Apr 21, 2017

Make your garden center safe for employees, customers

{Sponsored} Spring is in full swing and customers are filling garden center aisles to find the products they need for their summer projects. With so much foot traffic through your garden center, it’s important to keep safety a priority.

Hortica® offers tips to keep your customers and employees safe from two main causes of injury: slips, trips and falls, and improperly lifting heavy items. The first cause can be prevented by walking through each department and ensuring the following safety practices are implemented:

Make sure warning signs clearly identify potential hazards. Use these signs to notify customers of hoses and wet floors in a green goods department or greenhouse.

Check around corners and clear walkways of any objects customers and employees may slip or trip on. Look for any display items or low-hanging baskets to protect from head injuries.

Train employees on proper equipment use, particularly ladders and step-stools. A quick check of a ladder’s condition will go a long way in preventing falls. These tools should also be set aside or stored away when not in use to discourage customers from using them.

Remind employees to always use personal protective equipment. The right shoes will help reduce the potential for a slip or trip, and will make for a much more comfortable shift. Gloves can protect hands from cuts and scrapes when handling hardware or boxes.

Providing customers with exceptional customer service may include assisting with gathering and loading large items. Educate staff on proper lifting techniques to avoid injuries while lifting and moving these items.

Bend at the knees rather than the waist when lifting a heavy object to prevent back injuries. Stretching at the start of a shift helps minimize risk of injury. Managers should offer guidance whenever an improper lifting method is witnessed.

Encourage a team effort whenever an item is too heavy for one person to lift. Use lifting devices such as a pallet jack or dolly when possible. Carts can also make moving heavy items much easier and quicker.

Safety guidelines for larger equipment, such as forklifts, should always be posted and followed.

Other potential hazards may occur at any time. Establish a staff committee dedicated to garden center safety. This team of employees and managers should hold meetings regularly to discuss any safety issues and needs.

A Hortica® agent may be able to analyze your workplace environment and help you create a customized safety program for your garden center. For more information, visit www.hortica.com or contact a Hortica® insurance agent.

Hortica® property and casualty coverages are underwritten, and loss control services are provided, by Florists’ Mutual Insurance Company and Florists’ Insurance Company, members of the Sentry Insurance Group. For more information, visit hortica.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details.

This document is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. No one should act on the information contained in this document without advice from a local professional with relevant expertise.