Store safety lapses in retail can have significant consequences – both for your employees and your bottom line. Consider this: a shopping center in NYC had to pay $2.75 million in a settlement to a customer who tripped and fell on an uneven sidewalk.
This comprehensive guide explores health and safety best practices, complying with regulations, and promoting a culture of safety in retail stores. Further, we discuss how digital retail audit software can help you achieve top-notch safety standards.
Table of ContentsPrioritizing health and safety in the retail industry goes beyond compliance. It safeguards your employees and customers. Examples of hazards range from overexertion injuries to exposed wires from lighting. These incidents, unfortunately common, can lead to reputational damage, as well as costly lawsuits and worker’s compensation claims. Effective health and safety programs foster a positive work environment, reduce accidents, improve employee morale, and reduce risks for your business.
Beyond the human cost of employee injuries, accidents in retail pose a significant financial burden on businesses.
Financial costs incurred due to accidents and injuries are of two types – direct and indirect.
Direct costs include medical expenses, workers’ compensation claims, and lost productivity due to absences. Indirect costs encompass potential lawsuits, retraining replacement staff, and damaged morale impacting employee retention.
👉 Did You Know: Walmart had to pay $7.5 million to a customer who got hurt while buying melons from one of their retail stores.
These costs can significantly erode profits and hinder a store’s long-term success. Thus, prioritizing staff and customer safety in retail stores becomes an ethical obligation and a sound financial investment.
Retail stores present a unique environment with inherent store safety risks. Here are some of the most common hazards in retail:
According to the 2023 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, slips, trips, and falls cost employers $16.99 billion in 2022. Some common causes of these hazards include
Additionally, improper footwear for staff, such as shoes with worn treads or no slip resistance, can significantly increase the risk.
Improper use of appliances, damaged cords, and overloaded circuits can all lead to electrical shock. These incidents not only cause injury and property damage but can also disrupt operations and damage your reputation.
You can significantly reduce these risks by implementing a proactive electrical safety program, which includes routine inspections for damaged equipment, proper use of extension cords, and staff training on hazard identification and safe work practices.
👉 Useful Resource: Free Workplace Electrical Safety Checklists
To best prepare for your upcoming electrical inspection, use these free workplace electrical safety checklists:
» Use Retail Checklists: Start a 14-day free trial to try retail checklists.
Lifting heavy objects without proper training or equipment, stocking shelves that require constant bending and reaching, and using unstable ladders or stools to access high shelves contribute to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).
Implementing safe lifting protocols, encouraging proper posture during stocking tasks, and providing sturdy, well-maintained ladders can significantly reduce the risk of these injuries.
👉 Did You Know: Workers in the retail industry experience the second-highest rate of injuries and illnesses involving MSDs compared to other industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Retail staff can be vulnerable to verbal abuse, threats, and even physical assault from customers. Dealing with difficult customers, particularly those frustrated with long queues, product unavailability, or returns, requires de-escalation techniques and clear communication strategies.
Security measures, such as visible security personnel and well-lit parking areas in supermarkets, can deter potential incidents and create a safer environment for employees.
The National Fire Incident Reporting System reported 16,500 office and store fires in the United States in 2020 that caused $932 million in direct property damage.
Thus, retailers should implement fire safety measures in their stores, which include:
By implementing these measures, retailers can significantly reduce the risk of fire and ensure the safety of employees and customers.
👉 Useful Resource: Free Workplace Fire Safety Checklists
To best prepare for your upcoming fire risk assessment, use these free workplace fire safety checklists:
» Use Retail Checklists: Start a 14-day free trial to try retail checklists.
Proactive safety measures in retail stores are essential for creating a positive work environment and protecting your employees and customers. Here’s a breakdown of key retail safety tips that should become part of your store SOPs:
Regular risk assessments are the cornerstone of a strong safety program, as they identify potential hazards before they cause accidents.
Audit apps like GoAudits can streamline the assessment process through customizable pre-built retail checklists that address common hazards like spills, damaged flooring, and improper lifting techniques.
With the help of these retail safety checklists, you can conduct thorough and consistent inspections, ensuring all areas of your store are evaluated regularly.
You can analyze inspection data to identify potential hazards and pinpoint recurring issues like frequent slips on a specific floor. This allows you to address them permanently, assess your team’s performance, and develop targeted training modules.
Training empowers employees to recognize hazards, follow safe work procedures, and report concerns. Retail checklists can be a valuable asset in this process.
By transforming safety guidelines for retail stores into a step-by-step process, checklists allow you to demonstrate proper techniques, highlight potential risks, and implement best practices.
Integrating these checklists into training sessions allows you to explain the reasoning behind each safety measure and ensure clear understanding.
👉 Pro Tip: Implement retail checklists while onboarding the new hires to equip them with the necessary knowledge from the very beginning.
» Use Retail Checklists: Start a 14-day free trial to try retail checklists.
Maintaining a clean, well-organized store is essential for preventing accidents and safety hazards.
Apart from scheduling and completing inspections, you can take safety audits one step further with GoAudits. Your team can assign corrective actions as soon as a discrepancy is found, and you can monitor the resolution in real-time.
With GoAudits we save at least 20 hours a week across different users, especially writing action plans, as now everything is done in one place.
Kartella Fuller, Director of Operations & Guest Experience, Goodwill
Cash readily available in stores is a target for theft. To ensure safety:
Additionally, train your employees in retail theft prevention, which includes recognizing suspicious behavior, de-escalation tactics to manage agitated customers, and emergency response procedures.
Digital inspection apps like GoAudits can protect your employees, customers, and retail businesses against safety hazards.
With GoAudits, you can:
Implementing health and safety best practices with GoAudits is simple. Pre-built health and safety audit templates and easy customization offered by customer support ensure a seamless fit with your current retail practices.
Working with GoAudits has been very easy. The Support Team has been helpful during the onboarding and overall responsive to any needs or inquiries. A pleasure to deal with!
Myles Blue, Area Manager, Body Energy Club
With a rating of 4.7 stars on Capterra, GoAudits is trusted by some of the biggest names in the retail industry.
» Customer Success Stories: How businesses leverage GoAudits to save time and improve operations.
It’s easy to get started with GoAudits! Sign up for a free 14-day trial (we even digitize your checklists for free!). Or even better: book a demo with one of our experts!
