Millions of people, including you and me, shop at mercantile establish- ments daily. Each time we do, we may be subjected to potential safety hazards that could cause significant bodily injury. Just as workplace safety hazards can be addressed using sound managerial policies, such as documented safety guidelines addressing safety hazards, specific remedial measures, inspection and training parameters, safety hazards presented to customers by mercantile establishments may be addressed by similar managerial policies. Most of these hazards are predictable; therefore, safety guidelines may be developed to address most causes of customer incidents. However, without specific documented procedures and guidelines to tell those involved what is expected of them, store safety will only be as effective as the breadth of knowledge of the last inspector, who may be untrained or new to the job. Without industry-wide safety standardization, each mercantile establishment or chain must develop and contribute to the standard of care in the industry. Our customers are our greatest assets. Let's keep them safe.
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