Worker Safety Violations See Dollar General Fined $1.3 Million

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) has cited Dollar General for workplace safety issues.

After an inspection of some locations in Pembroke, Hogansville and Smyrna, Ga., OSHA asked that the Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based retailer be fined $1.3 million for safety violations, reports CNBC.

“Dollar General continues to demonstrate a willful pattern of ignoring hazardous working conditions,” Assistant Secretary for OSHA, Doug Parker, says in a statement released by OSHA.

Over the past five years, OSHA has asked the Department of Labor to hit Dollar General with more than $6.5 million in fines, according to CNN.

OSHA’s inspectors reported finding “four willful and seven repeat violations” when they visited in March. Specifically, failing to keep receiving areas clean and orderly and for stacking materials in an unsafe manner. OSHA also issued citations for exposing workers to fire and entrapment hazards by failing to keep exit routes and electrical panels clear and unobstructed, the Department of Labor says.

“Despite similar citations and sizable penalties in more than 70 inspections, the company refuses to change its business practices,” Parker adds in the statement.

Dollar General has 15 days to contest or comply with the fines, or request a meeting OSHA to address the citations.

“Following these inspections, we took immediate action to address issues and reiterated our safety expectations with store teams,” Dollar General said in a statement issued by the company. “The safety of our employees and customers is of paramount importance to us, and we will continue to work cooperatively with OSHA.”