1. Understanding potential
dangers, risks, hazards and
accidents
What do you think a hazard is?
Hazards
Hazard is ‘a potential danger or risk’
(oxford dictionary)
Examples of work hazards
 Slips, trips and falls
 Hazardous substances
 Fire
 Electricity
 Hazardous substances (e.g. solids, liquid
gasses, mists and fumes.
Dangers
Danger is the possibility of suffering harm or
injury (Oxford dictionary)
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Slips, falls and trips (damages to bones,
muscles and joints)
Fire (Hazardous smokes and toxic fumes
,burns can cause death/harm)
Electricity (Faulty electrical appliances
can also lead to fires. As well as causing
injuries and loss of life, fires cause
damage to plant, equipment and
property)
Hazardous substances (injury or even
death through inhalation, ingestion and
dermal exposure.
Risks
‘A probability or threat of damage, injury, liability,
loss, or any other negative occurrence that is
caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, and
that may be avoided through preemptive action.’ (Business dictionary)
Who is most at risk at work ?
Answer
Anyone can be exposed to the dangers of
electricity while at work and everyone should be
made aware of the dangers.
Those most at risk include maintenance staff, those
working with electrical plant, equipment and
machinery, and people working in harsh
environments such as construction sites.
How are risks controlled?
Controlling the risks
As part of managing the Health and safety at
workplace you must control risks. Risk assessment
process must be carried out to identify what
might cause harm to people and ways of
controlling and preventing them from
happening.
 Identify hazards
 Who might be harmed
 Evaluate the risks
 Record your findings
 Regularly review your risk assessment
Accidents
‘An unfortunate incident that happens
unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically
resulting in damage or injury’ (Oxford
dictionary)
Most accidents occur when:
 Smooth cleaned floors are left wet
 Spills are not cleaned up quickly and
effectively
 Floor in bad condition
2. How to identify hazards
Dangerous Material
 What
types of material can be classed as
dangerous?


Plastic
Paper/cardboard
 Prevention


Correct disposal of materials
Store in a secure area
Unstored Tables and Chairs
 Common
cause of accidents and injuries
 Prevention


Stack appropriately
Store in ‘out the way’ areas or easily
avoidable areas.
Manual Handling
 Most
common cause of injuries in a retail
environment
 Correct technique when lifting
3. How to ‘fix’ hazards
LIPPERY
LOOR
What would you do?
Answer?
 Proper
use of warning signs
 Advanced
 Look
training for cleaning personnel
out for shiny floors
 Secure
a appropriate ventilation system
NSECURED
ORDS
What would you do?
Answer?
 Use
of cable fixers and -covers
 Report
old cords and electronics
 Replace
frame
systems within a certain time
ASLEAKS
What would you do?
Answer?
 Leave
 Warn
 Call
the building immediately
your colleagues on your way out
local Fire department/Police
 Keep
a safe distance
4. Customer safety
Customer/Employee Safety


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Businesses have a ‘duty of care’ for staff and
importantly customers who are temporarily visiting
the premises.
"Slip and fall" is a term used for a personal injury case
in which a person slips or trips and falls, and is injured
on someone else's property. (Adviceguide.org.uk,
2013)
Dangerous conditions must be present, such a loose
tiles, loose carpeting, loose shelf fixtures, spillages,
and other hazards which could a potential accident
BUT have not been sign posted or made aware of
with the business involved, and the business has
made NO ATTEMPT to remove the hazard.
What to do if a accident
happens in store?
First a customer should try and make a record of
details such as:
 Time and Date accident occurred?
 Where did the accident occur?
 What was the cause of the accident?
 Any witnesses present at the time of accident?
*And if possible photographs of evidence can be
taken to help back the customers claim.
 And finally it is advised a customer reports the
accident to a member of staff in store so it can be
recorded in their accident book so it does not
occur again.

Questions a customer should
ask if hurt?
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Firstly it has to be established that the possessor or
property owner had knowledge of the dangerous
condition, in order to prove this a number of
questions have to be asked:
Did the owner/Possessor create the condition?
The Owner /Possessor knew about the condition
which existed but failed to correct it?
Or the condition which caused the accident
existed for a certain length of time the
owner/possessor had time to correct it after the
accident. Why didn’t they do this prior to a
consumer getting hurt? (Matthews, 2013)
How the customer makes a
claim?
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First the customer has to make a employee aware of
the accident.
The accident should be recorded in a “Accident
Book”
In every case, medical evidence will be required and
it is necessary to show that the person you are
making a claim against owed you a duty of care,
that they breached that duty of care (were
negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a
reasonably foreseeable consequence of that
negligence. (Thelegalline.co.uk, 2013)
Seek legal help once evidence and medical
information has been gathered from a legal solicitor.
How employees can prevent
this…
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If a hazard is found, it is advise a employee sign
posts or removes the hazard.
Or if a spill is too large, cleaning staff or
management is informed of the area which is
affected and the employee stands near the area
to make others aware.
If boxes are left lying around, clean them up. To
prevent obstruction of fire exits or even accidents.
If items don’t fit shelves or are too heavy remove
them and make someone aware.
If loose wires are present make a manager aware
and try and stay close until the right person is
contacted.
Spot the hazard…
In the pictures handed out there is numerous
hazards.
As groups:
- Identify the hazards how it can be dangerous
for customers.
- Are any signs needed or anyone need to be
made aware of?
- Acting as an employee, How you as an
employee would act if coming across the
hazard.
Wet Floor
Blocked Fire Exit
Smashed Bottles
Cluttered Space
5. What to do if a co-workers is
working unsafely?
What would you do?
Stages of Danger
Very High Level
Danger – Leave
The Building!
High Level Danger –
Immediate Attention
5 minutes
Medium Level Danger –
Maximum 1 hour
Low Level Danger – Everyday Occurrences
Low Level Dangers (Examples)
A Colleague Could:
Leave Wires On The Floor (Non Walkways)
Leaving Hanging Wires, Or Other Hanging Objects
 Slippery Surfaces (Non Floors)
 Larger Items Blocking Walkways
 Tripping Hazards (Larger Items)
 Dusty Or Dirty Floors
 Dirty Counters
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
Answer?
Dirty counters!
Did you know that kitchen areas harbour
more germs than any room in your home or
workplace, including the bathroom! So if
your retail outlet serves food, make sure you
keep counters clean.
Medium Level Dangers
(Examples)
 Slippery
Floors (Spillages)
 Smaller Tripping Hazards
 Noise And Vibration
 Asbestos
 Lack Of Training
 Electronics Near Water
 Dirty Counters (Food)
 Sharp Edges
Answer?
Lack Of Training!
Some Of The Results Of Not Training Staff
Properly Are:
 Unhappy Staff
 Low Productivity
 Unsafe Working Environment
 Increased Expenses
 Loss Of Customers
High Level Dangers (Examples)
 Working
Unsafely At Heights
 Misuse Of Hazardous Substances
 Improper Disposable Of Hazardous
Substances
 Lack Of Control System (Safety
Procedures)
 Improper Use Of PPE
 Lack Of Equipment
 Lack of training
Very High Level Dangers
(Examples)
 Fires
 Floods
 Major
electricity problems
 Asbestos disturbance
 Gas leaks
Asbestos Information
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpwB
wYIa9EM
Who to speak to?
Low level Dangers?
Speak with your colleague
personally
 Your
first point of call will be to discuss with
the colleague in question
 You can point out what is dangerous
about their activity and possible
consequences
 Give suggestions to ‘fix’ the problem
 If employee is continuing to work unsafely,
report to supervisor
Medium Level Dangers?
Speak with your supervisor
 Explain
the situation
 Why? Where? When? What? How?
 If regarding another member of staff,
explain you have pointed out the
potential dangers to them, (which will
hopefully save time)
 If supervisor refuses to do anything take
the matter to management
High Level Dangers?
Speak with your manager
 If
your supervisor is unresponsive then
management may need to be informed
 Why? Where? When? What? How?
 HSE
Very High Level of Danger?
Very High Level of Danger
 Raise
the alarm!
 Leave the building
 Ring the emergency services or
equivalent service!
Surprise Quiz!
Answers

Noise and vibration – Medium level danger –
Supervisor

Improper use of PPE – High level danger –
Management

Larger items blocking walkways – Low level
danger – speak with colleague

Misuse of hazardous substances – High level
danger – Management
Thank you so much!
Any questions?
References
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Adviceguide.org.uk. 2013. Citizens Advice - Personal injuries. [online] Available
at:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/law_w/law_legal_system_e/law_perso
nal_injury_e/personal_injuries.htm [Accessed: 25 Oct 2013].
Fraserbrown.com. 2013. Accidents in a Shop. [online] Available at:
http://www.fraserbrown.com/accidents-in-a-shop [Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].
Matthews, J. 2013. Proving Fault in Accidents on Dangerous or Defective
Property | Nolo.com. [online] Available at: http://www.nolo.com/legalencyclopedia/proving-fault-accidents-dangerous-property-30139.html
[Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].
Thelegalline.co.uk. 2013. Shop and Supermarket Accidents. [online] Available
at: http://www.thelegalline.co.uk/injuries_in_public_places_shop-supermarketaccident-claims.aspx#previous_claims_shop_supermarket_accidents
[Accessed: 30 Oct 2013].