Kickem While They Burn
What started out as chilling crime of violence and total lack of regard for human life, has opened the door for OSHA to cite a Dallas, TX company for four safety violations following a May incident in which an elderly clerk was dowsed with a flammable liquid and set on fire during a robbery. Police do not believe the elderly woman, who was working alone, offered any resistance.
Following the woman’s death, OSHA opened an investigation and later expanded the investigation to include the company’s three other stores in Dallas and Mesquite. The agency found that workers at those locations were exposed to the same or similar workplace violence hazards.
“Handling money, working alone and standing behind open counters leaves employees vulnerable to violent crimes,” said Stephen Boyd, OSHA’s area director in Dallas. “If the employer had conducted an analysis to identify risk for violence, implemented appropriate control measures and provided training to ensure awareness of potential violence, it is possible that this tragic loss of life could have been avoided.”
Each store was cited with violating OSHA’s General Duty Clause for failing to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious injury or death. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The citations carry total proposed penalties of $19,600.