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Dollar General to Overhaul Safety Measures Following $12 Million Settlement
New Compliance Systems and Penalties Introduced to Ensure Worker Safety
According to the posted article in Yahoo, Dollar General Corp. has agreed to pay $12 million to settle federal workplace safety violations with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This settlement addresses numerous safety issues that have plagued the retailer since 2017 many of which were related to blocked exits improper storage and access to fire extinguishers and electrical panels. The agreement requires Dollar General to make significant changes to improve safety in its stores. The company will create a new expanded safety structure and a robust safety and health management system. This includes hiring more safety managers and encouraging employees to participate in safety measures.
One of the major changes is the reduction of inventory levels. This aims to prevent goods from being piled up in store aisles a common issue that has led to blocked exits and other hazards. The company must correct these hazards within 48 hours and provide proof of the corrections. If Dollar General fails to do so it faces monetary penalties of $100,000 per day up to $500,000 along with further OSHA inspections and enforcement actions. To ensure compliance Dollar General has also hired a third-party consultant to identify hazards and a third-party auditor to perform unannounced compliance audits. Additionally, the retailer has set up an anonymous hotline for employees and the public to report safety concerns. Douglas L. Parker assistant secretary for OSHA emphasized that the agreement commits Dollar General to making worker safety a priority. “These changes help give peace of mind to thousands of workers knowing that they are not risking their safety in their workplaces and that they will come home healthy at the end of each day,” Parker said.
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$9.6M in Proposed Fines: Dollar General Settles with OSHA for $12 Million, Vows to Improve Workplace Safety (PHOTO: Yahoo)
Dollar General Settles OSHA Violations for $12 Million: Major Safety Overhaul Planned
Furthermore, the settlement resolves existing federal OSHA inspections related to alleged violations. Since 2017 OSHA had proposed over $9.6 million in penalties against Dollar General for repeat unsafe conditions that put both workers and customers at risk. By January 2023 the fines had risen to more than $15 million for “willful, repeat, and serious” safety violations. In addition to Dollar Genera, other retailers have faced OSHA violations. For instance, a T.J. Maxx store in Pooler, Georgi, and Amazon warehouses in three locations were also cited last year. Dollar General headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee operates over 19,000 stores nationwide. The company’s commitment to improving safety aims to protect its workers and customers from potential hazards and ensure a safer shopping environment.
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