OSHA recommends fines for Wal-Mart over NY store

ROCHESTER — The U.S. Labor Department has recommended fining Wal-Mart Stores Inc. $365,500 after inspectors say they found 24 workplace safety violations at an upstate New York store.

The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it received a complaint about a Rochester store and that inspections revealed fall hazards, obstructed exit routes, an unguarded grinder and other alleged problems.

Wal-Mart has 15 business days to contest the findings.

Wal-Mart spokesman Greg Rossiter said Tuesday that the retailer is taking the claims seriously. He says the company is looking into the OSHA findings before deciding whether to contest them and that customer and employee safety is a top priority.