OSHA Provides Guidelines For Holiday Retailers

With the holiday season upon us, retailers are offering big deals to bring enormous crowds through their doors this year. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has rolled out a list of guidelines for retailers to follow as they accommodate these mobs of shoppers, which have been known to turn angry and violent as the on-sale items disappear.

Are these guidelines enforceable?

Although these guidelines are not directly enforceable by OSHA with fines they could be used in the event an employee or customer goes forward with a lawsuit. In the event of a lawsuit, these guidelines will be used as a point of reference.

Retailers have a duty to provide a safe working environment for their workers as well as a safe shopping environment for their customers. The guidelines were rolled out to ensure the safety of those working and shopping this holiday season.

What do retailers think?

Many retailers are welcoming the guidelines with open arms. Many of them are already following such guidelines and the guidelines actually help retailers avoid liability if they can show they are in fact following the guidelines.