Four considerations for a health and safety conscious retail space

​Ensuring the health and safety of all workers and customers should be at the forefront of your mind when operating your retail space; your products might be on point and your marketing effective, but if customers do not feel safe in your shop then they will be unwilling to return. However, what can you do to ensure that customers feel secure when shopping with you? To help you out, here are four considerations for a health and safety conscious retail space.

1. Emergency exits ​

Make sure that your retail space is equipped with emergency exits other than your main customer entrance. This is to ensure that, in the event of a crisis in which the main entrance is blocked, every person in your retail space can be quickly and safely evacuated. Your emergency exits might consist of fire-resistant doors, as well as fitting automatic emergency escape hammers to your windows to provide additional escape routes. 

2. First aid kit

As a retailer, you should have a well-stocked first aid kit on hand with which to treat any number of injuries and health concerns customers might experience. You can stock up your first aid kit using a medical equipment supplier like Rapid Rescue. Minor cuts and grazes, for instance, are common occurrences and you should ensure that your first aid kit is well-stocked with Band-Aids of various sizes and antiseptic wipes to treat such injuries. A space blanket might also be useful to help insulate those who are suffering from shock. Do not forget to include PPE equipment in your first aid kit, such as face masks and disposable gloves, to ensure that your first aider can hygienically carry out their care without the risk of spreading infection to either themselves or the injured person. 

3. Remove hazards

Although accidents are very much a part of life, they can sometimes be avoided in certain situations. A busy retail space, for instance, can quickly become rife with accidents, so it is essential that you remove as many hazards as possible to protect both your customers and your employees. For instance, to reduce trip hazards, make sure that all flooring is secured and that there are no obstructions in walkways. Ensure that the layout of your retail space is logical and not overly crowded for ease of evacuation in emergency situations.

4. Train staff in health and safety

In the event of an accident or emergency, customers are likely to turn to your staff for guidance. It is therefore imperative that you provide all staff with a certain level of health and safety. First aid training is available at a variety of levels, giving delegates the skills to handle a variety of emergency situations from cleaning and dressing wounds to administering CPR. Develop an evacuation procedure for your retail space and practice it with your employees every couple of months. You could also appoint one or two trusted staff members as health and safety leaders in your retail space.