WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. failed to protect a security guard who was knocked down and crushed by a crowd during a sale, the U.S. Labor Department said Tuesday.

Inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the chain did not have adequate crowd control at times when managers could expect an unusual number of shoppers, officials said in a news release. The guard died the day after Thanksgiving when the doors of a store in Valley Stream, N.Y., opened for a "Blitz Friday" sale.


"This was an unusual situation but not an unforeseen one," said Anthony Ciuffo, OSHA's acting area director for Long Island, N.Y. "The store should have recognized, based on prior 'Blitz Friday' experiences, the need to implement effective crowd management to protect its employees."

The citation carries a penalty of $7,000. Wal-Mart has 15 business days to pay, contest the citation or request an informal conference.