Dollar Tree Stores Cited for Exposing Workers to Serious Hazards for Second Time
Inspectors awitnessed a worker being struck by falling boxes.
Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has been cited for the second time in Delaware since late 2013 by OSHA after inspectors saw an employee struck by falling boxes during a visit to its New Castle store in June 2014.
As of October 2014, OSHA has issued more than $800,000 in fines to Dollar Tree Stores for the same or similar violations. In October 2013, three employees were injured at a Wilmington store by falling boxes.
"The continued complaints and subsequent OSHA inspections demonstrate Dollar Tree's disregard for worker safety. The company has not addressed hazards we see repeatedly nationwide. Dollar Tree continues to make sizable profits at the expense of exposing workers to serious injuries," said Erin G. Patterson, OSHA's area director in Wilmington.
Since 2009, OSHA has received complaints from its employees in 26 states and has cited the company for 234 safety violations. During the recent Delaware inspection, OSHA inspectors saw overhead boxes fall on an employee and cited Dollar Tree for one willful violation for improperly stored boxes. The violation carries a $70,000 penalty. In addition, one repeated violation, with a penalty of $33,000, was cited for failure to keep the work area around electrical panels clear.