One of the store owner’s worst nightmares is for an accident to happen in their establishment. Whether it is a customer slipping and falling or a dangerous product injures one, it can cause major headaches and expose them to potential lawsuits. The best way to reduce the chances of it happening is being active about the precautions to take. Here are a few that you should implement in your store to maximize your protection from accidents.
Inspect Your Store Regularly
The first thing you need to do is to inspect everything in your store regularly. Before you open your doors, you and your team can ensure everything is in good condition. Additionally, further inspections should be done throughout the day, with more detailed examinations during maintenance days. Some accidents happen because of faulty items and even a loose screw. For example, a shelf can collapse on one of your customers. An inspection would have detected the problem before it happens, and repairs could have been done.
Train Employees To Be More Aware
Working in retail, a lot of your employees will be on the floor ready to assist customers. This means they are at the front lines of accident prevention. You should be training them to be more observant of potential accidents or injuries. For example, if they see a customer having problems carrying something, they should immediately help them out. A lot of accidents happen when a customer is having trouble carrying something. Another thing they can do is look for dangerous products. For example, if you sell dangerous chemicals in your store, you should have a dedicated employee preventing unauthorised people from touching them.
Post Warning Signs When Necessary
Customers sometimes don’t know what they are looking at or care about their handling of some products. While you lose out if they accidentally wreck your products, it can worsen if they are careless with dangerous substances. For example, flammable materials or corrosives can cause grievous injury. This is where having the right hazard signs can help. They ensure that customers are fully aware of the danger these substances represent. They will be even more careful with their handling of the product. Besides that, putting up warning signs means that there are fewer chances of getting sued; if a customer still gets injured while being careless with the substances, then you can point to the warning signs that they were warned.
Proper Maintenance Is Key
Many accidents come from malfunctioning equipment. When they are broken, they could cause injure customers. For example, faulty wiring in your store could spark a fire or worse. Fires quickly spread, and frightened customers can get injured, not to mention your staff. Have a maintenance check every year along with a few weeks of tuning up old equipment. Additionally, if it is too old, don’t hesitate to repair it with a brand new model that should meet your needs. Newer models are often more efficient, and you don’t have to worry about their condition for a few years.
Keep The Store Clean And Organized
Slops and falls are the most common accidents in the world. Millions suffer from bruises and broken bones because of them. If you want to avoid that from happening in your store, the biggest help you can do is keep the floors clean. A slippery floor from a spill is the perfect cause for an accident. Have your staff clean spills immediately. Additionally, it would be best if you cleared out any clutter. Stumbling over them can also cause a damaging fall.
Get Some Insurance
Finally, it would be best if you protect your assets by getting insurance. It can be an alternate source of funds if you ever get sued by an injured customer. This is as long as the insurance covers the circumstances. It would be best if you got general liability insurance so that you get better protection. There are also special industries that need insurance even more than usual. For example, people who run a gun store need a special gun liability insurance program. Guns are dangerous, and you want buyers to be more careful. If an accident does happen, you should be able to pay off the suit and lawsuit with the insurance payout’s help.
Accidents are common occurrences, but they are very preventable. It is only the carelessness of various people that causes them. Taking the right precautions can greatly reduce the chances of them happening. Additionally, even if they do happen, they can ensure that the damage is not so bad. Start implementing them now to give your business proper protection.
