Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2019 38 5 KEYS FOR RETAILERS TO RAMP UP SAFETY B ig box retailers, as well as those with significant ware- housing, shipping and distribution operations, face the ongoing challenge of reducing workplace incidents and enhancing safety. Indeed, job-related injuries and illnesses sustained by employees and covered under a retailer's workers' compensation program perennially represent the most significant cost driver among all their casualty insurance risks, which also include auto liability, general liability and umbrella or excess liability. The second highest costs generally are those involving customer injuries that also occur in the retail space. More often than not, the customer injuries involve similar hazards and safety issues that result in employee injuries. Given the nature, size and weight of their merchandise, with warehouse-like store layouts and heavy equipment used in shopping aisles, these retailers and their employees must adhere to stringent safety practices to reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents and injuries to their personnel, customers, service merchandisers, vendors, contractors and other non-employee workers who may be on their premises. Here are five key steps for retailers to reduce the likelihood of injuries and create a company-wide culture of safety. 1. RECOGNIZE THAT EFFECTIVE SAFETY STARTS AT THE TOP Senior management's ownership of safety is the single most important element for establishing an effective and sustainable safety culture. In any organization, when leadership embraces safety as a core value, it is readily accepted and practiced by employees at all levels. Leaders must create a clear vision and mission statement for workplace safety. This statement needs to be signed by the senior executive and should be posted on the company website. It is also critical to communicate this statement to all employees and ensure they understand both the letter and spirit of the statement. The entire management team should understand their individual roles to remove any barriers to safe work practices, and all employees must understand that their fundamental responsibility always involves working safely. 2. ENGAGE ALL EMPLOYEES IN SAFETY PRACTICES Generally, the launch and initial implementation of successful safety initiatives will be cascaded throughout the organization from the top down. However, to ensure sustainability and continuous improvement, all individuals throughout the organization must be involved and given the opportunity to take personal ownership for safety. At any retailer, establishing a strong safety culture depends on the department managers' ability not only to prioritize, model and support safe work practices, but also to engage and empower associates and employees in the process. So, in practice, what does this look like? By engaging associates, retailers leverage their most valuable source of information about the risks of injury and how injuries might be prevented. Further, when employees are engaged in safety, they take greater ownership in risk-reducing solutions they help develop. Employees who take workplace safety personally and are vigorously involved in the safety process provide a solid foundation for a superior safety culture. 3. ELEVATE THE SAFETY FUNCTION Retailers that have an effective safety process in place are better equipped to implement and maintain strong safety cultures that consistently deliver industry-leading results. This often calls for having a well-run safety department. The department should be led by a full-time safety or loss-prevention professional and should participate in a wide array of activities to help advance a positive and engaging safety culture that includes: • A comprehensive new-hire orientation and new associate safety training program that includes on-the-job mentoring • Selection and procurement of new equipment that involves thorough safety reviews and risk assessments • Creating policies and procedures for safe work practices with the direct involvement of employees • Investigating accidents, incidents and near-misses; recommending corrective actions to prevent future occurrences; and evaluating corrective measures for effectiveness and possible refinement • Evaluating findings from accidents/incidents, near misses, safety audits, and other sources to identify trends S A F E T Y T R E N D S

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