Health and Safety Checklist for Retail Stores

In many parts of the world, the time is here, and a full retail reopening is upon us. But even as business returns to (almost) usual, health and safety concerns are likely to remain a priority to shoppers, and rightfully so. Read on to discover a complete list of health and safety considerations that retailers should keep in mind as they fully reopen the doors at their brick-and-mortar locations.

Health and Safety Checklist for Retail Stores: 6 Key Considerations

1. Antimicrobial Covers

A lot of seemingly minor behaviors that people used to commonly do have become uncomfortable during the COVID-19 pandemic – and they will continue to be behaviors that people avoid. Examples of this include touching dirty door handles, bathroom surfaces, payment terminal pin pads, and more.

As a retailer, you can put your customers at ease and help them avoid uncomfortable and potentially unsanitary situations by installing antimicrobial covers*. These covers reduce the transfer of germs, are easy to apply, and are available in precut shapes as well as custom application rolls. Certain antimicrobial covers last up to six months and are designed to complement a standard cleaning schedule.

2. Employee Handwashing

Handwashing protocols are nothing new, but it’s important to revisit and reiterate the importance of handwashing as your retail store reopens.

Some handwashing tips and considerations include:

• Are your employees are aware of handwashing standards and CDC best practices, like washing for at least 20 seconds before and after eating, after using the toilet, after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing, and after handling garbage?
• Have you posted your handwashing policy by all sinks?
• Are your sinks and restrooms supplied with soap, hand sanitizer, and clean towels?
• Are employees aware they should avoid touching their face?

3. Store Sanitization

Just like handwashing, sanitizing your store is something that has always been important but has  become even more critical in the past year. Store sanitization considerations include:

• Do you have gloves, masks, and other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand?
• Are your employees trained on how to properly use sanitizing chemicals and equipment?
• Are your store’s most recent cleaning protocols prominently posted in employee areas?
• Are all public areas frequently cleaned (door handles, checkout counters, restrooms, dressing rooms, payment pin pads, self-service kiosk screens, etc.?)
• Have you installed plexiglass sneeze guards at the point of sale (POS)?
• Are all employee areas frequently cleaned (POS terminals, cash drawers, scanners, break rooms, inventory rooms, etc.?)
• Is all shared employee equipment regularly cleaned (keys, tablets, headsets, etc.?)
• Are sanitization practices and restocking of cleaning supplies assigned to specific employees and regularly scheduled?