09 January 2025
The Health and Safety Inspectorate carried out a series of unannounced visits to retail premises in December 2024 to check compliance with the relevant legal requirements relating to storage. This targeted initiative was arranged to coincide with increased stock levels leading up to the Christmas period.
The main causes of injury and occupational ill health in regards to storage facilities are:
- manual handling, musculoskeletal disorders
- slips and trips
- work at height
- moving or falling objects
Findings during this initiative
- the main causes of injury and ill health were not included in the store risk assessments. Employers are encouraged to consult and include their staff in the formulation of risk assessments
- where ladders and stepladders are used, the employer needs to make sure that it is both suitable for the work task and in a safe condition before use
- instances of inadequate guarding of mezzanine levels, this is required to prevent both people and objects falling a distance likely to cause personal injury
- electrical installations are subject to the requirements of the Electricity at Work (Jersey) Regulations 1983. It is required to be regularly inspected and tested which, in the case of a retail premise, would normally be expected to be at intervals of no more than 5 years
- lone working within the retail sector should be considered in risk assessments
This initiative was well received and an opportunity to discuss advice and guidance to help ensure compliance with minimum legal requirements.
Further Information and guidance
Risk assessments
Warehousing and storage: A guide to health and safety HSG76
Safe use of ladders and stepladders on HSE website
Manual handling in the workplace
Slips and trips in retail on HSE website
Lone working on HSE website
gov.je