Title: Dollar General to Pay $12 Million in Penalties and Implement Workplace Safety Improvements

In a recent announcement, the U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with retail giant Dollar General, requiring the company and its subsidiaries to pay $12 million in penalties and undertake significant workplace safety enhancements across its national network of over 19,000 stores.

This new set of fines comes in addition to the more than $21 million in fines that Dollar General has accumulated since 2017 from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These fines were imposed due to safety violations including blocked fire exits and dangerous levels of clutter.

The settlement represents a crucial step for Dollar General, a repeat offender on workplace safety rules. In 2023, the company became the first to be added to OSHA's "severe violators" list after the agency expanded its safety enforcement program. Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Douglas Parker, emphasized the importance of the agreement, stating that it commits Dollar General to prioritize worker safety and implement significant changes to improve compliance.

Under the terms of the settlement, Dollar General is obligated to hire additional safety managers and substantially reduce inventory while increasing stocking efficiency. These measures aim to prevent blocked exits and unnecessary clutter. Additionally, the retailer must provide comprehensive safety and health training for all employees and form a safety and health committee with employee representation.

To ensure continuous improvement, Dollar General has appointed third-party consultants and auditors to identify hazards and conduct unannounced compliance audits annually. The company has also established a Safety Operations Center and maintained an anonymous hotline for employees and the public to report safety concerns.

The settlement further stipulates that Dollar General must monitor the effectiveness of these efforts and submit quarterly reports to OSHA. It also requires the company to promptly correct safety hazards, such as blocked access to fire extinguishers and electrical panels, as well as improper material storage within 48 hours, providing evidence of correction. Failure to do so may result in additional fines of up to $100,000 per day, reaching a maximum of $500,000.

Gun violence has also captured attention within Dollar General stores, with nonprofit Gun Violence Archive reporting that 49 people were killed and 172 injured due to gun violence at these locations in 2023.

CNBC has reached out to Dollar General for additional comments regarding this settlement.