The Labor Department Fines Dollar General for Safety Violations
The Labor Department announced that Dollar General has agreed to pay $12 million in fines to resolve claims of safety violations at its 20,000 stores nationwide. The violations included actions that blocked emergency exits, putting workers at risk. The company has also committed to making safety improvements to prevent these issues in the future.
Commitment to Worker Safety
Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Douglas Parker, stated that the agreement with Dollar General will prioritize worker safety by implementing significant and systemic changes to its operations. These changes are aimed at providing peace of mind to the thousands of workers employed by the company.
History of Violations
This is not the first time Dollar General has been fined for safety violations. Since 2017, the company has faced fines totaling more than $15 million. In fact, last year, Dollar General was designated as a “serious violator” by OSHA for repeated violations of workplace regulations.
Despite these challenges, Dollar General remains committed to ensuring a safe work environment for its employees and a positive shopping experience for its customers. Headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, the company operates the largest chain of dollar stores in the nation and employs over 170,000 people.
Along with safety violations, Dollar General has also faced issues related to robbery and gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, nearly 50 people were killed and 172 were injured in incidents related to the chain store between 2014 and 2023.
One notable incident occurred in Jacksonville, Florida, where a shooting at a Dollar General store resulted in $2.5 million in donations. The company has also taken steps to support employees over 19 years old who may be affected by such incidents.