Workplace Safety, Hygiene, Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
Safety and hygiene
Keep aisles and fire exits clear. Clean spills immediately and place a warning sign. Stack safely, check electrical cords and know the PASS rule for fire extinguishers: pull, aim, squeeze, sweep. Report hazards and keep a first-aid box. Personal hygiene includes hand washing and clean uniform. Food areas need separate handling, pest control and waste segregation. Never mix cleaning chemicals.
Legal and ethical duties
Know the Consumer Protection Act 2019, which protects consumer rights and provides redressal for defects and misleading advertisements. Legal Metrology controls MRP, net quantity and verified weights. The Food Safety and Standards Act governs food licences and labelling. GST invoicing and data privacy also create legal duties. Ethical conduct means no fake scarcity, hidden charges, discrimination or bribery, and no sale of expired goods.
Worked example
A glass jar breaks in an aisle. Cordon the area, warn customers, sweep with a dustpan, dispose of the glass safely, check nearby stock and record the incident. Do not push glass under a shelf or leave it for a cleaner without a warning.
Traps
Blocking fire exits with stock, selling expired products, making guaranteed-result claims and sharing customer data are serious. Do not treat safety as only the manager's duty.