Exit hazards lead to significant fine for retailer
September 24, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: Compliance, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, OSHA news, Who Got Fined and Why?, cost of safety, fire/explosion
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.
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Tags: exit hazards, repeat violations, Toys R Us
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September 28th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
My questions is this: Who is cited for the OSHA fines? The local store, or corporate? If it’s the local store, then you could quickly and easily fight the claim, because for all other claims at other stores/branches, the local store in questions was not the one that created the past hazards, was not the one exposing the employees to the hazard, and was not the one that had the authority to correct the hazard. I think the multiple location citations are rediculous as far as franchises go. There is no way one franchise location has ANY link to another franchise location. Franchises are independantly owned and operated, and thus are complete and autonomous entities.
However, if the parent corporate office is being cited, then they could “stack” the fines, because the parent corporate office would have these responsibilities.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
i contacted osha on april 22,april 23 they went to inspect the store the 24 and 25 i was harrased by management filed complaint with labor board august 21 2009 i was fired (illegally)2 days later i recieved the paperwork from osha stating the fines. i was fired because management messed with my work schedule to get me fired.the store in brooklyn that was fined is the one in 8973-95 BAY PARKWAY
BROOKLYN, NY 11214 store 6323
November 6th, 2009 at 10:09 am
any one need copies of this fines feel free to contact me.