OSHA is proposing $40,000 in fines for CVS Pharmacy Inc. for an alleged repeat violation of safety standards following an inspection of the retailer's Red Hook store by OSHA's Albany Area Office begun in January in response to a complaint.

The inspection found that the store lacked a site-specific emergency action plan for workers to follow if a fire or other emergency occurred at the store. OSHA standards require emergency action plans for workplaces with more than 10 employees and where fire extinguishers are present.

"The fact that CVS has repeatedly failed to develop emergency action plans is disturbing. Hazards can vary from location to location, so it is imperative that each store has and maintains an effective emergency action plan specific to that store," said Kimberly Castillon, OSHA's area director in Albany.

As a result, OSHA has issued CVS one repeat citation for this recurring hazard. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. OSHA had previously cited CVS in 2010 and 2011 for similar hazards at stores in Bridgeport, Conn., and Providence, R.I.

An interactive eTool addressing evacuation plans and procedures to help businesses implement an emergency action plan and comply with OSHA's emergency standards is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/index.html.