Dollar General has been cited again by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, for repeated safety violations at a Georgia store.
Since 2009, Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based Dollar General stores have been cited more than 40 times and have been inspected by OSHA more than 70 times since 2009, usually because of blocked exits and electrical panels, as well as improperly maintained fire extinguishers, according to the agency.
“Dollar General has been repeatedly cited for blocked exits and electrical panels in stores around the country, but we continue to find these hazards. This appears to be an example of a corporation not sharing safety information with all its entities and employees,” said Christi Griffin, director of OSHA’s Atlanta-West Area Office. “The company needs to address these issues at its locations immediately.”
The latest fine of $83,050 levied against Dollar General’s Bowden, Georgia store covers four repeated safety violations found in a December 2014 inspection, which was initiated after the agency received a complaint.
According to a news release, Dollar General failed to ensure that exit doors were unlocked and exit routes and electrical access panels were not blocked by merchandise, display racks or supplies. Store management also failed to have portable fire extinguishers inspected annually, according to the release.
The store was previously cited for these same violations in 2014 and 2010.
Dollar General employs more than 100,000 workers nationwide.