Dollar Tree Fined for Repeat Safety Violations
The state investigation centers on a store in Tacoma, Washington.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Aug 04, 2023
A Dollar Tree store in Tacoma, Washington, is the subject of a recent investigation by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
In a release dated August 2, L&I announced it had identified a variety of safety hazards at the Dollar Tree location. As a result, the company is facing three repeat willful violations and state fines of $132,000. Among the hazards L&I discovered were blocked emergency exit routes, improper stacking of boxes, and debris on the floors in the storeroom and the customer area.
L&I previously cited Dollar Tree for the same hazards three months earlier. And that wasn’t the first time the organization’s visits had turned up safety violations. In fact, L&I revealed it had conducted more than 30 inspections at Dollar Tree stores over the past four years. In total, the Virginia-based retail company had received more than $1 million in fines.
“We’re seeing the same safety violations at Dollar Tree stores over and over again,” Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said in a statement. “This is a national problem as well. Even after multiple large fines, it appears Dollar Tree has not gotten the message that they need to take sustained, comprehensive steps to keep their workers safe.”
L&I has included Dollar Tree in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which allows companies to be subject to inspection at any time.
Dollar Tree has appealed L&I’s recent citations at the Tacoma store.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.