Dollar General was once again found to be exposing workers to safety hazards.
A U.S. Department of Labor investigation, led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, found a number of dangerous work hazards, including blocked emergency exit routes and electrical panels, during an inspection in November 2022 at a Jersey Shore, Pa., facility, according to an April 7 news release.
"Exposing employees to these hazards can be dangerous, especially in an emergency," OSHA Area Director Mary Reynolds, based in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., said in the news release. "Dollar General Corp. has a substantial history of the same violations and hazards found at stores all around the U.S. They must end their repeated failures to correct these violations before an emergency turns tragic."
This particular inspection resulted in a citation for one willful violation and one repeat violation, the release reported. Additionally, the company was issued $245,544 in proposed penalties.
The nationwide discount retail chain, based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., has a long history of federal workplace safety violations from OSHA. According to the release, these violations have generated $15 million in penalties since 2017.
This Jersey Shore inspection is one of more than 180 investigations OSHA is conducting nationwide into the company and its safety violations, the release reported. The parent companies – Dollar General Corp. and Dolgencorp LLC – operate approximately 18,000 stores and 17 distribution centers across 47 states. They employ more than 150,000 workers.
Dollar General has 15 business days after receiving the citations and penalties to either comply, request an conference with the area OSHA director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the release reported.
OSHA's goal is to "ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance," according to its website. OSHA was developed from the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
