Dollar General, the subject of numerous citations has signed a Consent Agreement with the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) committing to future worker safety. The Company paid a penalty of $12 million as part of the settlement.

Dollar General is now obliged to hire safety managers, establish a companywide safety and health management system and remove hazards in stores.  Among the improvements will be a reduction in obstructions including blocked exits and access to electric panels and fire extinguishers.  The Consent Agreement makes provision for extensive fines for failure to comply with safety hazards affecting both workers and customers.

Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, stated, “These changes help give peace of mind to thousands of workers knowing that they are not risking their safety in the workplace and that they will come home healthy at the end of each day.”  The consent agreement covers at least 20,000 stores in the U.S.