The workers in grocery stores and various retail shops encounter many customers each day. Therefore, they are at risk of encountering customers who may have COVID-19. Also, it is possible co-workers may have the virus. These employees may have close contact for prolonged periods of time. They may touch their nose, mouth, or eyes after handling items, cash, or merchandise that customers with COVID-19 have touched. Therefore, it is important steps be taken to protect workers. Please see the safety tips below.
- Employees feeling sick should stay home
- Customers feeling sick should not enter the store
- Limit close contact with others (6 feet social distancing)
- Remind customers and employees of social distancing, cough and sneeze etiquette, good hand hygiene, and staying home when sick
- Signage
- Verbal announcements over the loudspeaker
- Wear facemasks
- Employees
- Customers
- Wear disposable gloves
- Encourage customers to use touchless payment options
- Minimize handling cash, credit cards, reward cards, and mobile devices
- When handling paper and coin money
- Do not touch your face, nose, or mouth afterward
- Ask customers to place cash on the counter, not in your hand
- Place change on the counter, not the customer’s hand
- Disinfect the counter between each customer at checkout
- Provide disinfectant wipes, cleaner, or spray to employees
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces
- Workstations
- Cash registers
- Payment terminals
- Door handles
- Shelving
- Displays
- Reach-in refrigerator units
- Tables
- Countertops
- Break rooms
- Restrooms
- Common areas
- Shopping carts and baskets
- Wash hands frequently
- Use soap and running water
- Wash hands for a least 20 seconds
- Scrub between fingers and under nailbeds
- Use a 60% alcohol hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available
- Wash before and after work shifts
- Wash periodically during work shifts
- Wash before and after breaks
- Wash after touching money or objects that have been handled by customers
- Avoid contact with body fluids
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth
- Provide hand washing areas and hand sanitizer for customers and employees
- Implement methods to separate and increase the distance between employees, coworkers, and customers
- Install barriers with a small opening at the bottom in checkout lanes to pass items and payments
- Open only every other check-out lane
- Place credit card readers farther away from the cashier if possible
- Mark floors every six feet to show customers where to stand during check out
- Conduct restocking after hours or during off-peak hours
- Arrange chairs and tables in break areas to allow for 6 feet of social distancing
- Offer remote shopping options for customers
- Set up designated pick-up areas for on-line shopping customers
- Control the number of customers in the store
- Provide no touch trash receptacles
- Develop a COVID-19 response plan
- Provide employees with information and educate them on the COVID-19 response plan
- Implement flexible worksites for office staff where possible
- Limit travel/visits for employees that work between multiple store locations
- Consider reducing hours of operation for more frequent deep cleans
KEMI does not assume liability for the content of information contained herein. Safety and health remain your responsibility. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and not intended to be exhaustive or a substitute for proper training, supervision or manufacturers’ instructions/recommendations. KEMI, by publication of this information, does not assume liability for damage or injury arising from reliance upon it. Compliance with this information is not a guarantee or warranty that you will be in conformity with any laws or regulations nor does it ensure the absolute safety of any person, place or object, including, but not limited to, you, your occupation, employees, customers or place of business.
