Hazards Caused by Unmaintained and Unsanitised Shopping Baskets and Trolleys

July 15, 2020

Shopping baskets and trolleys are essential parts of stores and supermarkets. They assist customers in carrying items that will be purchased and paid on checkout counters. As for store and supermarket owners, the presence of these helpful shopping tools allows them to earn a profit since customers are free to get all their needed items and products without any restrictions and limitations.

All the advantages of shopping baskets and trolleys can help both customers and business owners. However, for them to be fully useable, they must be subjected to regular cleaning and maintenance. The continuous use of unmaintained and unsanitised shopping tools can cause numerous hazards and injuries, which can put the health of a lot of shoppers at risk. Moreover, it can also negatively change the way customers perceive the store or supermarket.

If you are currently running a store or a supermarket, you must fully know and understand the hazards of using unmaintained and unsanitised shopping baskets and trolleys.

Broken Components

Most stores and supermarkets maintain their shopping baskets and trolleys on a regular basis. Some similar businesses, however, do not consider repairs and maintenance seriously. Following the same footsteps with the latter can lead you to numerous incidents that revolve around injuries obtained by shoppers, especially with young children and the elderly. Shopping trolleys that have missing or broken restraints and faulty wheels can cause children to fall out of the trolleys and subsequently bumping their heads on the ground. Placing heavy products inside a shopping basket with hidden damages like broken handles or cracks can also cause foot injuries if ever the products suddenly plummet to the ground. 

Unclean Surfaces

When a shopping basket or trolley is left by a customer, the store or supermarket must wipe it clean first before returning it to the designated location. Unfortunately, some establishments still do not clean them. Even the sanitation and disinfection of these things are skipped entirely. Without cleaning the surfaces, these shopping tools can easily deteriorate and obtain permanent damages. Moreover, the lack of any disinfection and sanitation can easily convert these shopping tools as the breeding ground for germs and viruses. And as customers use the same infected shopping trolley or basket in a short time, most of them might get sick after a few hours or days, all because of an unclean and unsanitary surface.

The hazards of getting injuries or illnesses from using unmaintained and unsanitised shopping baskets and trolleys can all be prevented with proper cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance. Given the current pandemic situation, shopping baskets and trolleys must be cleaned and disinfected every time a customer leaves it after purchases. Deep cleaning and disinfection must also be done after operating hours to ensure any germs and viruses are eliminated. Maintenance of these shopping tools must also be done regularly to quickly repair faulty parts or replace missing parts.

If you need help with the cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance of shopping baskets and trolleys, then let us know at SOS Retail Sales. We are a national provider of onsite repairs and maintenance to retail equipment, specialising in shopping trolleys, ladders, flatbed trolleys, and material handling equipment. Our team of trained maintenance technicians operate out of all the major capital cities and cover all metropolitan, regional, and remote areas in Australia.

Head Office VIC

SOS Retail Sales
16 Brett Drive, Carrum Downs Vic 3201
Ph: 1300 131 383
Fax: 03 9775 0733

NSW Office

SOS Maintenance Services Pty Ltd
1/6 Smoothy Place, Arndell Park NSW 2148
Ph: 1300 131 383

Email: [email protected]