Safety & Loss Prevention Guide

Program Goals

✅ Maintain a safe environment for employees, merchants, and customers.
✅ Reduce loss due to accidental injury and theft.

Part 1: Management Commitment & Employee Involvement

Creating a safe workplace is a team effort—everyone must stay involved!

Managers:

✅ Lead by example—if you take safety seriously, your team will too.
✅ Observe employee behavior throughout the day and coach when needed.
✅ Perform regular safety checks and address any issues immediately.
✅ Ensure new hires complete safety training on their first shift.

Associates:

✅ Follow all safety instructions provided by your manager.
✅ Never cut corners—even when the store is busy.
✅ Report any safety hazards or concerns to your manager immediately.

Part 2: Worksite Analysis

✅ Stores must conduct regular safety checks to ensure compliance.
✅ A manager (SM or ASM) should inspect:

• Store conditions 🏬
• Employee safety behaviors 👷
  ✅ Safety checkpoints will be included in the Manager Daily Checklist 📋.
  ✅ The Store Manager must review and resolve any safety issues.
  ✅ If an issue cannot be resolved, the Operations Manager must be notified.

Part 3: Hazard Prevention & Control

🔹 Avoiding Slips & Trips
✅ Clean up spills immediately and use a WET FLOOR sign.
✅ Pay attention to water tracked in on rainy days.
✅ Keep floors free of trip hazards (loose cords, curled carpets, misplaced items).

🔹 Preventing Struck-By Accidents
✅ Assist customers reaching for high items.
✅ Ensure shelves and wall-mounted items are secure.
✅ Use care when lifting heavy items—ask for help if needed.
✅ Keep customers away from the drop zone when using a ladder.

🔹 Using Ladders Safely
✅ Always use a ladder—never climb on furniture or boxes.
✅ Store ladders securely when not in use.
✅ Do not leave an open ladder unattended or allow customers to climb ladders.
✅ Maintain 3 points of contact while climbing.
✅ Never stand on the top rung of a ladder.
✅ Have a spotter when using a ladder in a high-traffic area.
✅ Report broken rungs or loose bolts to a manager immediately.

🔹 Safe Lifting Techniques
✅ Team-lift heavy/bulky items.
✅ PUSH—don’t PULL—when moving heavy items.
✅ Lift with your legs, not your back.
✅ Hold heavy items close to your body for better support.

🔹 Using the Right Tools for the Job
✅ Use a box cutter—not a knife or scissors—to open containers.
✅ Use a stepladder, not a chair or box, to reach items.
✅ Use a proper cart or dolly for heavy items.

🔹 Warehouse Safety
✅ Park empty pallet jacks safely with tines out of traffic flow.
✅ Never stand on a pallet or inside a dumpster.
✅ Never jump from the dock—use the stairs.
✅ Use caution when lowering overhead doors.

🔹 Commercial Equipment
✅ Associates must NOT use heavy-duty equipment (e.g., forklifts, scissor lifts) unless trained and approved by the Store Manager.
✅ Forklift operators must complete OSHA training and be recertified every 3 years.

🔹 Chandeliers & Lighting Fixtures
✅ Do not attempt to remove chandeliers.
✅ Managers should coordinate pick-up options for customers.
✅ If a vendor is removing a chandelier, keep customers away from the area.
✅ For smaller fixtures, only remove them if safely accessible with a 6-ft ladder.

Part 4: Training

✅ All new hires must complete Safety Awareness Training with a manager.
✅ Training includes:

• Employee role in maintaining a safe environment
• Preventing common accidents
• Fire exits & emergency procedures 🔥
• First aid kit location ⛑️
• Steps to take if an accident occurs
• Customer injury reporting
• How to report safety issues

🚨Responding to Workplace Injuries 

We prioritize the health and safety of our employees, merchants, and customers. In case of an injury in our store, the first priority is to ensure the injured person receives timely medical attention.

Employee Injuries

🔹 Minor Injuries (Not Requiring Medical Attention)

✅ Every store must have a basic first aid kit accessible to all associates. 

✅ All injuries, even small cuts or scrapes, must be reported to the manager immediately. 

✅ Managers should:

• Confirm that the injury is minor and does not need medical attention.

• Identify any hazards that caused the injury and take preventive actions.

• Complete an Employee Accident/Incident Report and store it in the Safety Binder.

🔹 Injuries Requiring Medical Treatment

  If an injury occurs, assess whether emergency medical attention is needed:

• If the associate is unresponsive, call 911 immediately.

• For non-emergency injuries, assist the associate in locating an approved medical facility from the Worker’s Compensation Reference Sheet (found in the Safety Binder).

Reporting & Worker’s Compensation Claims

1️⃣ Notify the Worker’s Compensation Insurance carrier and provide the claim number to the associate. 

2️⃣ Complete an Employee Accident/Incident Report ASAP. 

3️⃣ Notify our Commercial Liability Insurance carrier. 

4️⃣ Log the injury on OSHA Form 300 and complete OSHA Form 301 within 7 days.

📌 Insurance Contact Information:

📌 OSHA Compliance:

• Stores must display OSHA’s “Job Safety and Health-It’s the Law” poster.

• Maintain OSHA records for 5 years.

• OSHA Form 300A must be completed and posted from Feb 1 – April 30, even if no injuries occurred.

Non-Employee Injuries (Customers & Visitors)

Accidents can happen despite our best efforts. Our response can impact customer trust and prevent future incidents.

🔹 Immediate Response

⚠️ If the injury is serious, unresponsive, or requires emergency services, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

🔹 Handling Non-Emergency Incidents

✅ Notify the manager immediately when an injury is observed or reported. 

✅ Apologize sincerely and introduce yourself. 

✅ Listen carefully to the customer’s account of the incident. 

✅ Document the incident by completing a Customer Accident/Incident Report.

• If the customer agrees, collect the necessary information.

• If they decline, complete the form afterward with as much detail as possible. 

• ✅ Correct any hazards immediately and take before/after photos. 

• ✅ Report the incident to the Operations Manager and send a copy of the report/photos.

• ✅ If medical attention is required, notify Commercial Liability Insurance.

Loss Prevention & Safety

Loss prevention helps reduce financial loss and supports a safer workplace.

🔹 🔐 Building Security

• Always have at least two people in the store whenever possible.

• Opening: Managers should enter first, then re-lock the door until others arrive.

• Closing: Lock the door after each employee leaves.

• Loading Docks: An associate must be present whenever the bay door is open.

• End of Day: The closing manager should walk the store to ensure no one is left inside.

🔹 🛎️ Front Desk Security

• Never leave the front desk unattended.

• Keep cash drawer keys in a secure location.

• Do not leave personal items (bags, phones) in visible areas.

• Lost Items: Store and document unclaimed personal items appropriately.

🔹 🏬 Floor Safety & Theft Prevention

   👀 Sales associates should be visible, engaged, and attentive to customers at all times. 

   🚫 If theft occurs, prioritize safety:

• Do NOT chase or physically confront shoplifters.

• Do NOT block exits or retrieve stolen items.

• Notify the manager, who will contact the police with any suspect details.

SAFETY

   In any theft situation, the safety of our team is the #1 priority.

• Never jeopardize YOUR safety in an attempt to protect cash or property. 
• Do not chase/follow a shoplifter into the parking lot. 
• Do not touch a shoplifter/attempt to detain a shoplifter/try to physically take product back/place yourself between the shoplifter and the exit. 
• If someone runs out, the manager in charge should notify the police and provide any description we have of the suspect/vehicle.