Alleged inmate relationship with officer in Bernalillo County Jail sparks concern
Arizona election-security laws reinstated by US appeals court
SEC rules Fox can skip vote on labeling TV opinion shows
Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire dim even as US keeps hope
Reform leader Nigel Farage says his party will win next UK election
Biden readies $375 million arms aid package for Ukraine
Gold breaks $2,600 barrier as Fed cut bets prolong historic run
Murdoch-backed REA sweetens offer for UK's Rightmove to nearly $7.9 billion, FT reports
Widener University's Beyoncé course allows students to explore her influence on African-American culture
New York magazine says its star political reporter is on leave after a relationship was disclosed
NEW YORK (AP) — Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and improve conditions at its thousands of retail stores nationwide to make them safer for workers, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.
The discount retailer and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reached the settlement to resolve alleged violations that included unsafe storage, blocked emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and inaccessible electrical panels.
If inspectors find similar problems in the future, Dollar General may be fined $100,000 a day for any that are not resolved within 48 hours, the agreement states.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with OSHA to resolve these matters,” the company said in a statement. “We remain committed to ensuring a safe working environment for our employees and a pleasant shopping experience for our customers.”
The terms of the deal require Dollar General, which operates the nation's largest chain of dollar stores, to significantly reduce inventory and improve stocking to prevent such hazards. The company also must hire more safety managers and establish a health and safety committee with employee participation.
The agreement covers all of the Goodlettsville, Tennessee, company's 20,000 stores in the U.S. with the exception of its pOpshelf locations, the Labor Department said.
According to the Labor Department, Dollar General hired an outside consultant and an independent auditor to identify potential workplace hazards and to make recommendations for removing them.
