Washington Dollar Tree Store Fined for Worker Safety Violations

Dollar Tree in Washington faces $132,000 in fines for reported work safety violations including locked emergency exit routes, improper stacking of boxes, and scattered debris.

The fine is in connection with violations at the Tacoma Central Plaza store at 3208 South 23rd St. A Washington Department of Labor & Industries inspection reportedly identified three repeat willful violations, issued when a business repeatedly puts employees at risk when they knew or should have known relevant safety requirements.

L&I cited Dollar Tree for the same hazards for three months earlier.

Inspectors reportedly found boxes in top heavy stacks more than 6 feet high, creating a collapse danger, and they found debris on the floor in the storeroom and in aisles where customers walk.

According to L&I, the agency has inspected Washington Dollar Tree stores more than 30 times in the past four years, resulting in more than $1 million in fines. L&I inspectors found that too much inventory and not enough storage space at the stores often leads to high stacks of boxes and other safety issues. Inspectors also reported often seeing boxes blocking exits.

The company is part of L&I’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which means its stores are subject to inspections at any time. Dollar Tree has appealed the citation. Penalty money paid from a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.