Dollar General Agrees to Settle OSHA Safety Violations for $12 Million

Dollar General has reached a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to resolve safety violations at its stores. The agreement requires the company to pay a $12 million fine and implement workplace safety improvements to address hazards such as blocked emergency exits, access to fire extinguishers, and unsafe storage practices.

OSHA had investigated repeated instances of unsafe storage practices at Dollar General stores, which blocked access to emergency exits, electrical panels, and fire extinguishers. The agency also cited the company for storing merchandise in a haphazard way, which posed a risk of injury from falling items.

Under the settlement, Dollar General must resolve these types of hazards within 48 hours or face fines of $100,000 per day, up to a maximum of $500,000. The company must also significantly reduce in-store inventory and improve stock efficiency to prevent unsafe conditions from recurring.

As part of the agreement, Dollar General must hire additional safety managers, establish a safety and health committee that includes employees, and retain a third-party consultant to identify hazards. The company must also conduct quarterly safety audits and establish a hotline for employees and customers to report safety concerns anonymously.

Dollar General has faced repeated safety violations in recent years, leading OSHA to place the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program. The company has paid over $26 million in proposed safety-related penalties since 2017.

In a statement, Dollar General said it is committed to ensuring a safe working environment for its employees and a pleasant shopping experience for its customers. The company must monitor the results of its safety improvements and report them to OSHA quarterly for the next two years.

OSHA Assistant Secretary Douglas Parker praised the agreement, saying it commits Dollar General to making worker safety a priority and implementing significant changes in its operations to improve accountability and compliance. The agreement gives employees essential input on ensuring their own health and safety, Parker said.