OSHA issues citation after horrific robbery
TMT Inc. (Dallas, TX) faces $19,600 for general-duty violations after OSHA investigated a brutal robbery in which a convenience-store clerk was burned to death.
Fina Whip In clerk Nancy Harris, 76, opened the Garland, TX, store at 7 a.m. May 20. Matthew Lee Johnson, 36, faces capital murder charges after he robbed the store and, prior to leaving, dowsed Harris in a flammable liquid and ignited it. Johnson was caught burglarizing houses in a nearby neighborhood shortly after the robbery. Harris died a week later in a local hospital.
OSHA said the company’s policy of asking people to work alone, handle money, and work behind an open counter – plus its failure to assess risks of workplace violence – amounted to a general-duty violation. The agency issued the parent company a serious citation.
Take home: Whether you agree with this fine or not, there is a lesson about site security. When possible, use a buddy system in high-risk situations or when you’re unsure of the level of site security.
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