December 17, 2019

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Dollar Tree Stores For Exposing Alabama Employees to Safety Hazards

RAINBOW CITY, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited national discount retailer Dollar Tree Stores Inc. for exposing employees to safety hazards at its Rainbow Drive store in Rainbow City, Alabama. The company faces $104,192 in penalties.

OSHA cited the company for exposing employees to struck-by hazards by failing to ensure the stacking of cases of merchandise in excess of 8 feet high in a stable manner.

"Employers are responsible for ensuring that materials are stored in a safe manner that does not expose workers to injuries," said OSHA Birmingham Area Director Ramona Morris. "It is unacceptable that this employer continues to subject workers to the same hazards previously identified and cited at other Dollar Tree locations."

Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has a long history of serious and repeated violations related to unsafe merchandise stacking and blocked exits.

OSHA’s Worker Safety Series on Warehousing provides solutions to prevent improperly stored materials from falling.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed 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.

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 help 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 https://www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

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Media Contacts:

Eric Lucero, 678-237-0630, lucero.eric.r@dol.gov

Michael D' Aquino, 678-237-0630, daquino.michael@dol.gov

Release Number: 19-2073-ATL (449)

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).