Photo Credits: The Inquisitor, 2011
Retail employers are being encouraged to take precautions to prevent worker injuries during Black Friday and other major sales events during the holiday season by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Crowd-related injuries have increased in the last few years. In 2008, a worker was trampled to death while a mob of shoppers rushed to take advantage of a Black Friday sales event. “Crowd control and proper planning are critical to preventing injuries and deaths,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “OSHA urges retailers to adopt a crowd management plan during the holiday shopping season.” Pre-setup and emergency situations are a part of OSHA’s recommended guidelines, which include barricades or ropes established well in advance of store openings, on-site trained security personnel, and customers’ lines that do start at the store entrance.
• Read the Letter to Retailers
• Read the Crowd Management Fact Sheet
Source: US Department of Labor
To speak with Jumpstart:HR about OHSA Compliance click here.
Black Friday Crowd Rushing into Urban Outfitters
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DigiWS1YhxI