Dollar General to pay $12M for allegedly blocking exits with merchandise

Dollar General has been fined $12 million and ordered to improve safety measures at its more than 20,000 locations after settling claims that it put workers in danger by blocking emergency exits, federal officials shared.

The Department of Labor announced the settlement last week, noting that the discount retailer had to significantly dial back its inventory and improve its stocking practices to prevent unsafe storage.

The store was accused of having products in the way of exits, electrical panels, and fire extinguishers, creating a safety risk for employees and customers.

“This agreement commits Dollar General to making worker safety a priority by implementing significant and systematic changes in its operations,” Douglas Parker, assistant secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, said in a statement. “These changes help give peace of mind to thousands of workers.”

Dollar General will now face fines of up to $100,000 a day, with a max of $500,000, if the same problems are found in the future and not fixed within 48 hours.

The Labor Department noted that this will be the case for all of the retailer’s 20,000-plus stores in the United States.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with OSHA to resolve these matters. We remain committed to ensuring a safe working environment for our employees and a pleasant shopping experience for our customers,” a spokesperson for Dollar General said.

Dollar General has found itself in hot water as of late, facing more than $15 million in fines since 2017.

Last year, it also became the first employer listed by OSHA as a “severe violator” for repeatedly violating workplace regulations.