Why Your Retail Store Needs A Safety Program
February 17, 2023
Should You Implement a Safety Program In Your Convenience Stores?
In short, the answer is yes but let us begin with a few reasons why this is true. Convenience store employees face a unique set of daily hazards that are not typically seen in other industries—for example, burglaries and the risk of assault on a daily basis. Convenience store employees are at risk from when a shift begins until it ends, especially the overnight staff. That does not include everyday lifting, slipping, and chemical hazards they routinely see.
Next, let us review some numbers to determine if convenience store employees are getting injured frequently. We insure roughly 150 convenience stores throughout Alabama and have seen our fair share of injuries involving their employees. Since 2012 we have seen over 800 claims and, on average, about 80 claims per year. These claims have resulted in nearly six million dollars of total costs incurred. More telling is the fact that over 160 of these claims have resulted in lost time or time away from work. From these numbers, we can safely determine that convenience store employees are not exempt from work-related injuries. More importantly, when they are injured, it is severe enough to require time away from work.
What are the benefits of implementing a safety program? A workplace safety program will help prevent workplace injuries and illnesses, improve compliance with OSHA laws and regulations, and reduce costs. Most importantly, it engages workers, increasing productivity and enhancing overall business operations.
After looking at the facts it is easy to conclude that implementing a safety program into your convenience store operations is a no-brainer. Retail employees often get overlooked in the safety industry because their jobs don't scream danger, even though they have an equal or greater risk of injury. Creating a safety program should be a top priority for this industry.
Contact our Risk Management Department if you have questions or need help implementing a safety program in your convenience store. Click here for our complete written Grocery and Convenience Small Business Safety Program to help get you started or visit our Online Safety Library for more information.