By Kristine Catimbang, OSHAcademy Training Coordinator

Grocery store workers are among the essential workers who work constantly to help make sure people across the country can put food on their tables. Grocery store workers are constantly exposed in the workplace by having close contact with their colleagues and customers, and handling cash, items, and merchandise that customers have touched. As studies have shown, some individuals may test positive for COVID-19 but might not have any symptoms. Without getting tested, individuals can be unaware that they are carrying and spreading the virus to others.

The stories we see on the news about COVID-19 cases among essential workers typically focuses on healthcare workers. It is not very common to hear about the prevalence of cases among other groups of essential workers. A recent study was conducted on the workers at one grocery store to collect data on the health of other essential workers during the pandemic. Out of the 104 workers at this one grocery store, 21 of the workers tested positive for the virus (BMJ, 2020). This shows that there was about a 20% prevalence at the time the study was conducted. About three out of four of those who tested positive did not have any symptoms (Drillinger, 2020). Most of the workers who tested positive also had the most contact with customers. If essential workers become infected, then there is a high risk they will infect the communities they are working to serve. Some grocery store workers, such as cashiers and customer service representatives, are among those who have high exposure to other people. This means they also have the highest risk of catching the virus if people do not adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear masks to protect each other.

What can grocery store workers do to protect themselves at work? (CDC, 2020)

• Stay home if you have any symptoms.
• Inform your supervisor if you have any symptoms.
• Wear disposable face masks or cloth face coverings at all times.
• If possible, encourage the use of touchless payment methods.
• Do not touch your face after handling cash and coins.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• If working at a cash register, clean and disinfect surfaces after each customer.
• Practice proper hand hygiene.
• Wash hands periodically throughout your shift.
• Avoid sitting close to work colleagues in break rooms.

For shoppers, it is important to follow public health guidelines as we know them. As the holidays approach, grocery stores may become busier as people plan their holiday tables. Wearing masks and social distancing in the presence of others who do not live in the same household is critical.

References

BMJ. (October 2020). High rate of symptomless COVID-19 infection among grocery store workers.Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201029191116.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April 2020). What Grocery and Food Retail Workers Need to Know about COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/grocery-food-retail-workers.html

Drillinger, M. (November 2020). Grocery Store Employees Face High Risker of COVID-19, What to Know. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/grocery-store-employees-face-high-risker-of-covid-19-what-to-know

By Jesse Allred, Guest Contributor

Without reporting ‘near misses,’ companies might not realize a serious injury or property damage is just waiting to happen. Also known as close calls, near accidents, near collisions, and injury-free events, these incidents are often precursors to a more serious accident. Reporting and investigating near misses can help prevent future safety concerns and reduce costs associated with workplace injuries. 

What is a Near Miss?

OSHA defines a near miss as an incident where no injury was sustained, but given a slight change in circumstances, an injury or damage to property would have occurred. The National Safety Council says, “A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage—but had the potential to do so.”

A number of events, conditions, or unsafe acts can constitute as a near miss, some examples include:

• a slip that did not result in an injury
• a minor injury that was not severe enough to be an OSHA recordable incident
• a worker’s clothing becoming caught in machinery but tore before the worker was injured
• while working from heights, a worker fell but was caught by their personal fall arrest system
• two forklifts almost colliding at an intersection in the warehouse

These are just a few examples of what could be reported as a near miss. Near miss programs are not legally required in the workplace, but OSHA highly recommends reporting these narrowly avoided incidents to address dangerous conditions that may have been overlooked.  Reporting near misses ensures these incidents are investigated, which help to reduce the likelihood of a serious accident, serious injury, or costly property damage.  

What Happens After a Near Miss?

All near misses should be reported, and it’s important employees feel comfortable doing so. A reported near miss should then trigger an incident investigation. By addressing each incident, your company can effectively minimize the risk of injuries while creating a safer workplace for everyone.

Because near misses don’t usually result in serious consequences or workers fear retribution, they often go unreported. The purpose of an incident investigation is not to find fault or blame with the workers, but rather to identify the underlying root cause that led to the incident.  Concluding an incident was due to an employee doesn’t allow you to make the systematic changes needed to prevent their recurrence.

One way to get to the root of a problem is by using the “5 Whys” method—making a hazard statement and asking “Why?” five times. Most of the time, you will find accidents don’t just happen, but that a number of factors contribute to the incident. Some examples of root causes and possible factors include equipment not being properly maintained, insufficient training for workers, employees equipped with the wrong PPE, lack of safety signs, and incomplete safety procedures.

After the investigation is finished, you can use those results to improve hazard controls and safety systems in your workplace.