Dollar General fined nearly $1.3 million for worker safety violations

Dollar General is being hit with nearly $1.3 million in fines for worker safety violations after visits by federal inspectors to three of the company’s Georgia locations, the Department of Labor said Monday.

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it found violations in March that included obstructed exit routes, unsafely stacked merchandise and electrical panels that were difficult to access.

The Labor Department said the company has 15 days to comply with its citations and penalties, request a meeting with OSHA or contest the proposed fines.

“Following these inspections, we took immediate action to address issues and reiterated our safety expectations with store teams,” Dollar General said in a statement. “The safety of our employees and customers is of paramount importance to us, and we will continue to work cooperatively with OSHA.”

Since 2017, the Labor Department said Dollar General has been fined more than $6.5 million for various violations. Earlier this month, rival Dollar Tree was also hit with $1.2 million OSHA fines for worker safety violations.

“Dollar General continues to demonstrate a willful pattern of ignoring hazardous working conditions and a disregard for the well-being of its employees,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker in a statement. “Despite similar citations and sizable penalties in more than 70 inspections, the company refuses to change its business practices.”