Customers and employees alike should feel safe any time they are inside your supermarket and follow their routine. However, there are always unexpected hazards that can manifest at any time and endanger anyone inside. You can prevent these situations and keep people out of trouble with the right safety procedures.
1. Maintain Your Equipment
The equipment in your business not only runs daily operations such as product transportation and display, but it also keeps people safe when it functions normally. For example, people grabbing an item from a high shelf can get cut from a sharp corner or lose control of their shopping cart and slam into someone or damage their items. Cover sharp corners with padding, replace shopping cart wheels when necessary and perform more maintenance to prevent potential injuries.
2. Clean the Floor and Surfaces
The floors and surfaces throughout your building can endanger individuals in numerous ways. Spills caused by water, juices, cleaning products or other fluids can lead to several slip and fall injuries. Instruct your employees to clean the floors thoroughly and remove any tripping hazards. Filthy surfaces are dangerous in a different way since they host bacteria that can last from hours to several weeks. These areas should be cleaned regularly to reduce health risks and look presentable.
3. Inspect the Products Carefully
The products featured in your store should be reasonably safe to use. Unfortunately, there are times when damaged or expired products are consumed by people. They can be dangerous to anyone and can contribute to several food poisoning cases. Protect your loyal customers with consistent inspections. Employees should look for past expiration dates and damaged packaging when stocking and shelving. They should also ensure temperature-sensitive items are stored in the right climate.
4. Avoid Clutter and Large Stacks
The quantity and variety offered by your establishment is a strong selling point and a source of pride. But having an excess of products, especially with a lack of organization, can be a detriment. Clutter throughout the sales floor can make it difficult for consumers and employees to move around. They can even injure themselves by tripping and falling. Large stacks of merchandise can also get unbalanced and fall on people. Encourage the staff to avoid overstuffing shelves and arrange displays more strategically.
Your supermarket, just as with most locations, can contain its own set of dangers that can put shoppers and employees at risk. Create a safe environment for everyone by establishing and following safety precautions that can reduce the possibilities of harm.