Grocery shopping

The checklist contains questions about how the premises and workplaces are designed in the grocery trade. It begins with some general subject areas and then follows the path of the product and some common workspaces. The checklist is suitable for use during an overall safety inspection. For more targeted safety rounds, we refer to our in-depth subject checklists.

Area/location

Date

Approved by

Participants

Area/location

Date

Approved by

Participants

Questions

AFS 2023:1 §11

AFS 2023:10 2§5

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

AFS 2023:11 3§14

Yes No Not applicable

AFS 2023:11 3§10

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

AFS 2023:10 7§6

Yes No Not applicable

AFS 2023:10 7§4

AFS 2023:10 7§7

AFS 2023:10 7§23

Yes No Not applicable

AFS 2023:10 7§30

AFS 2023:10 7§31

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

AFS 2023:10 6§6

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

AFS 2023:10 6§7

Yes No Not applicable

AFS 2023:10 6§8

Yes No Not applicable

AFS 2023:10 6§8

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

AFS 2023:12 3§69

Yes No Not applicable

Questions

AFS 2023:10 7§4

AFS 2023:10 7§23

Yes No Not applicable

AFS 2023:1 §10

AFS 2023:11 2§12

Yes No Not applicable

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is the general lighting sufficient in the premises?
2. Are the lighting fixtures cleaned and intact?
3. Is there dazzling lighting?
4. Is there on-site lighting for those employees (e.g. the elderly) who feel that the lighting in the work area is insufficient?

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Is there any disturbing noise?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is the temperature satisfactory in the workplace?
2. Are there drafts from entrances, windows, and gates?
3. Is the ventilation working satisfactorily in all spaces?
4. Is the mandatory ventilation control (OVK) carried out at the intervals that apply to ventilation systems?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is the need for terminal glasses regularly checked?
2. Is the monitor easy to read?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is there a list of all chemical risk sources?
2. Are safety data sheets available for all hazardous chemical products?
3. Are chemical products stored safely?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is it clear how the responsibility for coordinating work environment issues is fulfilled towards the transport companies?
2. Are there rules for how drivers can borrow a forklift truck when unloading?
3. Does the loading dock have a roof that protects against precipitation and snowfall?
4. Are stacked and stored goods arranged in a way that prevents them from collapsing?
5. Are there lifting aids or carts for loading, unloading, or transporting?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Are all forklift drivers trained and authorized by the employer to operate forklifts?
2. Do employees who operate forklifts and those who work in connection with forklifts use safety shoes?
3. Is the visibility from the trucks satisfactory even when transporting large undertakings?
4. Is forklift driving around corners safe from an accident point of view?
5. Is the forklift driver exposed to vibrations, for example, due to uneven floors?
6. Is there a battery charging station or room for the trucks?
7. Are eye protection used when working with batteries?
8. Are there functioning eyewash equipment and routines for testing and maintenance?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Are the goods correctly positioned in terms of picking frequency and weight?
2. Can promotional items and high-volume items be placed in the store without reloading in the warehouse?
3. Do pallet pullers need to be used?
4. Are the lifting aids easy to move close to shelves, etc.?
5. Are pallet racks, shelves, etc., regularly checked to ensure they are stable, intact, and not overloaded?
6. Are pallet racks marked with maximum load?
7. Are the support beams secured with snag protection?
8. Are there post protectors on the gables in case of a collision risk?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Have the staff received sufficient instruction on working methods, measures, and clothing to protect against the cold?
2. Are suitable clothes, gloves, etc. available and used for work in freezer cabinets?
3. Are there routines for keeping the floor clean and non-slip in cold and freezer rooms?
4. Can the door to the freezer room be opened from the inside?
5. Is there a distress signal in the freezer room and can it be heard in a manned place?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Are there sufficiently wide aisles for work and transport?
2. Are there suitable trolleys or similar equipment for replenishing goods?
3. Are heavy goods placed at the appropriate working height?
4. Are the right technology and tools used when opening packages?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. What are the steps?
a) Is everything in good condition?
b) Is the right type of anti-slip protection against the ground provided?
c) Has the type been checked?
2. Is a leaning ladder longer than 5 m or another free-standing ladder higher than 3 m braced or anchored when in use?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Has the lifting device been inspected, and is there an inspection certificate?
2. Is the lifting device being maintained?
3. Has a risk assessment been conducted prior to the use of the lifting device and lifting equipment?
4. Has the employee who will use the lifting device obtained the employer's permission?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is there enough space in the work area for appropriate work movements?
2. Work movements occur.
a) With your arms above shoulder height?
b) Below knee height?
c) Does this involve bending or twisting movements for the hand and forearm?
d) Feeling stressed due to time pressure?
e) Are they repeated for an extended period of time?
3. Does any employee perform hand-intensive work for more than 4 hours in total?
a) Hand-intensive work may involve a risk of injury to the neck, shoulder, arm or hand (according to the risk assessment).
4. Are working heights adapted to the employee's body size and the task at hand?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is it possible to manually lift and/or carry heavy loads?
a) Are only occasional lifts performed?
b) Is the load easy to grip?
c) Is the load lifted and carried close to the body?
d) Is the lift performed without bending your back and twisting your torso?
e) Are lifting aids used?
f) Is the correct working technique used in manual handling?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Are there repetitive, highly controlled, or bound tasks?
2. Can the employee influence the structure and implementation of the task?
3. Can the employee leave the workplace for short periods of time without disrupting service or production?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. The machinery is equipped with the prescribed protection and, where applicable, undervoltage protection (protection against accidental restart, e.g. in the event of a power failure).
a) Meat band saw?
b) Cutting machine? -> Cutting machine?
c) Meat grinder?
d) Meat processor? -> Meat processing?
e) Grill?
f) Microwave oven?
g) Other machines?
2. Have the staff received training and information about the risks of the machines?
3. Are there maintenance routines for the machines?
4. Are there routines for changing filters at the grill?
5. Are there functioning fire extinguishers at the barbecue, and do the staff know how to use them?
6. Are the necessary protective equipment available when using chemical substances for cleaning barbecues and other machines?
7. Is the noise from the machines used in the charcuterie bothersome?
8. Are there warning notices at the machines?
9. Are knives and other utensils (bwe) involved?
a) Is it functioning well?
b) Is it ergonomically well-designed?
c) Is the storage appropriate and in a suitable location?
d) Is it well maintained?
10. Can you work with machines at a suitable working height?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Have the staff been trained in work techniques?
2. Is there a schedule for cash work and switching to other tasks?
3. Are there alarms to call for quick help?
4. Are customers informed that they can facilitate the checkout work by placing the goods on the belt with a code against the code reader?
5. For individual adaptation of the checkout workplace.
a) Is there free legroom available?
b) Is there a height-adjustable footrest available if needed?
c) Can the cash register work be done while standing?
d) Can the chair be moved away when working while standing at the checkout?
e) Can the seat and backrest of the chair be easily adjusted?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Does the store comply with the robbery prevention program in the retail sector, or is there similar security measures in place?
2. Have the staff received safety training, e.g. through Safe in Store?

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Are there well-functioning cleaning routines?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Have the workers been provided with knowledge (about chemical and microbiological risks) and information and instructions for the management of waste and sorted waste?
2. Are there instructions for the safe use of compactors?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Is there systematic fire protection work?
2. Is there a fire safety officer?
3. Are the escape routes:
a) Chosen?
b) Marked with signs that are visible even when it is dark?
c) Free (unblocked)?
d) Can it be opened without a key?
e) At least two in number and independently of each other?
4. Are there evacuation alarms that warn everyone in the premises?
5. Is there a permit for the storage and handling of flammable goods?
6. Have the responsible individuals completed the online training course for flammable goods?
7. Has the online training "Fire in the Commerce" been completed by the employees?
8. Is evacuation practiced?

Grocery shopping

General information about the checklist

Lighting (1-4)

Is the general lighting sufficient in the premises?

Are the lighting fixtures cleaned and intact?

Is there dazzling lighting?

Is there on-site lighting for those employees (e.g. the elderly) who feel that the lighting in the work area is insufficient?

Noise (5-5)

Is there any disturbing noise?

Air, temperature, and ventilation (6-9)

Is the temperature satisfactory in the workplace?

Are there drafts from entrances, windows, and gates?

Is the ventilation working satisfactorily in all spaces?

Is the mandatory ventilation control (OVK) carried out at the intervals that apply to ventilation systems?

Work with computer screens (10-11)

Is the need for terminal glasses regularly checked?

Is the monitor easy to read?

Chemical risk sources (12-14)

Is there a list of all chemical risk sources?

Are safety data sheets available for all hazardous chemical products?

Are chemical products stored safely?

Goods reception (15-19)

Is it clear how the responsibility for coordinating work environment issues is fulfilled towards the transport companies?

Are there rules for how drivers can borrow a forklift truck when unloading?

Does the loading dock have a roof that protects against precipitation and snowfall?

Are stacked and stored goods arranged in a way that prevents them from collapsing?

Are there lifting aids or carts for loading, unloading, or transporting?

Forklifts (20-27)

Are all forklift drivers trained and authorized by the employer to operate forklifts?

Do employees who operate forklifts and those who work in connection with forklifts use safety shoes?

Is the visibility from the trucks satisfactory even when transporting large undertakings?

Is forklift driving around corners safe from an accident point of view?

Is the forklift driver exposed to vibrations, for example, due to uneven floors?

Is there a battery charging station or room for the trucks?

Are eye protection used when working with batteries?

Are there functioning eyewash equipment and routines for testing and maintenance?

Layer (28-35)

Are the goods correctly positioned in terms of picking frequency and weight?

Can promotional items and high-volume items be placed in the store without reloading in the warehouse?

Do pallet pullers need to be used?

Are the lifting aids easy to move close to shelves, etc.?

Are pallet racks, shelves, etc., regularly checked to ensure they are stable, intact, and not overloaded?

Are pallet racks marked with maximum load?

Are the support beams secured with snag protection?

Are there post protectors on the gables in case of a collision risk?

Freezer room (36-40)

Have the staff received sufficient instruction on working methods, measures, and clothing to protect against the cold?

Are suitable clothes, gloves, etc. available and used for work in freezer cabinets?

Are there routines for keeping the floor clean and non-slip in cold and freezer rooms?

Can the door to the freezer room be opened from the inside?

Is there a distress signal in the freezer room and can it be heard in a manned place?

Replenishment (41-44)

Are there sufficiently wide aisles for work and transport?

Are there suitable trolleys or similar equipment for replenishing goods?

Are heavy goods placed at the appropriate working height?

Are the right technology and tools used when opening packages?

Ladders (45-46)

What are the steps?

a) Is everything in good condition?

b) Is the right type of anti-slip protection against the ground provided?

c) Has the type been checked?

Is a leaning ladder longer than 5 m or another free-standing ladder higher than 3 m braced or anchored when in use?

Lifting devices (47-50)

Has the lifting device been inspected, and is there an inspection certificate?

Is the lifting device being maintained?

Has a risk assessment been conducted prior to the use of the lifting device and lifting equipment?

Has the employee who will use the lifting device obtained the employer's permission?

Manual handling (51-54)

Is there enough space in the work area for appropriate work movements?

Work movements occur.

a) With your arms above shoulder height?

b) Below knee height?

c) Does this involve bending or twisting movements for the hand and forearm?

d) Feeling stressed due to time pressure?

e) Are they repeated for an extended period of time?

Does any employee perform hand-intensive work for more than 4 hours in total?

Are working heights adapted to the employee's body size and the task at hand?

Manual lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy loads. (55-55)

Is it possible to manually lift and/or carry heavy loads?

Repetitive, highly directed or bound work. (56-58)