Falling Merchandise
Large Warehouse superstore retailers are located in Florida and throughout the United States. Leading Superstore retailers include, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, BJ’s, Lowes, Sam's Club, Costco, and many more. They have all enjoyed success with using the somewhat low frills, cost savings large warehouse superstore model. However, their concept of stocking merchandise on high shelves has led to thousands of injuries to customers and employees, not aware of the risk and imminent danger of falling merchandise from highly stacked shelves in warehouse superstores.
National reports found several common practices that led to customer injuries from falling merchandise in warehouse superstores. Some of the more common practices include employees negligently knocking or dropping merchandise off shelves, employees improperly stacking merchandise on shelves, and customers improperly putting merchandise back on the shelves, in an attempt to be helpful. All of the above examples can contribute to injuries ranging from mild to severe injuries in unsuspecting customers and sometimes workers.
Consumer advocates, pose the question: Is it the duty of warehouse superstore retailers to provide a safe environment and take precautions to prevent falling merchandise from injuring their customers? Inspections from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will only occur in a store, if there is an accident or injury that involves a store employee. Who looks out for the unsuspecting consumer’s safety while shopping in superstore retail locations? Consumer advocates are lobbying mandatory safety nets and rail systems in warehouse superstores to help prevent falling merchandise from injuring customers.
The Holiday rush, October thru January, usually has the most in store accidents, due to the retailers trying to accommodate the very profitable consumer holiday rush. Statistics indicate that most accidents occur between October and January, when additional merchandise is stacked in anticipation of the holiday rush. Reports have been made that over 100 falling merchandise complaints are made weekly at the warehouse retailer, Home Depot. Surprisingly, the mega giant, Wal-Mart reportedly tracked nearly 17,000 falling merchandise complaints from the years 1989 and 1994.
The superstore retailers should have all of the safety, precautions at their disposal to prevent falling merchandise accidents from happening. Unfortunately, there are negligent and sometimes-careless superstore retailers that may not have a safety policy in place or may not properly communicate the retailer’s safety policy throughout all of their locations.
National reports found several common practices that led to customer injuries from falling merchandise in warehouse superstores. Some of the more common practices include employees negligently knocking or dropping merchandise off shelves, employees improperly stacking merchandise on shelves, and customers improperly putting merchandise back on the shelves, in an attempt to be helpful. All of the above examples can contribute to injuries ranging from mild to severe injuries in unsuspecting customers and sometimes workers.
Consumer advocates, pose the question: Is it the duty of warehouse superstore retailers to provide a safe environment and take precautions to prevent falling merchandise from injuring their customers? Inspections from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will only occur in a store, if there is an accident or injury that involves a store employee. Who looks out for the unsuspecting consumer’s safety while shopping in superstore retail locations? Consumer advocates are lobbying mandatory safety nets and rail systems in warehouse superstores to help prevent falling merchandise from injuring customers.
The Holiday rush, October thru January, usually has the most in store accidents, due to the retailers trying to accommodate the very profitable consumer holiday rush. Statistics indicate that most accidents occur between October and January, when additional merchandise is stacked in anticipation of the holiday rush. Reports have been made that over 100 falling merchandise complaints are made weekly at the warehouse retailer, Home Depot. Surprisingly, the mega giant, Wal-Mart reportedly tracked nearly 17,000 falling merchandise complaints from the years 1989 and 1994.
The superstore retailers should have all of the safety, precautions at their disposal to prevent falling merchandise accidents from happening. Unfortunately, there are negligent and sometimes-careless superstore retailers that may not have a safety policy in place or may not properly communicate the retailer’s safety policy throughout all of their locations.