Dollar Tree Settles OSHA Cases, Recalls Burn Relief Product
The settlement agreement with OSHA implements safeguards to protect workers at Dollar Tree stores nationwide from hazards associated with blocked emergency exits, obstructed access to exit routes, electrical equipment, and improper storage of materials. It commits Dollar Tree to pay $825,000 in penalties arising from 13 different inspections.
OSHA and Dollar Tree Stores Inc. have agreed to settle all safety and health citations issued against the company in a corporate-wide settlement announced by the federal agency Dec. 10. It implements safeguards to protect workers at Dollar Tree stores nationwide from hazards associated with blocked emergency exits, obstructed access to exit routes, electrical equipment, and improper storage of materials. It commits Dollar Tree to pay $825,000 in penalties arising from 13 different inspections.
"This settlement agreement demonstrates Dollar Tree's commitment to improve training, safety procedures, and working conditions at its stores nationwide," said Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "OSHA looks forward to working cooperatively with the company to ensure that these changes better protect the safety and health of Dollar Tree's employees."
The agreement requires Chesapeake, Va.-based Dollar Tree to implement a safety and health program that is consistent with OSHA's Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines and to control hazards according to the hierarchy of controls. There are 2,400 Dollar Tree nationwide included in this agreement, which gives the company 90 days from the date the agreement is fully executed to implement the changes at new stores opened after the full execution of it and 180 days to implement at all existing stores as of the date of full execution. The company's program will incorporate management commitment, employee participation, hazard identification and control, education and training for employees and multi-level managers, and program evaluation, and Dollar Tree also agreed to publish a corporate newsletter covering safety and health issues.
The company will allow a third-party monitor to audit 50 company stores during the two-year agreement. The monitor will provide findings and recommendations to store managers, who then must correct identified issues within 21 days. Other provisions include prohibiting the stacking or storing of materials or equipment in a way that blocks or obstructs access to emergency exits and electrical equipment and also requiring routes to emergency exits and electrical equipment be at least 28 inches wide.
"This resolution with Dollar Tree expresses the U.S. Department of Labor's commitment to seek and obtain compliance with the worker safety and health laws we enforce at all locations of a multi-establishment enterprise," said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith. "The result achieved here benefits both the company and its workers across the country."
Separately, Dollar Tree recalled about 325,000 units of a product named Assured Burn Relief Gel because the packaging is not child-resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced, adding that the gel contains lidocaine, posing a poisoning risk if swallowed. Consumers can contact Dollar Tree at 800-876-8697 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time weekdays or at www.dollartree.com. At the bottom of the page, under "Customer Service," click "Contact Us" and then "Company Questions & Answers," and click on "Product Recalls" in the left column.
The gel is packaged in a blue box with white letters "Burn Relief" and red letters "Burn Relief Gel."