Dollar Tree facing more safety violations

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Tuesday announced it has again cited Dollar Tree Stores Inc. for exit and storage hazards — this time at a store in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, tallying $296,861 in penalties.

This is the 10th time OSHA has cited a company store since 2018 and since it promised to enhance safety at its stores, according to OSHA documents, which name stacking hazards among the most frequently cited violation. Several of those cases remain open, which means the Chesapeake, Virginia-based company has disputed some of the violations. The company was cited three times in December 2019, with fines totaling $625,152.

The latest citation, which Dollar Tree has 15 days to dispute, stems from complaints made to OSHA inspectors regarding “blocked emergency exits, unsecured compressed gas cylinders, unsanitary bathrooms, electrical panels not properly maintained and materials stacked unsafely.” OSHA cited Dollar Tree for two willful, one repeat and two other-than-serious violations for these conditions, according to a statement.

The company, which did not return a request for comment, in 2015 reached a settlement with OSHA that promised to implement safeguards to protect workers at stores nationwide from hazards related to blocked emergency exits, obstructed access to exit routes and electrical equipment and improper material storage.

That settlement agreement resolved “numerous contested citations” and included an agreement by the company to pay $825,000 in penalties arising from 13 different inspections, according to a statement made by OSHA in December 2015.