By OSHA For Safety Violations

Bethlehem, PA (WorkersCompensation.com)-Yet again, Dollar Tree Stores Inc. finds itself back in trouble with OSHA. The company has been cited for exit and storage hazards at one of its stores in Bethlehem, Penn. The nationwide discount retailer faces almost $300,000 in penalties. 

Following an employee’s, an OHSA inspector was called out and ultimately cited the store for the following willful violations:

·         Excess boxes obstructed the stockroom exit route.

·         The sales floor rear exit route was obstructed with sales fixtures, shopping carts, and other materials stored along the walls.

In the last five years, Dollar Tree Stores Inc has been cited five times in five different stores for not keeping exit routes free and unobstructed. For example, on or about September 5, 2019 investigators said employees worked throughout an area where the excess products in the stockroom were not stacked in a manner to prevent sliding and or collapse.

Back in 2015, two stores located in New York and Florida were cited for not having material that was stored in tiers stacked, stored, blocked, interlocked, or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse. 

OSHA also cited the Dollar Tree Store located in Bethlehem, Penn., for the following repeat violations: 

• On or about September 5, 2019, employees were working behind the counter where the balloon filling station and cash register were located. Field investigators noticed that the helium cylinders located in the area were not secured to prevent them from being knocked over.
• Also, the cylinders were not properly secured in the stockroom where they are stored.

According to the citation, inspectors also found the floors and toilet in the employee restroom unsanitary. Dollar Stores located in Florida and Missouri were cited in 2015 and 2017 for the same violations. 

Also, the Pennsylvania store was cited for the non-serious violation of not maintaining adequate clearance around the electrical panel boxes.

"Workers have a right to a safe and healthful workplace. OSHA will continue to ensure that Dollar Tree is held accountable for their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act,” said Loren Sweatt, principle deputy assistant secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health in a press release

Last year in a store in Andalusia, Ala., OHSA cited the company for the following:

• Exposing employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards by failing to keep passageways and walking surfaces in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition
• Allowing cases of merchandise to be stacked unsafely in the storeroom
• Failing to address struck-by hazards
• Permitting emergency exits to be blocked in the store 

In addition to this store, OSHA cited a store in Bloomfield Conn., for::

·         Having blocked emergency exits because of rolling conveyor equipment and stored merchandise

·         Unsafely stacking boxes of products, creating the potential for falling loads, and tripping and fire hazards.

Last year a store located in Athens, Ga, was cited for exposing employees to struck-by, trip and fall hazards by failing to keep passageways and walking surfaces in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition. OSHA also said that there were unsafe stacked cases of merchandise and blocked emergency exits. 

Just a couple of days ago, OSHA cited Dollar Tree Stores Inc. for exit, storage, and fire hazards at a store in Boston, Mass. The retailer for these citations is looking at $523,745 in penalties.

"Maintaining a safe workplace and shopping environment is our highest priority,” said Dollar Tree Corporate Spokeswoman Kayleigh M. Painter in a media release. “We work to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations at all of our stores, and we are taking these citations seriously."

In total, Dollar Stores Inc., in its last OSHA citation, was hit with a fine for $296,861 for all violations. Dollar Tree has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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