Retailers asked to make safety a priority

WorkSafe Victoria inspectors began visiting retail stores across Victoria this week to remind shop owners and their staff about safety during the busy Christmas and New Year sales rush.

The visits, which will continue across the summer months, will focus on housekeeping practices, ladder safety, storage and stock management processes, as well as safety training for young and new workers.

WorkSafe Regional Director Melinda Collinson encouraged the retail sector to keep safety top of mind over the busy sales period.

“We understand it’s a very busy time for everyone in the industry, but we’re asking retailers to take particular care so that everyone can get home safely at the end of each day,” she said.

“This time of year, many businesses put on Christmas casuals for the summer months, so it’s particularly important that young or new employees receive appropriate training and supervision. They should also be encouraged to speak up if they are uncertain about how to do something safely.”

Statistics reveal that in clothing and footwear retail, handling objects such as boxes, cartons, crates and other items accounts for 53% of manual handling-related injuries. Ladders are also responsible for a quarter of slip, trip and fall injuries.

Collinson urged every workplace to take a proactive approach to identifying and fixing safety issues. “The good news is that these types of injuries are preventable and the solutions to the hazards are often simple fixes,” she said.

“One of the easiest ways to prevent slips, trips and falls is to make sure in-store and back-of-store areas are free from clutter and excess stock.

“Another simple solution to avoid manual handling injuries is to use an elevated work surface, such as a trolley or table, instead of lifting stock from the floor.

“It’s also essential that workers have the right equipment to access stock or displays at height. Platform-style ladders are often a better choice than A-frame ladders, which can be less stable and pose a greater fall risk.”

For more information on retail safety, go to worksafe.vic.gov.au/retail.