Top Safety Tips for Grocery Store Employees

For grocery store employees, the hazards and risks on the job are numerous, and an accident of any type can sideline a good associate faster than you can say, clean up on aisle 12. The dangers vary from department to department, but whether youre in the bakery icing cupcakes or over in produce misting the veggies, its important to educate yourself on the unique risks associated with your job description so that you can keep a sharp eye on your own safety. But theres one threat at any grocery store that all departments have in common. Thats rightslip and fall accidents.In grocery stores, any manner of liquids can (and do) accumulate on the floor. Water from produce misters, leaks in refrigeration units, newly mopped floors, accidental spills, moisture tracked in from outside, and condensation in coolers these are just a few of the many slip and fall hazards you must watch out for when working in a grocery store. But how can a slip and fall accident be prevented or avoided?Check out these top safety tips for grocery store employees to learn more!

• Be Vigilant, Take Initiative Be watchful. Slip and fall hazards can occur anywhere, at any time. Its up to the employees to spot these dangers and then take the initiative to do something about them.
• Clean Up Spills and Messes By taking initiative in the aforementioned tip, youve decided to hold yourself responsible for cleaning up the messes that you encounter. See a broken jar of spaghetti sauce leaking all over the floor? Take the appropriate steps to clear away the debris and clean it up. When you take care of spills as soon as they happen (or as soon as you come across them) youre greatly reducing the risk of someone being injured by a slip and fall.
• Use Proper Signage After youve cleaned up an accident or spill, the floor will likely be wet or damp from having mopped it. At this point, and at any time when you mop the floor, make sure to use the proper Wet Floor signage to warn others as to the state of the floor and their risk of falling.
• Maintain Floor Cleanliness Like any floor, the floor of a grocery store can get dirty (perhaps even more so). A built-up layer of dirt can pose a serious slipping hazard. To prevent a dangerous and unsightly accumulation of dirt and grime, floors should be mopped and buffed regularly. Regular mopping and buffing when done properly can actually improve the slip resistance of floors.
• Keep Floor Clear Keep aisles and walkways clear of trash, debris, boxes, electrical cords, and pallets. These obstructions are tripping hazards theyre an accident just waiting to happen. With clear, unobstructed floors, your store will not only look its best but will allow you to move about freely, unimpeded.
• Use Appropriate Matting Situated at the entrances and exits of the store, as well as in the produce and other departments, slip-resistant mats are an important way to keep yourself on your feet and safe at work. These mats provide additional traction in high traffic areas. Make sure your mats are placed in the appropriate positions and are flush with the floor, not bunched or wrinkled. For some of the best slip-resistant mats on the market, try SR Maxs^® SR Max^® Grip Mat.
• Wear Slip Resistant Footwear Slip-resistant footwear is key to staying upright and on your feet throughout your shift in a grocery store. If your shoes cant grip, youll likely end up on the ground at some point wondering Why didnt I just wear the right shoes? Avoid that pain and embarrassment by outfitting yourself in the right shoes the first time. SR Maxs^® patented MaxTrax^® outsole technology has been tested and is ranked as the most slip resistant outsole among all national competitors. Not only are our MaxTrax^® outsoles found on all of our own SR Max^® brand line of shoes, but also on other great brands you know and love, like select Reebok, Skechers, Rockport Works, and Dansko. And those styles we carry that dont have a MaxTrax^® outsole? Theyre still plenty slip resistant we test all of our shoes and will not carry anything that scores less than a 0.40 Coefficient of Friction in the Brungraber Mark II test in high soil/oily wet environments (thats science-talk for slip resistance testing). Trust us, weve got some seriously high standards.