Target Responds To $466K Settlement Involving Danvers Store

DANVERS, MA — A Target Corp. spokesperson said the chain was already working to resolve issues cited in an Occupational Safety and Health Administration's inspection report when informed of the violations involving blocked exits and storage areas in stores, including the Danvers and Framingham locations, in 2019.

The spokesman said in a statement to Patch Wednesday that "safety is our top priority" and that safeguards have been put in place to maintain protocols at the stores after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a nearly $500,000 settlement with the chain over the violations earlier this week.

"When (OSHA) reached out we were already working to address the underlying concerns, and since then, we've been performing third-party assessments, monitoring the backrooms of our stores regularly, increasing safety communication with our team and enhancing our inventory management processes," the statement said. "These measures are on top of mandatory safety training our store teams under every year and additional steps we take to ensure OSHA compliance."

Target agreed to pay $464,750 in fines and correct exit and storage access issues discovered at stores in four states, including the Danvers and Framingham locations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

OSHA said the two Massachusetts stores were among eight in the Northeast cited between May and December 2019 for violations that included blocked emergency exits and unsafe storage in backrooms and storage areas. Inspectors found emergency exits in backrooms blocked by packing boxes, products, rolling carts, metal bars, portable ladders and a powered industrial truck.

It was the 11th time since 2015 OSHA has cited Target for similar infractions at stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey and New York.

"We'll continue to invest in the technology, tools and processes that keep our stores safe and are glad we could work with OSHA to resolve this issue," the Target spokesperson's statement said.

More Patch Coverage: Target To Pay Nearly $500K In Fines For Blocked Exit Citations