Dollar General Negotiates Security Breach

Common dollar is in talks with federal regulators after a discount retailer was named a “serious offender” of workplace safety regulations, according to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman.

The spokesman said that “mandatory settlement procedures” before the review agency’s commission would take place “in accordance with the Commission’s rules.” OSHA is part of the Department of Labor.

Dollar General did not comment directly on the settlement talks. Until recently, the discount retailer was unwilling to contact OSHA about the violations, federal officials said. spoke with The New York Times on condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for Dollar General told CNBC that “We regularly review and improve our safety programs and strengthen them through training, ongoing communication, recognition and accountability.”

“When we become aware of situations where we have failed to meet this commitment, we work to resolve the issue and ensure that the company’s safety expectations are clearly communicated, understood and implemented,” the spokesperson added.

Dollar General has been accused of exposing workers to fire hazards and other safety hazards, such as warehousing goods at unsafe heights, leading to “chronic failure to comply with federal safety requirements.” according to OSHA.

Since 2017 OSHA has inspected more than 270 Dollar General stores, finding more than 100 workplace safety violations. OSHA also imposed more than $15 million in fines on Dollar General. The company has more offices in the US than Target And walmart.

Dollar General was the first company to be added to the “severe offenders” list last fall after OSHA expanded the coverage of one of its longtime safety programs. This program, called Serious Offender Protection Programhas traditionally been targeted at companies with particularly unsafe working conditions, such as manufacturers or construction firms.

Under the program, OSHA employees can selectively inspect a store without directly complaining about working conditions.

The Tennessee-based company expanded rapidly during the pandemic, opening thousands of new offices. Amid this growth and profitability, the company has also faced criticism from other workers’ rights advocates, making it a logical target for Biden administration.

“Dollar General’s growing track record of disregarding security measures makes it abundantly clear that the company puts profit before people,” OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeier said in a statement. january news release. “These breaches are preventable, and failure to prevent them demonstrates a blatant disregard for the workers who depend on them to keep their stores running.”

During their inspections, OSHA officials found everything from blocked fire exits to unstably stacked goods that could have fallen on workers.