Discount Retailer Once Again Fined $1.6M for Workplace Safety Hazards

Several Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety and health inspections at four separate Dollar General stores revealed the retailer’s long history of exposing employees to several workplace hazards. All in all, OSHA has inspected 182 Dollar General locations nationwide since 2017. In sum, the retailer has received over $9.6 million in penalties in the last five years. The most common findings have been workplace safety hazards that can put employees at risk if they need to evacuate during an emergency. Previously, OSHA found safety violations at two Dollar General stores involving blocked emergency exit doors.

Workplace Safety Hazards at Dollar General

In April 2022, OSHA inspectors visited Dollar General locations in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Following those investigations, inspectors cited the retailer for four willful and 10 repeat workplace safety violations. Specifically, Dollar General exposed employees to workplace safety hazards involving slips, trips, falls, and being struck by objects. Additional OSHA citations included those for exposing employees to fire hazards and failing to keep electronic panels and exit routes unobstructed. In fact, inspectors discovered a locked exit door that required a key to open. Finally, inspections found that the retailer failed to mount and label portable fire extinguishers.

Employer’s Duty to Prevent Workplace Safety Hazards

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), which established OSHA, sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards. In doing so, it assures safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. Notably, the OSH Act’s “General Duty Clause” requires that all employers:

1. shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees; and
2. shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.

To comply with the OSH Act’s General Duty Clause and to avoid OSHA safety violations and costly litigation, employers should recognize and fix common workplace hazards. Indeed, these common workplace safety hazards include slip, trip, and fall hazards related to obstructed aisleways, spills, or failure to provide proper fall protection.

Penalties for OSHA Safety Violations

In the end, Dollar General will pay a total of $1,682,302 in proposed penalties following this latest round of inspections. This represents a significant proportion of the $9.6 million in penalties the retailer has received since 2017. The retailer has 15 business days from the day they received the citations to comply.