A retailer faces a hefty OSHA fine for exit hazards. This citation also shows how the safety agency is currently using repeat violations against businesses with multiple locations.
Toys R Us faces $69,000 in fines for 10 violations at one of its stores in Brooklyn, NY.
OSHA’s inspection found hazards that could impede employees’ exit during a fire or other emergency. These included:
- obstructed exit access
- missing or defective exit doors
- an exit door that was painted over and couldn’t be opened
- improper or inadequate exit signage
- employees not trained in fire extinguisher use, and
- all fire extinguishers not kept in their required locations.
OSHA also cited the company for other violations, including damaged storage racks that were prone to collapse.
Three of the citations, for the obstructed exit route, blocked aisle and damaged storage racks, were categorized as repeat and came with $50,000 in fines. But the Brooklyn store wasn’t fined for these problems before.
OSHA had cited Toys R Us stores in Ohio and New Jersey for similar hazards, and that triggered the more expensive repeat citations. The other seven violations were categorized as serious for a total of $19,000 in fines.