What are the top risks affecting your workers?
During a shift, convenience store workers handle many products. Small shops often have only one or two people working at a time, so there is always something to do. “From unpacking deliveries and stocking shelves, to checking out items at the cash register and taking out the garbage, these workers are often lifting, reaching, carrying, and performing repetitive movements,” says Melissa Morin, specialized consultant with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS). “All of which can potentially lead to musculoskeletal disorders.”
Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are injuries of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. Symptoms can include pain, tingling, and numbness in the back, neck, wrists, shoulders, and knees. MSD injuries can result from a specific incident, however, more often develop slowly due to exposure to hazards repeatedly over time.
Worker and management representatives from several Ontario grocery retailers recently participated in a workshop facilitated by WSPS to identify and address the health and safety risks that harm workers in their industry. MSDs emerged as the top risk facing their workers, regardless of the store’s size.
Convenience stores and grocery stores are quite similar from a health and safety perspective, with workers performing many of the same tasks and exposed to many of the same risks.
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MSDs, slips, trips, and lacerations top the list
“Seeing MSDs at the top of the list is not surprising,” says Melissa. “Many tasks in both grocery and convenience stores can expose workers to these injuries.”
When left untreated, MSDs can lead to chronic pain and reduced mobility. These types of injuries can be very disruptive to a worker’s life, both on the job and outside of work.
Slips and trips were identified as the sector’s second highest health and safety risk, and lacerations from working with equipment came third. “Common slip and trip hazards in grocery and convenience stores could include melted ice around fridges and freezers, spills around coffee stations or soda machines, and customers tracking in snow and ice from outside,” says Melissa. Snow and ice in parking lots can be a concern as well, especially when workers are responsible for salting entrance ways or carry out garbage and recycling. “Training on effective housekeeping practices is the best way to eliminate these types of hazards. Aisles and walkways need to be clear, and floors need to be clean and dry,” says Melissa.
Workplace stress leading to mental harm and workplace harassment were fourth and fifth on the list. “Since convenience store workers deal directly with the public, sometimes late at night or in the early morning hours, it brings in additional factors that can potentially expose workers to psychosocial risks,” explains Melissa, noting that it is encouraging to see workplace mental health gaining attention. “Establish a procedure for dealing with difficult or potentially dangerous customers and train all workers on what to do,” recommends Melissa. Having an effective strategy in place can help minimize mental harm to employees.
Take action to protect your workers
With the top risks identified, Melissa offers these suggestions to help you eliminate hazards and reduce the risk of physical and mental injury to your workers.
- Start with a risk assessment. Go through each task and think about the hazards associated with each step. Then, identify what you will do to minimize the risk. Doing this will help you develop a step-by-step procedure for how to complete each safely.
- Get feedback from your workers. “Workers are the experts in the jobs they are doing. Talk to them to find out where they find problems. They may already have a solution in mind for how to make the process better,” says Melissa.
- Provide training. Once you have established safe work procedures, train your workers. Explain the hazards and why it is important to follow the procedure. Observe them working to ensure they have understood the procedures and are following them.
- Maintain tools and equipment. To keep everything in good working order, ensure regular maintenance is completed. “For example, regular maintenance on fridges and freezers can help reduce the risk of unexpected leaks,” says Melissa.
- Use proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure that workers use appropriate PPE when performing certain tasks. For example, provide work gloves when workers are cutting boxes open or breaking them down.
Check out the full list of hazards identified during the grocery sector risk assessment workshop and access resources to help you protect your workers.
