OSHA has cited Home Depot Inc. for eight safety violations, including seven repeat, carrying proposed penalties of $150,700 after an inspection at its Reynoldsburg, Ohio store. The inspection was initiated under the site-specific targeting program that directs enforcement resources to workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur.
"By failing to correct previously cited deficiencies, Home Depot continues to dismiss a culture of safety as a priority," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA's area director in Columbus.
A total of seven repeat violations cited include blocked exit routes; failing to inspect flexible cords and then use cords with missing ground pins and damaged insulation; effectively close unused openings in electrical cabinets; use flexible wiring in lieu of required fixed wiring; and install plates on receptacles, thus exposing workers to 120 volts of live electricity. The other violations include failing to review, sign and provide record-keeping documents within four hours, as requested by inspectors. The same violations were cited at various Home Depot stores nationwide from 2010 through 2012.
One serious violation was cited for failing to bond and ground flammable, liquid storage containers during transfer to prevent accidental electrical discharge.
The current citations may be viewed at www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HOME_DEPOT_892528_0823_13.pdf*
Additionally, in April, one repeat and one other-than-serious violation were cited at the Reynoldsburg store for failing to include pertinent and specific information and report within seven days an incident on OSHA illness-and-injury log. The company signed a settlement agreement for the citations and paid a penalty of $4,620. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
Based in Atlanta, the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer has 2,258 retail stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. Fiscal year 2012 sales totaled $74.8 billion, and earnings totaled $4.5 billion. There are 145 workers at the Reynoldsburg store.
