The busy Christmas period is here, and with it comes longer hours, extra staff, and packed stores. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be one of the riskiest for workplace health and safety.
With a bit of planning and focus on what matters most, you can get through the festive season safely.
1. Get ahead of aggression and stress
The festive season can bring out the worst in some customers, and stress levels run high for everyone. Train your team on how to defuse tense situations calmly before the busy period hits. A bit of empathy and patience can prevent things from escalating.
Make sure you have clear processes in place for when incidents do happen. Your team needs to know how to report issues, who to talk to, and what support is available to them. Remember that aggressive behaviour can happen between co-workers too, especially when everyone’s under pressure.
To help with this ShopCare has created online training to help with situational awareness; managing an angry customer; staying safe and supporting your team.
2. Don’t rush the basics
When you’re bringing on casual or temporary workers quickly, it’s tempting to rush through induction and training. But getting this right isn’t just good practice, it’s a legal requirement that employers must do as far as reasonably practicable. Make sure every new team member knows how to work safely before they start. Some workers may need extra support or adjustments during the busy season, so think about what your team members might need and check in regularly.
Empowering your health and safety representatives or champions is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your organisation’s safety culture and protect your people. ShopCare has partnered with HSE Global to provide online training to help with this.
3. Watch out for movement and machinery
With more deliveries, more stock, and more people on site, movement becomes a bigger risk. When working around forklifts, trucks, or other vehicles during loading and unloading, always stay visible and keep a safe distance. Never walk behind reversing vehicles, and make sure everyone knows the designated pedestrian routes. If you’re operating plant equipment (forklifts, electric pallet jacks etc), take extra care when the site is busy – there are more people around than usual during this time.
Congested walkways, heavy boxes, and awkward lifting are part of the Christmas reality. Refresh your team on safe manual handling, and make sure storerooms and walkways have enough space to move safely. Check that stepladders and other equipment are in good condition and keep an eye on how people are using them – shortcuts often happen when everyone’s busy.
4. Manage fatigue before it becomes a problem
When you’re offering extra shifts to meet demand, it’s easy for people to take on too much. Tired workers are more likely to have accidents or make mistakes that could hurt themselves or others.
Be mindful when rostering shift workers and those picking up overtime. Make sure there’s enough time between shifts for proper rest and keep an eye on anyone working long stretches without days off. If someone’s been working several shifts in a row, check in with them. It’s okay to say no to someone wanting extra shifts if you think they need a break. Looking after your team’s wellbeing now prevents bigger problems later.
5. Keep your site safe and organised
Slips and trips increase when stores get busy. Keep all walkways clear, stay on top of housekeeping, and make sure everyone knows how to deal with spillages quickly. If you’re expecting more deliveries or have mobile equipment on site, communicate any changes clearly to everyone involved.
Double-check that Christmas displays, attractions, and decorations are properly secured. Distracted customers and workers are less likely to spot hazards, so remove the risk before it becomes a problem. Christmas decorations, lights, and extra electrical equipment all add to fire risk, so check that everything is safe before you plug it in or light it up.
6. Consider personalised badges
Personalised badges worn by frontline retail staff can significantly reduce verbal abuse from customers, according to a recent study by QUT Business School. The research shows that issuing badges with personalised messages such as “I’m a dad”, “I’m a daughter”, or “I’m a local”, humanises staff and shifts customer behaviour. Providing your permanent and temporary Christmas staff with a low-cost badge can remind those customers who may be on a short fuse, that the person serving them is not just an employee, but someone within the community, just like them. Find out more in this Inside Retail article.
A safe and enjoyable season for all
The festive season puts pressure on everyone in retail, but it doesn’t have to come at the cost of the health and safety of your teams. Everyone works hard during this time – looking after their wellbeing is one of the most important things you can do.
Stay safe, and ngā mihi for all your mahi this year.
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