RISK CONTROL
REDUCE RISK. PREVENT LOSS. SAVE LIVES.
Safety tips for hardware stores
By assessing your business procedures and ensuring that your employees are adequately trained, you can create a safer
workplace, reduce the risk of losses and help protect your business and your employees.
Employees
Do you:
 Have a spill control and clean up procedure for chemical spills?
 Check that all chemical containers are labeled as to contents, manufacturer and hazard levels?
 Have a written Hazard Communication program?
 Have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) readily available?
 Provide annual employee training on Hazard Communication program with documentation?
 Make sure NO food containers are used to hold chemicals?
 Require employees to wear safety glasses and appropriate gloves when handling chemicals?
 Have posted evacuation routes indicating path of travel and gathering place outside in case of an emergency?
 Make sure all machine safeguards provided with equipment are in good working condition? Blades of table, circular
and band saws used for woodcutting properly guarded and use of guards enforced.
 Have dust collectors provided or immediately clean up sawdust produced?
 Provide carts, conveyors, pallet jacks to reduce the amount of lifting and carrying done by employees?
 Provide Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) electric outlets at sinks or around wet work areas?
 Check electrical equipment to make sure cords are free of nicks, cuts or exposed wires, that all cords have grounding,
and that the cords are at least equal to capacity required, i.e. heavy duty cord cannot be plugged into a light duty
extension cord: use a heavy duty extension cord?
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 Make sure bench grinder tool rests are no more than 1/8 inch from grinding wheel?
 Have hand and mid rails provided around elevated storage areas and on stairs?
 Have fork lift drivers trained and certified in the operation of this equipment?
 Complete an OSHA 300 Accident log if you employ more than 10 people?
Customers
Do you:
 Maintain at least 28 in. wide clear aisles to all exits?
 Have illuminated or “glow in the dark” exit signs?
 Keep all doors unlocked during occupancy?
 Have your doors swing the same as the exit of travel?
 Have emergency lighting if store is over 3000 sq. ft.?
 Encourage customers to purchase personal protective equipment appropriate for all tools and equipment purchased?
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Safety tips for hardware stores
Store location
Do you:
 Have electrical equipment in paint mixing areas - involving flammable liquids - properly installed with UL listed for
Class I, Division 2 Hazardous Locations?
 Have electrical equipment within 15 feet of any exterior LPG filling areas properly installed as UL listed for Class I,
Group D, Division 1 Hazardous Locations?
 Have filling of portable LPG containers performed not less than 10 feet from the nearest important masonry walled
building or not less than 25 feet from any other construction or any building opening? Local zoning/permit
requirements may dictate other requirements.
 Conduct a visual inspection of the LPG pressure relief valve, cylinder body, and fill connections prior to each filling?
 Have a UL listed fire extinguisher rated at 8B:C available during fueling operations, any LPG storage areas or in any
rooms with flammable liquids stored? Are employees trained in its use?
 Drain all lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. of gasoline? Any gasoline stored for demonstrations to be in containers
approved for such use.
 Store opened containers of flammable liquids in metal cabinets and limit to 60 gallons?
 Use only listed “safety” cans for storing or dispensing any flammable liquids?
 Provide a UL rated 2A:10BC fire extinguisher for each 3000 sq. ft. of space?
 Use Carbon Dioxide extinguishers around electronic equipment?
 Have extinguishers inspected by qualified individual annually?
 Hang extinguishers on hook, or place on a shelf, not sitting on the floor?
 Make sure electrical cords are not running through doorways, windows or across aisles and not stapled around things
like doorjambs?
Services provided
Do you:
 Allow only trained employees to demonstrate use of lawn mowers, chain saws, circular saws, etc. and ensure
employees and customers are provided with proper personal protective equipment - safety glasses, hearing
protection, etc.?
 Make sure manufacturer’s warning labels are attached to, and provided with all chemicals, ladders and scaffolds
sold?
 Have only certified or authorized technicians conducting repair work of tools or equipment?
For more information, log in to the Risk Control Customer Portal at travelers.com/riskcontrol. (Need help? Read
our Registration Quick Guide.) You also can contact your Risk Control consultant or email Ask-RiskControl@travelers.com.
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RISK CONTROL
Safety tips for hardware stores
travelers.com
The Travelers Indemnity Company and its property casualty affiliates. One Tower Square, Hartford, CT 06183
The information provided in this document is intended for use as a guideline and is not intended as, nor does it constitute, legal or professional advice. Travelers does not
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