The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a $12 million settlement with Dollar General, requiring the retailer to pay penalties and make significant workplace safety improvements in its nationwide chain of 19,000 stores. This agreement comes after Dollar General accumulated over $21 million in fines from safety violations since 2017, including blocked fire exits and dangerous clutter. The retailer has also been plagued by gun violence incidents, with 49 deaths and 172 injuries reported at Dollar General stores in 2023. As a repeat offender, Dollar General has been added to OSHA's "severe violators" list and must now implement changes to prioritize worker safety, such as hiring more safety managers and providing training to employees. The company will also conduct regular audits and report on safety outcomes to OSHA. Failure to correct safety hazards promptly could result in additional fines of up to $500,000.