Customers at a T.J. Maxx in Georgia were in danger of being struck by falling merchandise and exposed to other hazards, according to a recent government agency report. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the national discount retailer for unstable storage, fire risks, slip-and-trip hazards, and blocked access to exits during an emergency.
OSHA issued the citations to TJX Companies, Inc., which operates T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and other department stores. The citations include one serious violation and two repeat violations and come with a proposed $239,290 in penalties. While the company had 15 days to address the issues or contest the findings, an OSHA office director disclosed that such hazards are easily addressed but often ignored.
TJX Companies, Inc. isn’t the only major retailer with falling pallets and other dangers which pose risks to shoppers, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. The account cited thousands of injuries and deaths in warehouse style stores such as Home Depot and Walmart, among them the following tragedies:
- A 79-year-old woman was crushed to death by a load of lumber accidentally tipped by a 19-year-old forklift operator at a Los Angeles Home Depot
- A 41-year-old man was killed when a 2,000 lb. pallet of landscaping timber fell on him at a Connecticut Home Depot
- A three-year old girl was killed by a falling door at a San Diego Home Depot
At Walmart, falling merchandise resulted in 26,000 customer claims and 7,000 worker injuries during a six-year period. A two-year-old girl was crushed to death by a 100-pound television cabinet which fell on her at a Virginia Beach Walmart. A 23-year-old U.S. Air Force enlistee was totally and permanently disabled after falling boxes slammed his head into the concrete floor at a Walmart in Las Vegas.
The article claimed that big box retailers are rarely inspected for safety violations, and there is no agency that keeps track of the number of people killed or injured by falling merchandise, since consumer safety is not within OSHA’s area of coverage.
If you were hurt in an accident in store in Pennsylvania, such as a slip and fall or trip and fall or other type of catastrophic injury, please contact us to discuss the details and see if we can help. You might be able to recover damages to compensate you for your losses.