Pier 1 Imports Faces $101k In OSHA Fines for Exposing Employees to Workplace Hazards

One of the store locations in Glendale, Wisconsin is facing up to $101,420 in fines for five repeated, two serious and one other-than-serious violation. These include improper use of ladders, exposing employees to fall hazards, lack of railings on the stair and storage areas, blocking electrical panels, and electrical junction boxes without covers. The employees at this store were also put at risk from failure to prevent boxes from blocking aisles and being piled at dangerous heights. Federal workplace safety inspectors have found similar safety hazards at several other U.S. store locations. Christine Zortman, OSHA’s area director in Milwaukee, said “haphazardly stacked boxes can fall and injure workers, or block exit routes in an emergency.” She continues to state how “Pier 1 must take responsibility to ensure the safety of its workers in all of its stores before someone is hurt or worse.” Read more here.