Alabama Dollar Generals Are Dangerous For Customers And Employees

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Dollar General operates about 17,000 stores around the country and has more than 150,000 workers.

Dollar General is set to open over 1,000 new stores this year and has become one of the fastest-expanding retailers in the U.S.

Since 2016 DG has been fined $4 million nationwide.

Dollar General Stores in Alabama have been fined based on the following.

-Failure to provide safe exits during an emergency.

-Worker's exposure to slip and trip hazards.

-Dangers of being struck by falling boxes.

-Poor placement of electrical panels.

The Labor Department has categorized Dollar General as a "severe violator" of safety standards, making it the first company to be added to the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) under its expanded range.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated the criteria for the SVEP in Sept. 2022 to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance with safety standards.

OSHA has inspected over 270 Dollar General stores since 2017 and found 111 instances of workplace safety violations.

Dollar General's business model, which includes lightly staffed and small-scale stores, has created potential hazards due to inventory lingering in the aisles.

Recent citations include blocked fire extinguishers, obstructed exit routes, cluttered aisles, and boxed stacks in an unsafe manner. The company is now in early discussions with OSHA regarding possible settlements, after frequently contesting penalties in the past.

Also, they recently had a distribution center that was infested with rats!

While Dollar General's business model may lend itself to potential hazards, it is still the company's responsibility to ensure safe working conditions for its employees and customers.

Doug Parker, Assistant Secretary for OSHA, said Dollar General has a long history of disregarding safety measures to prevent severe injury or death in a fire or other emergency.

As a DG fan and customer, I hope they clean up their act in Alabama and around the nation. And for what it’s worth, my only DG complaint is that they are not open 24 hours!