When it comes to health and safety in retail, supermarket managers have the responsibility to create a safe working environment for their employees. This can be achieved by reducing potential risks and ensuring that floors are kept clean and dry. However, employers ought to go the extra mile when it comes to preparing a health and safety checklist that meets the specific needs of their store.
Best practices, when implemented correctly, can help retail shops and supermarkets thrive and protect both their employees and customers at the same time. This particular working environment poses different risks not commonly found in other industries which means you need to implement greater risk management. Any part of the store property, including the parking lot, can be a potential risk for accidents.
We previously discussed the main causes of slips and trips in supermarkets, and in this article, we are going to focus on the seven best health and safety practices for retail. Learn the essential best practices Shoes For Crews recommends for supermarkets.
1. Check the conditions of handling equipment and vehicles
According to the HSE, inspections mainly serve as a way to identify whether work equipment needs to be adjusted, repaired and maintained safely or not, providing the opportunity to remedy it before it results in a health and safety risk. Some inspections may only require a quick visual check of the equipment or vehicle. To determine the type of inspection required and its frequency, perform a risk assessment of your supermarket. Work equipment that requires daily inspection should not be used until the employee knows that it has been checked. These types of checks must be accompanied with physical evidence such as a written report or, for smaller items, some form of tagging, labelling or colour-coding system is strongly recommended.
2. Reiterate the importance of handwashing and review hygiene practices
Both employees and customers have been made more aware of the importance of hand washing since the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It may seem like a given must-have item on a health and safety checklist in retail but reviewing handwashing techniques and frequency for new trainees can also serve as a welcome refresh for senior employees. However, handwashing alone is not enough. Review proper hygiene practices such as covering coughs and sneezes, wiping down frequently touched surfaces and staying home when illnesses occur.
3. Review first aid kits and fire safety plan
Emergencies do occur inside retail establishments from time to time. Therefore, it is crucial to go over first aid kits and replace any used or missing items on a daily basis. A good rule of thumb would be to replace a used item as soon as medical attention has been administered. In the same vein, revising fire safety plans can help save employers both time and money by periodically updating the protocols.
4. Implement fire prevention and training for employees
Even if your supermarket already has fire prevention and training protocols in place for your employees, it is always good to provide refresher training throughout the year. Every workplace is at risk of fire but prioritising it underscores the importance of fire prevention training for the whole team. This type of training helps employees eliminate hazards thus helping to prevent a major incident. Focus your sessions on teaching workers how to recognize fire hazards, conduct a fire safety risk assessment, prevent a store fire and how to react properly and effectively should a fire occur. Inspect fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems on a regular basis to ensure they are working correctly and take note of when to call in for maintenance.
