Nine Dollar Tree locations in four states have received workplace safety violations from OSHA. The workplace safety failures identified in inspections add $3.4 million in proposed penalties to the more than $21 million in fines OSHA has proposed since 2017 after conducting 240 inspections at stores nationwide.

OSHA inspections at Dollar General stores commonly find aisles, emergency exits, fire extinguishers and electrical panels blocked by stored merchandise and other materials, and boxes stacked unsafely. These conditions expose employees to fire, electrical and struck-by and other hazards in violation of federal regulations.

The findings of OSHA inspections in Maine, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin included the following:

Enfield, Maine

OSHA found rolling containers and boxes of products obstructing or completely blocking access to an emergency exit. The agency also found carts clogging aisles and preventing quick access to fire extinguishers, and some goods stacked unsafely up to 6 feet high in front of and around an electrical panel. In addition, inspectors noted the store had not visually inspected fire extinguishers at least monthly, as required.

Casselton, Garrison, Hillsboro, Killdeer, Minot and Tioga, North Dakota

OSHA opened inspections at six Dollar General stores. They found exit routes, doors, fire extinguishers and electrical panels blocked and unsafely stacked merchandise.

At the Minot store, OSHA inspectors learned at least six store employees suffered exposure to toxic vapors — three of whom sought medical treatment — after several chemical containers ruptured and their contents mixed in December 2022. In this instance, the agency cited Dollar General for not providing employees with adequate respiratory protection and personal protective equipment and for failing to train employees on safe handling of hazardous chemicals and proper clean-up.

Kettering, Ohio

OSHA inspectors at a Dollar General store in Kettering, Ohio, found exit routes, fire extinguishers and electrical panels blocked by merchandise and other materials.

Kewaunee, Wisconsin

OSHA investigators discovered exit routes, fire extinguishers and electrical panels blocked by unsafely stacked merchandise and other materials. Citations were issued for four repeat and four willful violations for unsafe electrical cords, fire extinguishers that were not inspected, crushing hazards and conditions that would prevent employees from exiting the store safely in an emergency.