Health and Safety in Charity Shop Environment Claire Guise Health - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Health and Safety in Charity Shop Environment

Claire Guise Health and Safety Manager Marie Curie

Marie Curie Portfolio (UK Wide)

• Approximately 180 Charity Shops (leased) (paid shop

management complimented by volunteers)

• 8 Lock Ups (bulk storage/most unmanned) (leased)
• 9 Palliative Care Hospices (owned)
• Approximately 80 Offices (leased and hosted)

Health and Safety Manager

• Role created in January 2010 (within Estates Team)
• National role for all functions
• Strategic Role

∙ Policy development ∙ Advice and support ∙ High level training course delivery

• Operational Role

∙ Fire risk assessment ∙ Legionella risk assessment ∙ Access audit ∙ Health and safety inspection ∙ Asbestos management plans

Long journey…steep learning curve!

Objectives

• Briefly cover key health and safety issues in charity retail
• Provide “food for thought”
• Illustrate some example systems and procedures using

Marie Curie as a case study

People Issues

Clear Roles and Responsibilities

• Marie Curie
• Director of Retail (ultimately accountable)
• Regional Managers (strategically responsible)
• Area Managers (accountable for their region, audit responsibilities)
• Shop Managers (operational responsibilities)
• Retail Operations Team (support for health and safety compliance

and safety initiatives)

Volunteers

• Treated the same as employees for health and safety

purposes

• Same expectations as employees to comply with health

and safety systems and procedures

• Have clear roles and responsibilities and expectations of

both employees and volunteers

Staff and Volunteer Training

• Risk Assessment
• Volunteer Management
• Fire
• Manual Handling
• Working at Height
• Lone Working
• Chemicals and Substances
• Practical training in use of equipment

Vulnerable People

• Examples include:
• Learning difficulties
• Physical disabilities
• New and expectant mothers
• Young people
• Control measures include:
• Individual risk assessments
• Personal plans
• “Reasonable Adjustments”

Members of the public

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Bring their own unique challenges….

Contractors

• “Anyone who provides a service or activity who is self

employed or employed by a different organisation who provides a service”

• Marie Curie has a national contractor for planned and

reactive maintenance

• Health and safety assurance checks including insurance,

risk assessments, method statements, competency and training

• Provide information on hazards and risks to them and

advise them of any rules whilst in the shop

• Show them asbestos register and get them to sign to say

that they have seen it

• Monitor them during activities / feedback any concerns

Property Issues

Property Issues

• Suitable premises?
• Space, design and layout?
• Number of floors?
• Welfare facilities – kitchen, rest area and toilet(s)
• Neighbours (above, below and next door)

Fire Risk Assessment

• Needs to be carried out by a competent person
• Consideration of fire triangle
• Consideration of shop operations
• Control measures required to reduce the risk
• Fire risk assessment review carried out by Area Manager

Fire – Physical Controls

• Decided on through risk assessment and appropriate

guidance and standards

• Detection and warning system
• Emergency lighting
• Signage
• Fire fighting equipment
• Fire exits
• Fire doors

Fire Doors

Must NOT have anything hanging on them Must not be wedged open This damages the fire doors and stops them closing properly

Fire Doors

• Dorgards now replacing door wedges in our shops where

fire doors are fitted

Fire – Operational Controls

• Fire evacuation procedures
• Fire triangle management – fuel – heat – oxygen
• Inspection, maintenance and testing regimes required

(local and national/by contractors)

Equality and Access

• Access audit
• “Reasonable Adjustments”
• Disabled toilet?
• Wheelchair access front door?
• Step or ramp at front door?
• Provision of portable ramp?
• Edges of steps and ramps highlighted?
• Manifestations on low level glazing and glass doors

Asbestos

• Asbestos survey
• What
• Where
• Condition
• Action(s) required?
• Provide information to contractors on location of

asbestos (and employees and volunteers (where appropriate to their role)) MUST limit/restrict unauthorised works by employees and volunteers which may disturb the fabric of the building

Legionella

• Risk assessment carried out by a competent person
• Water source?
• Tank or mains fed
• Map water routes and outlets
• Monthly temperature checking

Are all shops simple mains fed water systems and therefore no risk? Are all toilets and sinks being used regularly?

Marie Curie Tanks!

Little Used Outlets!

Sink Toilet

Electrical Safety

• Mains wiring testing
• Portable appliance testing (PAT)
• Cable management
• Significant reduction in extension lead use
• Ban on personal/donated electrical item use
• User checks
• Fault reporting
• RCD’s in use with steamers at Marie Curie

Security

• Security of staff, stock and cash
• Build in security measures such as:
• Panic alarm
• Safe
• Shutters
• Enforced / security accessed doors
• Valuables cabinet / personal lockers
• Design out blind spots in the sales area

Signage

Example Category Meaning Shape/Colours Usage

Safe Conditions/Procedure SAFE emergency escape route or first aid Square or oblong. White symbol or symbol and text on a green background. To show the way to medical assistance To show the way to an area of safety To indicate that a course of action is safe to take Mandatory YOU MUST Circular. White symbol or symbol and text on a blue background. To convey actions that must be carried

• ut

Fire Equipment FIRE Fire Fighting Square or oblong. White symbol or symbol and text on a red background. To indicate the location of fire equipment  Warning BE CAREFUL Warning Triangular. Black symbol or symbol and text on a yellow background surrounded by a black triangular band. To warn you of the potential dangers faced in and around the workplace Prohibition DO NOT Danger, alarm Circular with cross band. Black symbol on a white background, inside a red circle with a red cross bar. To convey prohibited actions

Operational Issues

Stock, Stock and More Stock

5S Introduction

Health and Safety Noticeboard

• Health and Safety Policy Statement
• Employers Liability Insurance
• Fire Evacuation Plan
• First Aid and Emergency Information
• HSE Health and Safety Law Poster
• Incident Reporting Procedures

First Aid

• First aid supplies
• Checked and restocked regularly
• No unauthorised items (medications)
• First aider(s) (decided through generic risk assessment)
• Formal first aid training (decided through generic risk

assessment)

Donated Goods

• Check to trading standards requirements
• CE marking e.g. toys
• Condition of donations
• Cleanliness of donations
• Contamination – biological substances / sharps!!!

Sorting

• Sorting table / surface
• Safe system of work
• Provide appropriate gloves
• Training “to expect the unexpected”

Sorting Safe System

Steaming

• Training in hazards and risks
• Descaling required in some geographical regions –

additional controls and training required

• Scald risk

Steaming Safe System

Steamer Procedures

• Train workers by experienced employees and volunteers
• Follow manufacturers Instructions
• Service steamer at manufacturer's recommended

intervals

• Locate and use steamer in a safe location
• Keep others clear of area
• Cable management
• Ensure adequate ventilation and lighting

Tagging Gun

• Sharp point
• Cap / cork
• Sharps bin required for any accidental sharps injuries

and contaminated needles

Chemicals and Substances

• Limit range of substances
• If possible agree list of products and brands (and stick to

it)

• Obtain material safety data sheet
• Carry out CoSHH assessment for hazardous substances

Training to include NOT keeping donated chemicals and substances and not bringing them in from home to save the charity money or because they like their ones better!

Manual Handling

• Minimise where possible
• Handling aids – trucks, trollies
• Provide training
• Check condition of equipment

Working at Height

• Store at low levels to avoid working at height (where

possible)

• Provide suitable equipment – step ladders and kick

stools

• Sensible footwear
• Check condition of equipment regularly

Risk Assessment

• A careful examination of what in your work could lead to

harm to determine if you have done enough or need to do more

• Document significant findings if 5 or more employees
• Suitable and sufficient
• Controls – so far is reasonably practicable (balance

cost/time/effort versus risk)

Risk Assessment

• Examples in place at Marie Curie:
• General shop risk assessment including sorting and steaming

carried out and documented by Area Manager

Incident Reporting

• Internal systems and procedures
• Incident database
• RIDDOR reporting to the Health and Safety Executive

(HSE) carried out by Retail Operations Team

Shop Floor Hazards

• Slips and trips
• Verbal and physical abuse
• Animals and pets
• Falling stock
• Shelving/racks not secured
• Children

Shop Floor Hazards

• Use only “competent” persons to install rails and shelves
• Don’t cover heaters
• Don't fully load rails
• Regular checks for stability of racks and shelving
• Look for defects and damage during changeover
• Housekeeping and cleaning regimes
• Check wind before displaying stock outside

Regularly check floors for fallen stock and spillages…

Cash Handling

• Count up the money off the shop floor
• Avoid banking alone
• Take money to the bank at different times each day
• If possible use different (trustworthy) people
• Use inconspicuous bags
• Take different routes to the bank

Ensure personal safety is the first priority

Monitoring Compliance and Effectiveness

• Active monitoring (before anything goes wrong)
• Introduce a regular system of documented checks
• Statutory inspection regime for equipment
• Regular audit process (carried out by Area Manager)
• Reactive monitoring (learning from your mistakes)
• Accident and near-miss reporting and investigation
• Investigation of insurance claims
• Analysis of accident statistics and trends

Enforcement

• Environmental Health Officers
• Enforce health and safety, food safety and some waste

legislation

• Fire Officers
• Enforce fire safety legislation
• Trading Standards Officers
• Enforce product and consumer safety legislation

All have the authority to conduct unannounced visits, investigate incidents and complaints and prosecute Train employees and volunteers how to handle these visits!

Civil Action

• Organisations owe a duty of care to individuals affected

by their business (employees, volunteers, customers and donors)

• Individuals have the right to claim compensation where

they can prove an organisation has been negligent, and as a result they have suffered injury

• Organisations must have Employers Liability insurance.
• Public and product liability insurance are also advisable

Train employees and volunteers how to handle claim documentation if it is sent direct to the shop!

Summary

• Charity retail has some unique health and safety

challenges and lots of issues to think about!

• Simple systems need to be in place to suit your
• rganisation
• Clear roles and responsibilities and appropriate training

need to be in place

• Roles and responsibilities for systems may be shared

within different teams within your organisation

Any questions?

Further Information

• Charity Retail Association Website
• Charity Retail Association Health and Safety Group
• Health and Safety Executive Website
• Charities Safety Group Website