Region 3 News Release: 13-733-PHI (13-037)
April 24, 2013
Contact: Leni Fortson Joanna Hawkins
Phone: 215-861-5102 215-861-5101
Email: uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov hawkins.joanna@dol.gov

US Department of Labor fines Burlington Coat Factory more than $45,000 for
safety violations at Lancaster, Pa., store

LANCASTER, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Burlington Coat Factory with five serious, one repeat and two other-than-serious violations found at a Lancaster store. OSHA's October 2012 investigation was initiated under the agency's local emphasis program for the department store industry and resulted in $46,600 in proposed penalties.

The serious violations, with a $22,400 penalty, include an unguarded wall opening, blocked egress, failure to evaluate confined spaces and the presence of electrical hazards. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The repeat violation, carrying a $22,000 penalty, was due to multiple restricted means of egress. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The same violation was cited in 2010.

"These hazards exposed store workers to serious risks and need to be addressed immediately," said Kevin Kilp, director of OSHA's Harrisburg Area Office. "OSHA will not tolerate when employers jeopardize worker safety."

The two other-than-serious violations, with a $2,200 penalty, were cited for the company's failure to post OSHA 300 logs and keep detailed records. An other-than-serious violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

Burlington Coat Factory has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Harrisburg, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Harrisburg Area Office at 717-782-3902.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 252-693-7828 or TTY 252-693-7755.