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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 12/15/2003 - OSHA Fines Bronx Rite Aid Drugstore $134,500 for Locked Exits, Other Safety Hazards |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 2 03-802-NEW /BOS 2003-317 December 5, 2003 Contact: John M. Chavez Phone: (617) 565-2075 OSHA Fines Bronx Rite Aid Drugstore $134,500
for Locked Exits, Other Safety Hazards NEW YORK -- Safety infractions, including locking an exit door, have resulted in $134,500 in proposed penalties against Rite Aid of New York, Inc., located at 650 Castle Hill Ave., Bronx, N.Y. The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the company, which operates a pharmacy, for alleged willful, serious and repeat violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The action results from an investigation initiated on June 12 in response to a complaint about blocked exit doors. "Blocked exits can cost workers their lives," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "The Labor Department's significant fine of $134,500 sends a message that this Administration will enforce fully safety standards to protect workers." As a result of OSHA's inspection, the company has been cited for one alleged willful violation of a federal safety and health standard, which carries a proposed penalty of $70,000 - the maximum allowed under the law, for the company's practice of keeping an emergency exit door locked and secured during working hours. The company was also cited for two alleged serious violations that carry proposed penalties totaling $7,000. These include the company's failure to maintain stairs in a clean and sanitary condition and its bypassing of the interlock on a cardboard compactor, making the machine's point-of-operation guard inoperable. Finally, Rite Aid of New York was cited for three alleged repeat violations, with proposed penalties totaling $57,500, for failure to post an exit sign on an exit door, failure to train employees in the use of fire extinguishers and failure to maintain free and unobstructed access to fire extinguishers. A "willful" violation is defined by OSHA as one committed with an intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. A "serious" violation is cited for hazards that pose a substantial probability to cause serious physical harm or death to an employee. A "repeat" violation is issued when an employer was cited previously for a substantially similar condition and the citation has become a final order. The company has until Dec. 29 to contest the citations OSHA's Tarrytown area office conducted the inspection. The office is located at 660 White Plains Rd. The telephone number is (914) 524-7510. OSHA is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ### U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755. |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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