In a series of inspections that can only be described as “Oops, they did it again,” the U.S. Department of Labor discovered unsafe conditions at nine Dollar General stores across four states: Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a whopping $3.4 million in penalties for these violations, adding to the already staggering $21 million in fines that Dollar General has accumulated since 2017.
It turns out that Dollar General stores have a knack for blocking everything that’s meant to keep employees safe. Federal safety inspectors often find aisles blocked by stacks of merchandise, emergency exits obstructed, fire extinguishers hidden from view, and electrical panels buried under a mountain of boxes.
To make matters worse, these unsafe conditions exposed Dollar General employees to risks like fire, electrical shocks, and getting struck by falling merchandise. Yikes!
Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Doug Parker, had some choice words for DG saying, “Dollar General continues to expose its employees to unsafe conditions at its stores across the nation. As one of the nation’s largest retailers, the company must focus its attention on resolving these issues and making corporate-wide changes to protect the safety and well-being of the people they employ.”
Take a look at some of the details of the million-dollar mishaps:
Enfield, Maine
In November 2022, OSHA found emergency exits blocked by rolling containers and boxes. They also discovered carts clogging the aisles, preventing quick access to fire extinguishers. To top it off, the store had goods stacked unsafely up to 6 feet high around an electrical panel. Oh, and the fire extinguishers hadn’t been visually inspected as required. OSHA slapped DG Retail LLC, the operator of the Enfield store, with five repeat violations and proposed $321,419 in penalties.
Casselton, Garrison, Hillsboro, Killdeer, Minot, and Tioga, North Dakota
State fire marshals and concerned citizens tipped off OSHA about hazardous conditions at Dollar General stores in North Dakota. Inspections between October and December 2022 revealed blocked exit routes, doors, fire extinguishers, and electrical panels. In Minot, things took an even scarier turn when six employees were exposed to toxic vapors after chemical containers ruptured. OSHA cited Dollar General for failing to provide adequate protection, training, and clean-up procedures. The result? 32 violations in just two months and an astonishing $2.5 million in proposed penalties.
Kettering, Ohio
In November 2022, OSHA descended upon a Dollar General store in Kettering, only to find exit routes, fire extinguishers, and electrical panels blocked by merchandise and other materials. Talk about a safety hazard! OSHA wasn’t laughing and issued citations for three repeat violations, amounting to $270,116 in proposed penalties.
Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Responding to a complaint about unsafe working conditions, OSHA discovered a disturbing scene in Kewaunee. Exit routes, fire extinguishers, and electrical panels were blocked by unsafe stacks of merchandise – sound familiar?? OSHA didn’t hold back and issued citations for four repeat and four willful violations, including unsafe electrical cords, uninspected fire extinguishers, and crushing hazards. OSHA proposed $367,216 in penalties.
In conclusion, Dollar General Corp. and Dolgencorp LLC have made a name for themselves in the world of workplace safety violations. They’ve even earned a prestigious spot in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. With a jaw-dropping tally of 19,000 stores and 28 distribution centers in 47 states, they sure know how to spread the joy of hazardous working conditions far and wide.
Laughter is the best medicine, but workplace safety is no joke. Let’s hope Dollar General finally gets its act together and stops turning their stores into a circus of safety fails. Until then, let’s all stay safe and keep our exit routes clear of discounted merchandise!