Dollar Tree Facing $296,861 Penalty for Exit and Storage Hazards

Thursday, March 5, 2020 | 0

Dollar Tree Stories Inc. continues to accrue citations for blocking emergency exits and unsafe storage of merchandise, with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposing a $296,861 for alleged violations at a Pennsylvania store.

OSHA said its inspectors responding to a complaint about workplace safety issues at a Dollar Tree store in Bethlehem found emergency exits blocked and materials stacked in an unsafe manner. The agency also said cylinders storing compressed gas were not properly secured and electrical panels were not properly maintained.

Dollar Tree received more than $2 million in fines for safety violations last year. OSHA fined the company more than $1.5 million for violations at stores in Alabama, Florida, Idaho and New York. And the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries in May 2019 assessed a $503,200 fine against the company for blocking exits and improperly stacking merchandise.

Dollar Tree has 15 business days from receiving the latest citations in Pennsylvania to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or challenge the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.