OSHA Fines Pier 1 for Safety Violations

September 23, 2015  by in Furniture Retailing, Industry, Legal   

OSHA cited the retailer with three serious and two repeat violations for facilities in Mansfield, Texas, and Fort Worth, Texas. Two serious violations involved failing to provide proper training for forklift operators and inspections for the forklifts. The third serious violation involved damaged storage racks in the Mansfield facility. Repeated violations at both locations were for failing to provide forklift operator training.

OSHA’s inspection was prompted after notification that an electric pallet jack had hit an employee who was then hospitalized. The report is part of new record keeping requirements that require companies to report a hospitalization of employees, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours.

"Pier 1 Imports exposed workers to hazardous but preventable conditions and ultimately jeopardized the safety of their workers in doing so," said Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in Fort Worth, Texas. "This complaint and report of a hospitalization have identified continual hazards which require immediate corrective action to prevent further injuries."

Pier 1 has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with an OSHA area director or to contest the citation and penalties.