SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday it has fined Dollar Tree Stores Inc. $32,000 for repeatedly exposing employees to potential serious injury.
The violation was reported at the the chain's Wilsonville store at 29756 Town Center Loop West.
The potential for serious injury was from unsecured materials falling, tripping and falling in cramped aisles and inaccessible fire extinguishers and emergency exits, the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services said in a news release.
The $32,000 fine was issued after an inspection of the Wilsonville site that began in late 2021 and wrapped up in February, prompted by a complaint that OSHA received last year.
The size of the fine reflects the fact that four of the five identified violations were repeats of violations cited previously at other Oregon Dollar Tree locations, OSHA said.
"The workplace safety and health standards enforced by Oregon OSHA are there for a reason, so that employers have clear and time-tested steps to follow to keep workers out of harm’s way," Lou Savage, interim administrator for the division, said in a statement. "Failing to follow them is not an option. Repeatedly failing to follow them serves only one purpose: to deepen the risk of severe injury and suffering."
A person who answered the phone at Dollar Tree in Wilsonville said they couldn't comment on the citation. The company has 30 days to appeal.
