Black Friday: Safety first, the Fed warns stores

Black Friday may be among the most anticipated shopping events of the year for deal hunters, but it's also the most treacherous. Crowds of over-excited shoppers hungry for a doorbuster sales can quickly become a stampeding mass. Now, a government agency is encouraging retailers to take proper safety precautions.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has sent letters to 14 CEO's of national retail chains, urgingstepped-up safety precautions. In 2008, a security guard at a Long Island Walmart store was trampled to death.

"Crowd-related injuries during special retail sales and promotional events have increased during recent years," said Assistant Secretary for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "Many of these incidents can be prevented by adopting a crowd management plan."