Health, Safety, Security and Loss Prevention in Retail
Health, safety and security protect people, stock and premises. Loss prevention reduces shrinkage from theft, fraud, damage and error. This domain tests hazard control, emergency response, safe manual handling and basic retail security.
Core rules and concepts
- Common hazards: wet floors, trailing cables, blocked exits, unstable stacking, sharp edges, electrical faults and manual-handling strain.
- Control hierarchy: eliminate the hazard, substitute, engineer controls, administrative controls, then PPE. In retail, cleaning a spill and using a wet-floor sign is an engineering and administrative control.
- Fire safety: keep exits and extinguishers clear; know the evacuation route and assembly point. Use the right extinguisher: never water on electrical or oil fires. PASS = Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
- Manual handling: assess the load, bend the knees, keep the load close, avoid twisting, and team-lift heavy items.
- Security: CCTV, EAS tags, mirrors, guards and key control deter theft. Do not confront a suspected shoplifter; observe, report and follow store policy.
- Report incidents and near misses; record them.
Worked example
A bottle of oil breaks in an aisle. Reasoning: warn customers, stand guard or place a sign, clean with absorbent material, dispose of glass safely, check the floor is dry, and report the incident. Do not use water to wash oil across the floor; it spreads the hazard. If the spill reaches an electrical socket, isolate power and call for help.
Traps
- Do not block fire exits with stock or displays.
- Do not use water on electrical fires.
- Do not chase or detain a shoplifter unless trained and authorised.
- Do not ignore a near miss; it is a warning.