Dollar General has agreed to pay $12 million in penalties and undertake significant safety improvements across its nearly 20,000 U.S. stores. This settlement with the Department of Labor aims to address longstanding safety concerns that have plagued the discount retailer for years.
The Department of Labor announced the agreement last week, highlighting the critical changes Dollar General must implement to enhance worker safety. The company is required to reduce store inventory, hire new safety managers, provide health and safety training, and establish a safety and health committee for employees. Additionally, Dollar General must address any future safety violations, such as blocked exits or inaccessible fire extinguishers and electrical panels, within 48 hours or face fines of up to $500,000 per violation.
Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, stated, "This agreement commits Dollar General to making worker safety a priority by implementing significant and systematic changes in its operations." He emphasized that these changes would ensure employees' safety and health, allowing them to return home safely at the end of each day.
Dollar General expressed satisfaction with the settlement. In an email to NPR, the company stated, "We remain committed to ensuring a safe working environment for our employees and a pleasant shopping experience for our customers."
This settlement marks a significant step in addressing safety concerns that have resulted in over $15 million in fines since 2017. In January 2023, OSHA inspectors discovered persistent unsafe conditions at two Florida stores and one in Alabama. For instance, merchandise blocked exit routes at an Alabama store, leading to citations for repeat violations and nearly $205,000 in fines.
Moreover, Dollar General stores have been frequent targets of violent crimes, including robberies and shootings. In August 2023, a racially motivated shooting at a Jacksonville, Florida store resulted in the deaths of three individuals. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, nearly 50 people have died, and 172 have been injured in Dollar General stores across the U.S. since 2014.
The recent settlement encompasses all Dollar General locations in the U.S., excluding its pOpshelf stores. The agreement mandates that Dollar General face fines of up to $100,000 per day, up to $500,000, if identified safety issues are not resolved within the stipulated 48-hour timeframe.
Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, operates the largest chain of dollar stores in the country, employing over 170,000 people. Despite its size and reach, the company has struggled with maintaining safety standards, leading to its designation as a "severe violator" by OSHA for repeated workplace safety violations.
The settlement's stipulations aim to bring about comprehensive changes in Dollar General's operations, ensuring that safety protocols are strictly adhered to. The establishment of a safety and health committee and the appointment of safety managers are part of a broader strategy to foster a safer working environment.
In response to the settlement, Dollar General has pledged to work closely with OSHA to rectify safety issues and enhance its overall safety measures. This commitment includes not only complying with the terms of the settlement but also proactively addressing any potential safety hazards that may arise in the future.
