Retail warehouse safety campaign

Over the last five years, the storage, warehousing and road haulage industries have reported tens of thousands of work related accidents to both the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities. Over 17% of these were classified as major injuries involving fractures and amputations.

Luton Borough Council has seen a significant increase in the number of work related accidents being reported by the retail warehouse industry. Most of these accidents were as a result of poor storage, largely around the busy periods of seasonal shopping. During such periods some retailers tend to stock more than they can accommodate in their warehouses to meet the demand for shoppers.

Hazards associated with overstocking include the following:

• Falls from height
• Falling objects
• Obstruction of fire exits and pathways
• Poor ventilation and lighting

The retail warehouse safety campaign aims to improve safety standards in the retail warehouse sector in both food and non-food premises. This will be achieved by providing awareness of risks associated with poor storage during busy seasonal shopping periods followed by targeted inspections in order to check compliance with health and safety legislation. Enforcement will be used as a last resort.

A checklist is also available below to assist businesses to meet the minimum requirements for safe storage. Businesses should take the checklist as a guide and not an exhaustive list of hazards associated with poor storage.