I’ll admit that I’m a shopaholic. While I do enjoy “stalking” those great sales, I avoid the Black Friday shopping crowds. (Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Black Friday refers to the annual day-after-Thanksgiving sale among retailers.)
But for those of you that brave the Black Friday crowds, OSHA is concerned about you and your safety. In 2008, a 38 year-old New York Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death after a stampede of Black Friday shoppers rushed into the store. Almost one year later, in the wake of the Wal-Mart tragedy, OSHA issued crowd control guidelines for retailers.
But for those of you that brave the Black Friday crowds, OSHA is concerned about you and your safety. In 2008, a 38 year-old New York Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death after a stampede of Black Friday shoppers rushed into the store. Almost one year later, in the wake of the Wal-Mart tragedy, OSHA issued crowd control guidelines for retailers.
"Crowd control is critical to preventing injuries and deaths," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "These incidents can be prevented by adopting a crowd management plan, and this fact sheet provides retail employers with guidelines for avoiding injuries during the holiday shopping season." (A link to the fact sheet is provided below.)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued guidelines that are aimed at helping store-owners, and their employees, to eliminate safety hazards. These OSHA guidelines fall into four different categories; Planning, Pre-Event Setup, During the Sales Event and Emergency Situations. Below is a brief review of those guidelines.
Planning: Have trained security or crowd management personnel where large crowds are expected. Create a detailed staffing plan designating the location of each employee. To ensure safety, determine the number of employees that are needed throughout the store, based on the size of the crowd expected.
Pre-Event Set Up: Have barricades or rope lines for crowd management in place prior to the event. The barricades should not start at the entrance to the store to allow for better control of the entrance. Have barricades set up with breaks and turns at regular intervals to reduce the risk of customers pushing from the rear and causing injury to those customers in front.
During the Sales Event: Staff entrances with safety personnel. Have a communication system (e.g., public address system) to manage the crowd, to communicate problems, etc. Announce both internally to employees and externally to customers when the doors are about to open.
Emergency Situations: Do not block or lock exit doors and/or restrict egress. Have an emergency medical response plan in place. Have first aid kits, etc., and personnel trained in their use, on site.
OSHA's role is to ensure safe and healthful workplaces for all employees. Even us shoppers!
Planning: Have trained security or crowd management personnel where large crowds are expected. Create a detailed staffing plan designating the location of each employee. To ensure safety, determine the number of employees that are needed throughout the store, based on the size of the crowd expected.
Pre-Event Set Up: Have barricades or rope lines for crowd management in place prior to the event. The barricades should not start at the entrance to the store to allow for better control of the entrance. Have barricades set up with breaks and turns at regular intervals to reduce the risk of customers pushing from the rear and causing injury to those customers in front.
During the Sales Event: Staff entrances with safety personnel. Have a communication system (e.g., public address system) to manage the crowd, to communicate problems, etc. Announce both internally to employees and externally to customers when the doors are about to open.
Emergency Situations: Do not block or lock exit doors and/or restrict egress. Have an emergency medical response plan in place. Have first aid kits, etc., and personnel trained in their use, on site.
OSHA's role is to ensure safe and healthful workplaces for all employees. Even us shoppers!
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