Target Corporation has been fined nearly $30,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following a fatal workplace incident at its Pennsdale, Pennsylvania store. The incident occurred on November 1, when an employee was crushed between a movable work platform and a door frame while working on a ceiling-mounted security system. OSHA cited Target for a “serious” violation for not providing a hazard-free workplace and an “other-than-serious” violation for failing to report the death promptly, proposing fines of $16,550 and $13,005, respectively.
This marks the second employee death at a Target facility within a year. In February 2024, an employee at a Burlington, Massachusetts store died after falling from a forklift. OSHA initially issued a “willful” violation—the agency’s most severe citation—but Target later accepted a “repeat” violation with a higher fine. Additionally, in 2020, Target settled with OSHA to pay $464,750 in penalties for safety violations across multiple stores in the Northeast.
In response to the recent citations, Target stated that employee safety is a top priority and that the company is contesting the penalties. OSHA has also directed Target to conduct a comprehensive audit of the facility to identify tight and restricted areas and ensure employees are adequately trained to operate equipment safely in such spaces.
Source: Star Tribune