Rebecca Minkoff fined for hazardous office

American accessories and apparel designer Rebecca

Minkoff has been fined 77,000 US dollars by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for not meeting workplace safety standards at its headquarters in New York.

The charges follow a visit by OSHA’s Manhattan office, which was prompted by complaints from employees, after they found the office and showroom to be "overcrowded and congested with boxes, rolling racks, workstations, chairs, equipment, storage and other materials”.

The OSHA issued the handbag designer with one wilful citation with a proposed fine of 70,000 US dollars for the exit access hazards, and one serious citation with a 7,000 US dollar fine for the slip, trip and fall hazards.

"Workers may have only seconds to escape in the event of a fire or other emergency. It's critical to maintain swift, clear access to emergency exits, and it is a requirement under the law," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director in Manhattan. "Management knew of the hazard of compromised emergency exit access, yet allowed the hazard to continue. Because of that, we are proposing the maximum fines allowable for the wilful and serious violations."

The brand has 15 days to change its existing working environment and to pay the proposed fines.