COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Work Safely in Retail Environments course. This course is designed to provide retail employees and managers with the essential knowledge and skills to maintain a safe and compliant workplace. Retail environments, while not traditionally associated with high-risk activities, have their own unique safety challenges. Ensuring the safety of both employees and customers is critical in fostering a secure and efficient workplace. The course begins with an overview of workplace safety in the retail sector, highlighting the legal responsibilities of employers and workers under Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations. It also emphasises the role of retail employees in maintaining a hazard-free environment.
Identifying common hazards in retail settings is crucial for preventing accidents. Retail employees are often exposed to risks such as slips, trips, and falls due to wet floors or loose mats, manual handling injuries from lifting stock, and electrical hazards from faulty equipment. In this section, you will learn how to recognise these hazards and take proactive steps to address them, ensuring a safer working environment for everyone.
Safe manual handling is essential in preventing injuries, particularly in tasks involving lifting and carrying heavy items. This section will cover best practices for manual handling, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, and the proper use of trolleys and mechanical aids to assist with heavy loads.
Ergonomics plays an important role in retail workspaces, especially for employees who spend long hours at checkout stations or performing repetitive tasks. You will learn how to design work areas for comfort, prevent repetitive strain injuries, and adjust workstations to minimise physical strain on employees.
Fire safety is a key concern in any workplace, and retail is no exception. You will explore fire prevention strategies, including the safe storage of flammable materials, the importance of evacuation procedures and fire drills, and the proper use of fire extinguishers and emergency equipment in retail settings.
Electrical safety in retail environments is another important focus. You will learn how to identify and manage electrical hazards, safely use electrical equipment such as point-of-sale systems and lighting, and respond appropriately to electrical emergencies, including power surges and sparks.
Handling hazardous substances, such as cleaning chemicals and sanitisers, is common in retail settings. This section will teach you how to safely use, store, and dispose of these substances, as well as how to utilise Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemical safety information.
Safe stocking and shelving practices are critical for preventing injuries and maintaining an organised workplace. You will learn safe lifting and shelving techniques for heavy items, how to prevent objects from falling off high shelves, and the proper use of ladders and step-stools to reduce the risk of accidents.
Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common injuries in retail. In this section, you will learn how to identify tripping hazards such as loose cables and cluttered aisles, implement safe practices for walking on wet or slippery floors, and ensure that aisles are clear and well-maintained.
Security and theft prevention are essential components of retail safety. You will learn how to recognise and prevent shoplifting, implement effective security measures such as CCTV and security tags, and manage suspicious behaviour or potential threats in the store.
Handling workplace violence and aggressive customers requires specific skills. This section will cover de-escalation techniques for managing difficult customers, reporting and documenting incidents of workplace violence, and ensuring personal safety in conflict situations.
Customer safety and well-being are key priorities in retail environments. You will learn how to ensure safe and accessible spaces for customers, assist those with mobility issues or disabilities, and prevent accidents such as spills or falling stock that could endanger customers.
Infection control and hygiene have become increasingly important, particularly in light of public health concerns. This section will focus on the importance of hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning and sanitising workspaces and equipment to manage public health risks.
Safe cash handling and banking procedures are important not only for financial security but also for preventing injuries associated with repetitive cash-handling tasks. You will learn about safe procedures for handling large amounts of cash and the security protocols for banking and cash transport.
Emergency response preparedness is critical in retail. This section will guide you on how to develop and implement emergency response plans, carry out evacuation procedures for both staff and customers, and respond to medical emergencies, such as administering first aid or CPR, in the store.
Finally, continuous improvement of retail safety practices ensures that workplaces remain safe over time. You will learn how to conduct regular safety audits and inspections, gather feedback from staff to improve safety protocols, and review and update safety policies regularly to stay compliant with changing regulations.
By the end of this course, you will have the tools and knowledge to work safely in retail environments, ensure compliance with WHS regulations, and contribute to a secure and welcoming space for both employees and customers.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Retail Safety
- Importance of Workplace Safety in Retail
- Overview of Legal Responsibilities Under WHS Regulations
- Role of Retail Employees in Maintaining a Safe Environment
2. Identifying Common Hazards in Retail
- Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Manual Handling Risks
- Electrical Hazards
3. Safe Manual Handling in Retail
- Best Practices for Lifting and Carrying Heavy Items
- Reducing the Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Using Trolleys and Mechanical Aids for Heavy Loads
4. Ergonomics in Retail Workspaces
- Designing Checkout Stations and Work Areas for Comfort
- Preventing Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Adjusting Workstations to Minimise Physical Strain
5. Fire Safety in Retail Settings
- Fire Prevention Strategies
- Evacuation Procedures and Fire Drills
- Safe Use of Fire Extinguishers and Emergency Equipment
6. Electrical Safety in Retail
- Identifying and Managing Electrical Hazards
- Safe Use of Electrical Equipment
- Responding to Electrical Emergencies
7. Handling Hazardous Substances in Retail
- Safe Use of Cleaning Chemicals and Sanitisers
- Proper Storage and Disposal of Hazardous Materials
- Using Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Chemical Safety Information
8. Safe Stocking and Shelving Practices
- Safe Lifting and Shelving Techniques for Heavy Items
- Preventing Falling Objects from High Shelves
- Using Ladders and Step-Stools Safely
9. Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Identifying Common Tripping Hazards
- Safe Practices for Walking on Wet or Slippery Floors
- Keeping Aisles Clear and Well-Maintained
10. Security and Theft Prevention in Retail
- Recognising and Preventing Shoplifting
- Implementing Effective Security Measures
- Managing Suspicious Behaviour or Threats in Store
11. Handling Workplace Violence and Aggressive Customers
- De-Escalation Techniques for Managing Difficult Customers
- Reporting and Documenting Incidents of Workplace Violence
- Ensuring Personal Safety in Conflict Situations
12. Customer Safety and Well-Being
- Ensuring Safe and Accessible Retail Spaces for Customers
- Assisting Customers with Mobility Issues or Disabilities
- Preventing Accidents Involving Customers
13. Infection Control and Hygiene in Retail
- Importance of Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Cleaning and Sanitising Workspaces and Equipment
- Managing Public Health Risks
14. Safe Cash Handling and Banking Procedures
- Preventing Cash-Handling-Related Injuries
- Safe Procedures for Handling Large Amounts of Cash
- Security Protocols for Banking and Cash Transport
15. Emergency Response in Retail Environments
- Developing and Implementing Emergency Response Plans
- Evacuation Procedures for Staff and Customers
- Responding to Medical Emergencies in Store
16. Continuous Improvement of Retail Safety Practices
- Conducting Regular Safety Audits and Inspections
- Gathering Feedback from Staff to Improve Safety Protocols
- Reviewing and Updating Retail Safety Policies Regularly
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.