Emergency exits that are blocked (e.g., by boxes, stored items) or locked is a serious safety violation and can result in very costly fines and penalties. Case in point: Dollar Tree got slapped with a $129,000 fine by OSHA for having locked its emergency doors at a Texas store during working hours. Dollar Tree has also been hit with six figure citations for blocking emergency exits with boxes and other supplies.

The takeaway: Regularly check to be sure emergency exits are unlocked and clear of supplies and debris to ensure that employees can make a quick escape in the event of an emergency.