Safety Precautions in Supermarkets: Minimising Hazards and Risks in Shopping Trolleys

June 14, 2020

The invention of shopping trolleys has significantly changed the way consumers shop in supermarkets. Shopping trolleys allow shoppers and consumers to get and carry all their needed items before paying for them on cashier checkout counters. While these trolleys have assisted a lot of shoppers in buying and purchasing products, there are instances where these helpful things have caused serious accidents.

You see, shopping trolleys are designed to be conveniently manoeuvred and controlled by adults. There are specific shopping trolley designs, however, that are not favourable towards children, elderly, or people with physical disabilities. And even these people do not necessarily use these trolleys, the very presence of shopping trolleys around them can already pose a great threat and danger.

Damaged Trolleys Can Cause Concerns

During the past few years, shopping trolleys have caused numerous incidents that revolve around injuries obtained by young children. Most of the cases involve children falling out of the trolleys. Alternatively, some of the accidents caused by shopping trolleys have to do with missing or broken restraints, faulty wheels, lack of safety features like recessed seat and safety belt, and many more. All the problems mentioned tell us one thing: damaged trolley can truly cause hazards and risks.

Adding to the concern of damaged trolleys is the lack of cleaning and maintenance. Without effective cleaning and sanitation, these trolleys can cause the spread of diseases and germs to consumers who will be using them. And as time passes by, even your most expensive shopping trolleys will deteriorate in quality if you do not practice proper cleaning and maintenance.

Shopping Trolley Maintenance is a Must

Maintenance is perhaps one of the most overlooked processes in obtaining shopping trolleys in supermarkets. There are several supermarket owners who just simply ignore the importance of maintaining their shopping trolleys altogether, which can be a contributing factor for losing more and more shoppers each day. A functional set of shopping trolleys does not necessarily mean that they are still in great condition. You will never know how long until they start to cause injuries around your supermarket.

In maintaining your shopping trolleys, it would be important for you to regularly check all their parts and components. You may want to ask some of your personnel to conduct regular check-ups on the components to see if you need to replace some parts of your trolley. Alternatively, calling in professionals is also a viable option if you want them to conduct thorough assessment and maintenance works.

Cleaning and Disinfection is Crucial Too

One more thing that you should do for your shopping trolleys is to clean and disinfect them. Regular supermarket operations entail the continuous usage of your shopping trolleys. If you have a limited number of shopping trolleys, then chances are that they are used and touched by different people at short intervals. Not all shoppers practice proper hygiene, and so you have the responsibility to clean your shopping trolleys and remove all germs and bacteria that may be present on them.

Cleaning and disinfecting shopping trolleys can be done by wiping the handles and the surfaces of the shopping trolleys with sanitary wipes. Before you return a used trolley to its designated place, your personnel must sanitise it with wipes to get rid of bacteria and other harmful microbes. Washing your shopping trolleys with alkaline detergent and quaternary ammonium can also be done to eliminate the same harmful elements. 

From maintenance to disinfection, it is important for shopping trolleys to undergo these processes for them to properly function without causing injuries and harm to your shoppers. If you want more information about this matter, just contact us at SOS Retail Sales.

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]