Workplace Safety and Risk Management

Workplace Safety

Safety and Risk Management of Retail Store

Never before has safety and risk assessment of the workplace been more important to an organization. With skyrocketing costs of doing business on a national level and more attention placed on employee rights, it is imperative an organization take the time and investment to carefully plan a safe and risk free environment for its staff. This country put into place legislation that mandates how a business sets up shop and what responsibilities are shouldered by the employer. This legislation also outlines the inherent rights of the employees distinguished by any situation probable in the workplace. These rules and regulations are detailed and do not leave much room for interpretation by the employer. They must be followed in every step for a venture to even get off the ground and succeed. Failure to meet the requirements of this legislation only opens up the organization for increased risk, potential lawsuits and financial ruin.

Therefore, it is important to assess the safety and risk involved before planning investment in a venture the size of Do-IT Ltd. One step that will save time and money is the work of an outside consultant who will provide unbiased recommendations. This assessment acts as a vital piece to the business model for this retail home improvement superstore. This step in planning could not be more vital to its success over the long-term. Careful assessment by an outside party creates a reputation and foundation for how the company represents itself to the public and how it approaches business practices. Basically by taking this step, DO-IT Ltd. states to the consumer its core values of taking responsibility seriously. By hiring an outside consultant, the company opens its door for critical review of its practices and maintains by doing this, there is nothing to hide.

There are many factors to identify when discussing safety and risk management in the workplace. It is even more important when these factors involvement a retail public setting. It must be understood by the key players such as the planning supervisor, why these factors are significant and why an action plan is needed. Basically, these factors create a safe working environment when requirements are met. If these factors do not meet legislative requirements, DO-IT Ltd. opens itself to further risk and therefore, these factors must attain satisfactory review. If the consultant cannot reach a satisfactory conclusion, an action plan with instructions must be presented to the planning supervisor. By understanding these factors including: location, site (floor plan and design), store equipment, store inventory (product placement), safety of staff and customers, and appropriate safety and risk employee training, the company sets a standard and has the ability to better meet legislative requirements. This analysis of existing factors for DO-IT Ltd. will be detailed and attended to carefully as anything overlooked can create added risk and expenses later. The paragraphs below will examine these factors present at the site and result in the consultant offering recommendation and instructions to the planning supervisor. These recommendations will be summarized for executive perusal and include cost benefit analysis for making such changes.

Identified Items for Required Action

Site and Location

The site is located in an old industrial part of town and that has been zoned commercially for retail occupation. The old buildings have been demolished and presently the land is ready for construction. The absence of the old buildings diminished any concern over the presence of asbestos and other structural contaminants or bacteria. There is however, a concern that other contaminants are present at this site. Before construction can commence, it is important that studies of the soil and ground water take place. Such studies may already be highlighted in the pre-acquisition audit prior to purchase. These tests are important to determine the levels of possible contaminants and what kind of contaminants are indeed present. This way the company can establish a baseline of study should they decide to build on the property. The results of these tests may be a deciding factor. DO-IT Ltd. will need to assess risk involved with exposing its staff to carcinogens found in dirt and unclean water. Finding such elements present may require the company to invest in clean up and environmental systems such water and air purifiers to be used during operation.

Also it is important to consider the overall appearance of the land and how the building will be situated for maximum usage by the company, its employees and the customers? What is the land to close and who will be the company's neighbors? It being in an industrial location, sound pollution could also be something to consider. How will surrounding noise affect the business? How will their presence affect DO-IT Ltd.'s usage of the space? Is there adequate space for parking, delivery of inventory, storage of inventory and room to maneuver company vehicles not only for delivery but also for loading and unloading of product? Is the site close to public transportation? Will adequate pathways for walking to and from the store without a car be possible? It is also important to consider the buildings affect on the environment and the waste created by running a business. According to Lee Lam Thye "hazardous substances cause 340,000 deaths per year, without counting the acute injuries by chemicals" (par. 11). Never before has environmental monitoring been more important.

Store Requirements (Layout and Environmental elements)

Once the building is erected, it is significant to implement a layout or organization of the store to maximize sales but also to maximize safety. Having shopping and seen other DO-IT retail stores in the region, it is safe to assume the company will continue with a cookie-cutter method of presentation. The Aberdeen and Edinburgh stores both mirror each other in a warehouse design of long, wide aisles with discounted items featured at either end. The store's aisles are carefully segmented by a home improvement category so that the entire kitchen inventory is found in the kitchen aisles. Still another feature that makes the DO-IT retail store an edge above the competition are the aisles completely devoted to building materials. This makes it easier for the customer to find what they are looking for and less risk results from less of a chance of lost customers because they spend less time in the store. The wide aisles lend to adequate room for moving inventory via a bobcat type machine. The DO-IT store's attention to organization of inventory is also key to safety and risk. By implementing computer programs to control flow inventory means less inventory on the floor to clutter the aisles.

Aside from the layout, the environment of the store is important. The Aberdeen and Edinburgh stores are carefully monitored for cleanliness on a daily basis and proper air circulation is present in accordance with legislation. Room temperature is comfortable regardless of outside weather conditions and the warehouse design of the store. Adequate employee and customer water closets were available in more than one area of the store. Water faucets provided a clean and temperature controlled supply for sanitary practices.

Store Equipment

DO-IT retail stores in the past have spared no expense for installing top-notch store equipment that provides easy hands-on operation for its staff. Store equipment includes computer systems for monitoring inventory, providing check out and customer relation services, bobcat vehicles for transport of stocking inventory and moving materials. Other equipment could include cleaning materials for store use, shelving units for display of inventory, step stools for employee use, lighting, paper products such as receipt tape and shopping carts. By far it is the computer software, hardware and corporate network that allows the store's production and movement of inventory seem seamless. By utilizing computer software that tracks the flow of products allows DO-IT stores to keep superior track of its products purchased on a daily, even hourly basis. This minimizes the need for inventory storage and allows the sales person on the floor to focus on the customer.

Store Inventory (Products Available for Sale)

DO-IT stores sell products for home improvement projects. These products range from the tiniest screw or nail to the largest refrigerator or slab of granite for a kitchen countertop. DO-IT stores pride themselves in providing quality products to the customer for the best price on the market. The store also prides itself in stocking products for every step of home improvement for every room in the house. It also provides bulk quantities of materials needed in construction and materials needed for home decor like textiles and paint. As well as providing bulk size quantities, the store also stocks an array of aesthetic choices in colors, textures and styles. If the customer cannot find what they are looking for, a DO-IT store employee will arrange for special order at no additional cost. Customizing of paint color is also at no additional cost to the customer. Custom designs or specialty projects like a complete design implementation of a bathroom, however, do involve an extra fee.

Safety of Staff Members and Clientele

Thye writes, "safety and health in the workplace is becoming more and more critical considering that the right to work in a safe and healthy environment is a fundamental human right" (par. 6). DO-IT stores have been designed in the past to keep the safety of its employees and customers constantly in mind. The company understands that accidents can happen but that any steps taken to avoid an accident is money well invested. It knows that doing business in a country like the United Kingdom "puts direct cost of accidents in the billions of dollars" (Thye, par. 10) per year. With regards to the new site, it is safe to assume DO-IT stores will implement corporate protocol for safety and risk. Will this store be as safe as the others? Will there be adequate room for existing inventory and traffic within the store? Will employees be comfortable with their computer equipment requiring repetitious movement? What kind of action plan is put in place should there be an accident? Is safety gear provided for use during certain job requirement? What kind of communication does an employee have with management? Are their rights for a clean working environment being met? Will the store offer clean air, clean surfaces, clean water and a noise-reduced environment? Will they be able to move freely within the available space both inside and outside of the building? Will there be adequate parking, staff break rooms and toilet facilities? Are there processes in place to maintain the environment, equipment and morale of the employees?

From the retail standpoint of customer service and product presentation, will the customer see any inconsistencies or will this store reflect the image of the others regarding operations? The customer should be able to find the product they seek, pay for it and leave without worrying about parking, shelves being under-stocked or over-stocked, clutter in the aisles, lack of air circulation, room temperature control or surrounding noise. Their shopping experience should be pleasurable.

Safety and Risk Training for Staff

Safety and risk training for staff starts with communication. This communication sets forth a standard plan and outlines the responsibilities the employer has toward the employees. There are certain alienable rights provided to employees by national legislation. One is that the employer must communicate to the employee "the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work" (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, p. 4). The employer must also make appropriate arrangements for the employee should such safety and risk becomes an issue. He must also disclose any knowledge or suspected factors of risk to the employee (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, p. 6). This includes upon hiring of the employee, assessing their overall abilities and then after hiring, providing adequate training of not only the job but also safety procedures for the workplace (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, p. 9). This includes training the employee for handling "any machinery, dangerous substance, transport equipment" (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, p. 10) and offering "means of production or safety device provided to him by his employer in accordance both with any training in use of the equipment and the instructions respecting that use which been provided to him by the said employer in compliance with the requirements" (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, p. 10) by law. In a retail environment specializing in home improvement and building materials, an employee's training in safety can minimize accidents and if they should happen, minimize the repercussions. The employee's awareness of such risk can aid in the operation's smoothness and translate into profits.

Consultant Recommendations and Instructions for Planning Supervisor

Site and Location

The recommendations for the site start with the testing of the water table and soil for contaminants and other potentially harmful elements. A building design utilizing the space provided is needed to help eliminate issues of employee and customer movement inside and outside the store, parking availability, inventory tracking and storage, noise pollution. Hiring an architect that specializes in retail design is recommended as well as taking steps to make the shell of the building safer for everyone. This may require installation of air and water purification systems, climate control systems, insulation and barrier to reduce outside noise. Providing parking and durable walkways will also be essential to encourage traffic to the store. Durable flooring that is non-skid should be installed instead of the concrete floors found in DO-It's other stores. Another idea to aid in making the store's affect on the environment better is using a detection system in trashcans inside and outside. This makes disposal easier for the employee. Also keep cameras on every aisle to detect clutter or inventory falling from the shelves.

Store Requirements (Layout and Environmental elements) clear visional map of the store is warranted. For a store this size, no matter how closely organization and labeling of product gets, there will still be customers who need additional assistance. Also a training map would be good for new employees learning the floor. Still it is the upkeep of the aisles that is essential to manage safety. Management may consider hiring additional people to monitor quality assurance. Organization makes it easier for the customer to find what they are looking for and leads to less risk. Making the aisles wider and the shelves shorter might require more space but could in the long run, diminish the chance of accident. It is inventory tracking that makes the store less cluttered and easier to move. Continued investment in updating computer programs and hardware is a must as well as continued staff training of the knowledge of these machines.

Store Equipment

Continued maintenance of equipment is a must to not only extend the life of the equipment and the company's investment but to also make them safer to use. Continued investment of technology as it becomes available also makes the job easier and more comfortable. It may also save money for the company over the long-term as "injuries such as back strain, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome incur more than $411 million (dollars) in medical treatment, lost wages additional suffering and lost productivity for employers and workers" (Precor, par. 7). Therefore it is recommended that DO-It regularly invest in ergonomic computer accessories and where needed also ergonomic desk modules. Also training in simple ergonomic lifting techniques will eliminate lifting hazards. This type of training is recommended for implementation in New Hire training so that bad habits never form.

Store Inventory (Products Available for Sale)

It recommended that DO-IT continue to receive inventory from the same suppliers. In this day and age, it is temping to possibly cut corners and costs by changing suppliers of lower and questionable quality. This does not help control the work environment and the potential of exposure to harmful elements. Staying consistent also reflects to the customer, the stores value of quality. Maintaining procedures of maintenance of the shelves and inventory restock is warranted. Management may consider hiring new members for quality assurance. The company should continue researching and developing better shelving compartments with enclosures to protect customers and employees but also allow for viewing and sampling the product. This could be a recommendation for the future. The inventory tracking system aids in making sure that not only is the product available but it is not cluttered. This tracking system will need to be constantly checked and upgraded. Another recommendation for this area is to consider separating special services such as paint mixing and lumber slicing to a separate area for processing. This separation will allow the worker's to operate machinery in a well-ventilated area and help contain airborne substances such as paint fumes and sawdust. This eliminates other employees' exposure and keeps the customer from being exposed as well.