Obstruction of emergency exit, lack of first aid attendant among issues
Dollar Tree Stores Canada has been fined $11,877 by WorkSafeBC.
WorkSafeBC inspected the company’s retail location in Fort St. John, B.C. and observed several safety deficiencies, including obstruction of the emergency exit and electrical panels by merchandise, cardboard boxes stacked in an unstable condition and close to a potential ignition source (a gas-fired ceiling heater), and a lack of a first aid attendant on site.
The firm failed to ensure emergency exit routes were designed to provide quick and unimpeded exit. The firm also failed to ensure material and equipment was securely stacked or stored in a secure manner. These were both high-risk violations.
Furthermore, the firm failed to keep passageways and electrical equipment clear of obstructions, to allow authorized persons ready access to all parts requiring attention, and refrain from using these spaces for storage. Finally, the firm failed to provide adequate first aid attendants and services for responding to injured workers. These were all repeated violations.
Source: WorkSafeBC
