Safety Violations, Penalties Pile Up for Dollar General

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Dollar General Corp.—operator of more than 18,000 Dollar General discount stores in 47 states, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Dolgencorp LLC—has again ignored federal workplace safety standards and now faces US$1,680,216 in proposed penalties. These fines are a portion of the more than $9.6 million in total initial penalties the company has received since 2017.

In April 2022, OSHA conducted inspections in Mobile and Grove Hill, Alabama; Tampa, Florida; and Dewy Rose, Georgia. Inspectors cited the retailer for four willful and 10 repeat violations, including failing to keep receiving and storage areas clean and orderly, and stacking materials in an unsafe manner. These violations exposed workers to hazards associated with slips, trips, and being struck by objects. OSHA citations also included exposing workers to fire and entrapment hazards by failing to keep exit routes and electrical panels clear and unobstructed. Finally, the company received citations for failing to mount and label fire extinguishers, and for having a locked exit door that required a key to open.  

Since 2017, OSHA has conducted 182 inspections at Dollar General locations nationwide where agency inspectors often found unsafe conditions that put workers’ safety at risk if they needed to exit quickly in an emergency. The violations found in the April inspections mirror the types typically found by OSHA at Dollar General locations across the nation, and those identified in the last 11 months at five other stores in the Southeast.

“Once again, our inspectors have found Dollar General stores ignoring federal safety standards and exposing their employees to hazardous working conditions in violation of the law,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “We will use our full enforcement powers to hold Dollar General accountable for its ongoing pattern of behavior until they show that they take worker safety seriously.”

Dollar General has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and 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.

Check out Costly Fines for Safety Violations Emphasize the Need for Diligence to read more about past Dollar General violations and the serious consequences that can arise for business owners, customers, and employees.