First aid requirements within the retail industry are not always simple and straightforward tasks for employers and workers.
The first step in ensuring workplace safety in retail is understanding legal requirements for providing first aid. From there, retailers and business owners can take action to ensure compliance.
Emergencies happen in the workplace, making it vital to have qualified first aiders on duty to deal with a medical crisis. Doing so will protect both customers and members of staff.
Health And Safety For Retail Workplace
Hazards exist in every workplace, and one that has the most potential to cause harm is in the retail industry.
The dynamic of retail operations can be complicated – from using machines, hiring workers, and applying modern technologies. All factors are expected to work in controlled chaos, so the process marches forward.
To keep operations running smoothly, everyone must be on a productive path while also being safe.
The retail industry is one of Australia’s biggest employers, but it is also where many workers suffer from injuries and illnesses.
According to Worksafe Victoria, back injuries are among the most significant injury within the retail industry. These injuries are mainly caused by muscle strains from continuously lifting and handling objects and equipment. Other causes include slipping on wet floors or uneven surfaces and tripping over clutters.
There are several ways to establish a safe workplace. By identifying hazards and paying attention to the smallest details, everyone will be better prepared to control or eliminate risk factors. This will eventually result in fewer accidents, injuries, property, and downtime.
There are factors to keep in mind when doing workplace safety evaluation, including:
- Fire Hazards
- Ergonomics
- Air quality
- Visual Inspection of the workplace
- Possibility of natural disaster
- Lighting
- Proper training
With the right equipment, systems, and safety procedure in place, the retail industry will become a worker and customer-friendly environment.
First Aid Tips To Keep Retail Industry Safe
Here are some considerations employers should take into account to keep workers safe.
Show Support To Store Managers
Running a retail business is a highly demanding job. A store manager has to wear multiple hats to ensure the business runs with little to no interruption. These people act as an essential bridge between employees and management and are usually the ones to identify and address health and safety concerns.
Business owners must support store managers to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to recognise health concerns and make the best decision for everyone’s safety.
Manage Safety With Ease
The success of any retail business often depends on its workers, process, and systems. Having these in place is vital for maintaining health and safety standards across multiple stores.
Additionally, apply proper monitoring of all in-store safety activities and assign people to analyse trends and identify gaps for improvements.
Protect The Customers
All stores must undergo regular inspections to identify hazards that can disrupt the safety of their customers.
Have all essential items in store, such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, proper lighting, AED, and first aid kits to protect the customers upon setting foot into the store.
Train The Employees
First aid training for workers is important to maintain safety standards across the business. It does not matter what their responsibilities are – whether in a warehouse or in-store – every employee must be aware of risks and hazards and know how to act in an emergency.
Get Trained
A successful retail company is a safe one. The best strategy to keep the business afloat and the workers and customers protected is to create a comprehensive safety plan. These include investing time to train workers in first aid.
Various emergencies in retail could require a trained first aider to handle.
Interested in a first aid course for your retail staff and employees? Reach out to us, and one of our staff will be happy to assist you.
