MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas — Dollar Tree Inc.is facing over $254,000 in penalties for another round of citations for violating workplace safety rules at one of the company's East Texas stores.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, federal workplace safety inspectors arrived at the Mount Pleasant Dollar Tree on Sept. 7, 2022 and found numerous violations putting employees in danger.
Inspectors list of safety violations:
- Storeroom merchandise blocking exit routes and walkways that exposed employees to fire hazards.
- Unstable boxes stacked high enough to fall to cause potential harm to workers.
Additionally, inspectors have noticed a continued pattern of disregarding worker's safety dating back to 2017 of failing to keep passageways, storerooms, service rooms and walking-working surfaces clean, orderly and sanitary.
"In the event of an emergency, workers and others must have fast and safe access to unblocked exit routes," explained OSHA Regional Administrator Eric S. Harbin in Dallas. "Our inspectors found merchandise and other equipment blocking walkways and an emergency exit, this time in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Retailers like Dollar Tree that fail to make sure their stores' storage areas are organized and safe are endangering everyone who works and shops there."
Dollar Tree Inc. is one of the nation's largest retail discount chains that operates more 16,000 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar locations across 48 states and five Canadian provinces. The company has more than 193,000 employees and a reported gross profit of $7.7 billion in 2021.
OSHA is giving Dollar Tree Inc. 15 business days from the receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.