New England-based DeMoulas supermarkets face the challenge of complying with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations following a complaint filed by the government agency. OSHA says the grocery store chain dismissed injury prevention concerns by ignoring hazards at its Massachusetts and New Hampshire locations.

The government agency fined DeMoulas $589,200 following inspections at two of its Granite State stores. OSHA claims grocery store employees were exposed to hazards in unguarded storage areas while claiming the company failed to protect workers from laceration risks as well. The supermarket chain agreed to complete employee injury prevention research in 2006, but failed to finish its study.

OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. David Michaels told EHS Today DeMoulas could have eliminated the hazards to decrease workplace risk across the organization. A DeMoulas employee suffered a serious injury after falling 11 feet onto a concrete floor due to a poorly-guarded storage mezzanine in April 2011.

Keeping workers safe remains a top priority for safety managers throughout the country. Supervisors can use online software to ensure employee safety. The programs provide tools and information to help managers conduct injury risk analysis, reduce workplace-injury costs and maintain productivity.