With overtones of recent action against dollar stores, a Trader Joe’s location in Greenwood Village, CO. was fined $200,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). At issue were contraventions of worker safety regulations by a repeat offender. The store was previously cited for blocking access to electrical switchgear, failure to implement a program of training for forklift operators and deficiencies in maintenance. The defects observed at the Colorado store have also been documented at Trader Joe’s locations in five eastern states.
In commenting on the action, Chad Vivian, OSHA Area Director for Colorado stated, “Employees must comply with all Federal safety standards including forklift training and keeping areas around electrical equipment clear to prevent injuries and fatal accidents.” He concluded, “We will continue to cite companies that fail to implement the measures necessary to protect their employees from these hazards.”