Managing a shop requires so much more than organising staff and selling to clients. Today’s health and safety regulations means that store manager must muddle through this complicated maze of requirements or face penalties and fines. A comprehensive retail maintenance plan can combine monthly and annual checks that ensure the safety of both staff and customer.
As a company, we are heavily involved in ensuring that brands are on top of these checks and paperwork, as many of them have yearly external audits. For shops located within a shopping centre or department stores such as Harrods; additional rules and regulations apply. It is crucial for brands to promote a positive health and safety culture, ensuring that all employers understand their responsibilities to their staff and customers.
Emergency lighting is a legal requirement in shops, with five legislations and regulations covering it. Unfortunately, it is often neglected by shops and maintenance companies as the details on how to test it is frequently missed out with changes in management. The lighting itself comes in two different types; maintained and non-maintained lighting. Maintained lighting can be a general light such as a spotlight on a shop floor that is fitted with a battery pack, when a power failure occurs the battery powers the light. Meaning that the light to be used every day as part of shop floor, allowing the lighting to flow with the store décor whilst keeping within the regulations. A non-maintained emergency light is one we are all more familiar with, these are normally used back of house stores or along exit routes. These lights only become active in the event of a power failure and do not make up part of the day to day lighting. Testing of the back-up batteries is a must, with monthly three-hour check to confirm that the lights have a source of power.
Portable appliance testing is something we all know about unwittingly, those little green stickers you sometimes see on plugs. This routine inspection should include both a visual inspection and a more in-depth check using specialist PAT testing equipment. This test includes earth continuity, lead polarity, and insulation resistance checks. Although there are no laws regarding frequency of testing, recommendations have been made and are generally followed. In locations such as shops, the following should be adhered to; stationery and IT equipment should be tested every 48 months. Moveable equipment such as extension leads and portable equipment should be tested every 24 months. Handheld equipment should be tested every 12 months.
UK fire safety legislation states that businesses must provide “appropriate fire-fighting equipment” for their premises. From shops the minimum requirement for this would-be fire extinguishers, but this could also be supplemented with sprinklers or hose reels. To stay legal, fire extinguishers must undergo an annual maintenance service and be certified to industry standard. As they only have a lifespan of around 10 years, it is crucial to stay on top of the paperwork and maintenance, to ensure they work correctly is needed.
