The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has

cited Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. for six repeat and serious safety and health violations. These

violations come in response to an inspection of the Watauga, TX location. These violations

carry proposed penalties of $262,500. Dollar Tree Stores have been cited for over 200 safety and

health violations across the nation since 2009.

“In the past five months, OSHA has issued more than $800,000 in fines to Dollar Tree Stores

for the same or similar violations,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for

occupational safety and health. “This latest incident yet again demonstrates the company’s

deliberate and ongoing refusal to effectively address hazards that have been cited multiple times

at their stores across the country. OSHA will not tolerate such blatant disregard for worker

safety.”

In the most recent inspection, two willful violations were cited for failing to ensure exit doors

were kept clear and unobstructed and that products were stored in a stable and secure manner.

Four additional citations were cited for failing to keep passageways clean and clear and to secure

compressed gas cylinders and prevent blocking of portable fire extinguishers and electrical

panels.

Jack Rector, OSHA’s area director in Fort Worth, said, “Allowing boxes weighing up to 45

pounds to be haphazardly stacked in the storage room exposes workers to crushing injuries.

Failing to correct this violation and other hazards, including blocked exits, puts worker safety in

jeopardy – and that is unacceptable.”

This is a clear example of what can happen when you do not correct issues uncovered during

an audit by OSHA. Repeat violations create large repeat fines. So if you have been audited by

OSHA anytime in the last five years, it is important to be sure all of your issues have been fixed.

If you are not sure that your facility is up to code, it might be time to bring in a qualified third

party occupational safety and health auditing firm to help update your occupational safety and

health plans and procedures.

If you have any questions about this case or about updating your facility’s occupational safety

and health procedures, please contact us. If you have anything else to add, please leave a

comment.