Parent Company of Farmington Store Will Correct Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement agreement with Forever 21 Retail Inc. in which the fashion retailer commits to eliminate safety hazards at its Westfarms Mall store in Farmington and pay $100,000 in penalties to OSHA.
OSHA cited Forever 21 in May 2015 after an inspection of the Farmington store found boxes piled as high as 10 feet and stacked in an unstable manner, so they blocked exit routes or could fall onto workers.
The company contested its citations and penalties initially, but has now reached an agreement with the department to abate the cited hazards and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and its standards.
“Retailers should stock products safely and away from emergency exits, especially during the holiday season when store stock increases,” says Kim Stile, OSHA’s New England regional administrator.
“Additionally, retailers must avoid stacking boxes so high that they could tip or fall and strike an employee. Proper safeguards will prevent needless and avoidable injuries.”
The filed settlement will become a final order after approval by the assigned administrative law judge and docketing with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
OSHA’s Hartford Area Office conducted the inspection, and agency attorney Susan Salzberg of the regional Office of the Solicitor in Boston negotiated the settlement.