Store Employee Safety Handbook

Letter from the CEO

Dear Dollar General Employee:
At Dollar General, our mission is to help our customers achieve a
better life, provide our shareholders a superior return and give our
employees respect and opportunity. Because you help bring our
mission to life through the work you do at Dollar General, we want
you to be safe and secure at work so that you can enjoy the fun and
friendly environment we strive to offer our customers.
In our industry, injury prevention can be challenging, but, because of
your focus on working safely, we are making great improvements in
reducing injuries at Dollar General. I know that we can do even
better, and I look forward to the time when we have no Dollar General
employees injured on the job.
The “Store Employee Safety Handbook”, the training program you are
about to review, is a tool that has been developed to take safety
awareness and working safely to the next level. An injury-free
workplace is possible but depends on your active and dedicated
involvement each and every day. Many of the things you will learn
through this training program, such as the importance of daily
stretching and proper lifting techniques, can be applied outside of
work as well.
I hope that you find this information helpful and that you enjoy a
fulfilling and injury-free work experience with Dollar General. Thank
you for your commitment to safety.
Sincerely,
Rick Dreiling, CEO
Safety Program

Dollar General is committed to providing a safe place to work. Tools to

help with safety are the Store Employee Safety Handbook and the
Standard Operating Procedures Manual (SOP). Always refer to the SOP or
talk with the store manager if you have questions or are unsure about any
store safety issues.

Your store should have posted a Safety Communication Poster. For safety
reasons, it is important for employees to review and understand all posted
material. Each month the store receives a monthly safety training
newsletter.
The store manager will review the newsletter with the team and post on the
Safety Communication Poster.

If you see a safety hazard, immediately correct the hazard or bring it to

your manager’s attention to have corrected. You have the right to report
any safety hazard without fear of retaliation. You may also report hazards
by calling the ERC at 1-888-237-4114, option 1.

This handbook provides training on how to perform your job safely. All
employees must be authorized to operate any specialized equipment such
as the baler. If unsure about proper baler operation, ask your manager.

If injured during the course of work, you must immediately report the
injury to the manager on duty and by calling the 24-Hour Incident
Reporting Hotline by calling 1-800-456-9446 within 24 hours and prior to
seeking medical treatment. For more information on the Incident Reporting
Hotline, review the Safety Communication Poster. Do not wait! For minor
injuries, a first aid kit is available. If your injury requires medical attention, it
will be provided for you.

Emergency Response
The primary objective of our emergency plan is to ensure the safety of
employees and customers in our stores. Each store has emergency
response information detailed on the Safety Communication Poster. This
information outlines safety procedures and responsibilities, and provides
evacuation procedures education. Become familiar with what to do in an
emergency by learning and practicing procedures for fire, severe weather,
earthquake or any other emergency. Learn and practice all of your store’s
escape routes and understand the procedures on the Safety
Communication Poster.
Emergency Evacuation Plan
During an emergency, determine if evacuation is necessary. Know where
the fire extinguishers are located. During severe weather, stay calm and
seek safe shelter in ground level hallways and interior rooms away from
windows and possible falling objects. In an earthquake, seek shelter inside
under a sturdy desk, table, inner doorway, or in a corner of a room.

Hazard Communication
All store employees work with or around hazardous materials to some
degree. Examples of products considered to be hazardous materials
include cleaning products, motor oil, and charcoal lighter fluid. All products
considered hazardous must be properly labeled. For instance, if you pour a
cleaning solution into an unlabeled container, you must clearly label the
new container with its new contents. Information regarding what to do in
case of injury or illness from a hazardous material is available from a
material safety data sheet (MSDS).

At Dollar General, MSDS information is immediately available by calling 1-

877-855-8797. The information will be faxed or mailed immediately upon
request.
Specific information regarding the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
can be found on your store’s Communication Center.

Spill Response
If you cannot clean a spill immediately, make sure customers and
employees are alerted by placing “Caution - Wet Floor” signs in the area.
An employee may need to be present to warn customers. Clean up the
spill immediately with the appropriate materials. Do not pick up glass.
Instead, sweep broken glass into dust pan and dispose of properly by
placing broken glass in a hard sided container. Remove “Caution -Wet
Floor” signs once the floor has completely dried. Return signs to the
designated area.
Housekeeping
During operating hours, do not leave rolltainers, u-boats or ladders
unattended. Maintain aisles free of debris and any other slip or trip hazards
at all times. After use, secure ladders in designated storage space. This
ensures that the ladder will not fall if bumped or knocked loose.

Sweep and mop floors regularly, as outlined in the Standard Operating

Procedures (SOP) manual. Use the Daily EZ Planner for recording
observations made during a visual “Safety Check” of the store. Each store
is required to have 3 visual “Safety Checks” per day. Report any unsafe
conditions or hazards, such as cracked or missing floor tiles, to your
manager. Use “Caution – Wet Floor” signs to guard unsafe areas until a
repair can be performed.

Fire Safety
All stores must comply with all laws relative to smoking in public places.
Use of tobacco is strictly prohibited in the work place. Unless otherwise
required by law, no smoking is allowed within 20 feet of the store entrance.
Employees are never expected to fight a fire. If you are trained to use a fire
extinguisher, do so for a small fire if it is safe. If not trained, report the fire
to the manager on duty. If you need to use an extinguisher to fight a fire,
just think of the word PASS.

Fire extinguisher instructions

P -Pull the safety pin at the top of the extinguisher.
A -Aim the nozzle horn or hose at the base of the fire.
S -Squeeze or press the handle.
S -Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it goes out.

Manual Material Handling

Warm up exercises are recommended as one method to prevent material
handling injuries. Perform the exercises shown on the Safety
Communication Poster at the start of your shift. Using proper lifting
techniques will help to reduce potential back injuries.
Lifting
To safely lift materials:
1. Stand as close to the load as possible. Get a firm footing, and spread
your feet for balance.
2. Bend your knees, squatting to grip the load.
3. Grip the load with the whole hand.
4. Lift with your legs.
5. Keep your back as straight as possible.
6. Always turn on the balls of your feet when holding a load. Never twist at
the waist.
7. Reverse the sequence to lower the load.

Box Cutters
Use Dollar General approved box cutters only. Ensure safety guards are
working and knife is sharp. Always cut away from your body. Store knife
properly. Dispose of dull knives in a hard sided container. Never leave box
cutters on the sales floor.

Ladders
Always ensure the ladder is in safe condition prior to use. Ensure spreader
bar is locked. Only one employee is allowed on the ladder at one time. Do
not use the top two steps (get a taller ladder if needed). Move the ladder
closer if you cannot safely reach an item. Return ladders to designated
location and secure them so they cannot fall. Choose the right height of the
ladder for the task. Keep hands free for climbing and have help handling
merchandise. Never place a ladder in front of a door. Never climb on or
place feet on shelving.

Rolltainer
Dollar General stores receive merchandise via rolltainers. Rolltainers are
wheeled portable containers manufactured of aluminum. They provide a
safe and effective method of supplying boxed merchandise from the
distribution centers.

Always review the condition of a rolltainer prior to use. If a rolltainer is in

need of repair or is in an unsafe condition, tag and mark “Do Not Use.”
Never ride on or stand on or in a rolltainer. Always push the rolltainer from
the end with the pivot wheels. Do not pull. When moving a rolltainer,
ensure your hands are placed on the inside bars and never on the outside.
Do not leave rolltainers unattended during operating hours.
Rolltainer Toppers
Rolltainer toppers are merchandise placed on the top of the rolltainers
when the trailer is loaded at the distribution center. When the trailer arrives
at your store, the truck driver will only remove a minimal amount of toppers
to unload the trailer. Be cautious while moving rolltainers. If merchandise is
stacked above the top of the rolltainer or leaning against the net, use a
step stool or ladder to safely remove the merchandise prior to moving onto
the sales floor or unhooking the net.

Exit Doors & Receiving Rooms

All emergency exits and electrical panels are required to remain
unobstructed at all times. Electrical panels must have 36 inches of
clearance. Maintain an unobstructed pathway in the receiving room at all
times. Stage rolltainers and u-boats in an organized fashion.