Safety in Retail
Mrs. Randi O’Moore
Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center
Westbury, Long Island, New York
Training Areas
Customer Service
 Cash Register Use
 Scanning Purchases
 Grocery Bagger
 Inventory Counting
 Tagging/Pricing
 Security/Theft
 Collecting Shopping Carts

Pre-Test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
_____ It’s uncomfortable standing at the
register for several hours at a time.
_____ It doesn’t matter how you lift heavy
items, as long as you do your job.
_____ Using a cash register can’t hurt me.
_____ Anyone of any age can work at a deli
and use a slicing machine.
_____ Anyone of any age can use the box
crusher (compactor).
Pre-Test Answer Key
1- True
2- False
3- False
4- False
5- False
Retail Dress Code
Ask your manager or supervisor when
you are hired what the dress code is in
that store.
 Once hired, keep an eye on the
dress of your co-workers and use it as
a guide.
 There is often a rule of no jeans or
sneakers in retail stores.
 There is often a smock, vest, or shirt issued with
the store name on it. It also may have your name
on it as well. Wear it each day you work.

Retail Equipment
Cash Registers & Scanners
 Box Compactors
 Trash Compactors
 Meat Slicers
 Constant Lifting & Twisting
 Shopping Carts

Electrical
Most retail equipment use electric to work.
You can get injured by these items.
• Cash Registers/Scanners
• Trash Compactors
• Fork Lifts
Fire Emergency

According to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration:
“Workplace fires and explosions kill 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers
each year.”
“Fires wreak havoc among workers and their families and
destroy thousands of businesses each year, putting people
out of work and severely impacting their livelihoods.”
“In a workplace fire being able to evacuate quickly can
mean the difference between life or death. Workers may
only have seconds to safety evacuate a burning building.”
Evacuation Safety Points
If you are escaping from a building:
o
o
o
o
o
Know your escape route
Don’t use elevators or escape to the roof
Close all doors behind you to slow the spread
of a fire
The smoke is often the most hazardous part of
a fire. If it is smoky, stay close to the floor;
crawl if necessary.
Don’t open a door if it feels hot
Floors, Doors, Exits
Know where all of the fire
exits are in case of a fire or
other emergency.


Stear clear of slippery floors; you don’t want
to fall and get hurt.

Some doors are only to be used in an
emergency; an alarm may sound when these
doors are opened.
Chemical Hazards
Most retail stores are in “closed”
buildings, where windows cannot be opened
easily. Indoor air pollution is a possible hazard.


Some retail stores sell cleaning solutions. Be
careful not to smell these or get them on your
clothing or skin.

Polluted air can be drawn into a building via
the air intakes. Gases are particles from truck
exhausts, as well as pollutants from the area
are common indoor air pollutants.
Ergonomic Hazards

Always bend at the knees when lifting heavy items
from the floor. You can hurt your back.

Checkstands that require the checker to unload
groceries are strenuous to the shoulders and back.
A workstation that allows for alternating between
sitting and standing is important, as is room to
move about without awkward motions.
Lifting groceries into a bag positioned on
top of the checkstand is very stressful to the
shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

Infectious Diseases
Wherever fresh meats and seafood
are sold, diseases are of concern.
 There are temperature
requirements for these items.
 Stay away from these departments
and items if you are not working in
the department.

Your Safety at Work
According to the Retail, Wholesale and
Department Store Union:
o
Annually, almost 1 million people are victims of
violent crime at work.
o
The retail industry has an above-average risk
for violence in the workplace, due in part to the
possibility of robbery at retail stores. Stock
handlers, baggers, sales supervisors and sales
clerks are among the top five occupations at
risk of violence in the workplace.
Workplace Violence
Verbal threats
 Abusive behavior
 Physical violence or assault
 Sexual harassment
 Rape
 Robbery
 Murder

Repetitive Motion IIlnesses
These crippling ailments of the hands, wrists,
arms, shoulders, neck and back come from jobs
which require repeating the same motion many
times during a shift.
Tendinitis
DeQuervain’s Disease
Tensoynovitis
Thoractic Outlet Syndrome
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Trigger Finger
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Angry Customers

Since most retail employees deal with
customers, they will inevitably come across an
unhappy customer.

Deal with all customers with respect and
dignity… no matter how they are treating you.

If you are unable to assist them to their
satisfaction, have the customer speak with a
store manager.
Always Report an Injury

All injuries that occur at work
should be reported to your
supervisor as soon after they
occur as possible.

An incident report should be
completed on each incident, no
matter how minimal it may seem.
Post-Test Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
_____ Know where all emergency exits are.
_____ Working in retail is sometimes dangerous.
_____ Placing groceries into bags for customers can be
strenuous on your body.
_____ Using a cash register is in no way dangerous to your
health.
_____ Do not use elevators during a fire evacuation.
_____ Report all accidents to a supervisor immediately.
_____ Slippery floors can be dangerous.
_____ Checkout stands can be strenuous on your shoulders
and back.
_____ A trash compactor is only dangerous if you aren’t
careful.
_____ It’s important to know what to do in an emergency.
Post-Test Answers
1- True
2- True
3- True
4- False
5- True
6- True
7- True
8- True
9- False
10- True
Safety Web Resources
www.ufcw.org/workplace_connections/
www.rwdsu.org/health_safety.html
Retail is a wonderful
industry to work in.
Just… Be Careful
and Be Safe.