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Many front-line retail employees are at risk of violence arising from robberies and assaults, shoplifting, and abusive and difficult customers.
Several factors contribute to this increased risk. In most operations, the public has free and easy access to the store and employees frequently need to deal with people they don't know. In addition, retail businesses typically keep cash on hand, display tempting merchandise, remain open for extended hours, and employ large numbers of young workers.
| How to Prevent Violence |
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Every year, there are many violent incidents in retail. However, there are things you can do to prevent violence.
Source: WorkSafeBC 
* Audio Slideshow |
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| Preventing Violence, Robbery, and Theft: A guide for retail owners, managers, and workers |
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This book describes key risks and how to prevent violent incidents in the workplace. It addresses issues such as shoplifting, robbery, and abusive customers. It also includes information on what to do if an incident occurs in your workplace.
Source: WorkSafeBC
* PDF (1.6 MB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Updated: December 2012
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| Retail Business Safety Tip Tip 1: Working alone |
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This poster can be used by employers as part of training, crew talks, safety meetings, or as part of safety orientation for new workers.
Source: WorkSafeBC
* HTML
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| Retail Business Safety Tip 2: Dealing with shoplifters |
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This poster can be used by employers as part of training, crew talks, safety meetings, or as part of safety orientation for new workers.
Source: WorkSafeBC
* HTML
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| Working Alone: A handbook for small business |
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This handbook is for employers who have employees working alone or in isolation. It explains how to identify and
minimize hazards for those employees and how to regularly check on their well-being.
Source: WorkSafeBC
* PDF
(1.8 MB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Updated: April 15, 2012 |
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| Take Care: How to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention program |
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This guide explains the Regulation section on violence in the workplace, how to conduct a risk assessment, and the basic elements of a violence prevention program. It also provides safe travel tips and sample documents.
Source: WorkSafeBC
* PDF (580 KB)
* Print copies are available for purchase from the WorkSafeBC Store
Updated: April 2012 |
External Resources
The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent violence in the workplace. These resources may not meet all the requirements for health and safety in British Columbia. Please check the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and related materials for specific WorkSafeBC requirements.
A Guide for Employers and Employees on Dealing with Violence at Work
This booklet gives practical advice to help you find out if violence is a problem for your staff and, if it is, how to tackle it. It is aimed at employers but should also interest employees and others.
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Service (New Zealand)
* PDF (153 KB)
What Employees Should Know and Do about Violence at Work
This pamphlet gives practical advice on what to do if violence is a problem to you at work. It discusses various forms of violence at work, including the threat of armed robbery.
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Service (New Zealand)
* PDF (202 KB)
Occupational Violence
Factors that place workers at risk for violence in the workplace include interacting with the public, exchanging money, delivering services or goods, working late at night or during early morning hours, working alone, guarding valuable goods or property, and dealing with violent people or volatile situations.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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Violence in the Workplace: Risk factors and prevention strategies
This document reviews what is known about fatal and nonfatal violence in the workplace to determine the focus needed for prevention and research. The document also summarizes issues to be addressed when dealing with workplace violence in various settings such as offices, factories, warehouses, hospitals, convenience stores, and taxicabs.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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Violence in the Workplace
Uses a question-and-answer format to explain work-related factors that increase the risk of violence, how to determine whether a workplace is at risk, and how to prevent violence in the workplace.
Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
* HTML
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