Falls from height – step in to keep customers safe

It might not seem like it, but accessing the top shelves in a showroom can be enough to put customers at risk of a fall from height. Using items of furniture or climbing on gondola shelving to reach products are all common causes of accidents, resulting in injuries to customers.

Rather than leaving customers to improvise, merchants should be proactively managing the risks associated with customers accessing high shelves. You are responsible for the health and safety of anyone coming into your store or accessing your site, and access to elevated locations is a part of that responsibility.

Here's what you need to consider to protect your customers:

• Ensure you have approved, safe access solutions in place for all elevated areas. Step stools, rolling ladders and mobile steps are all safer alternatives to improvised access solutions.
• Position products that are in regular demand at accessible heights. Regularly review your planogram to ensure that high-demand products aren't placed at unsafe heights for customers.
• Inspect your access solutions regularly to ensure they are in good condition and safe to use.
• Train staff to recognise hazardous situations and step in to assist customers attempting to access items at height in an unsafe manner.