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Workplace violence continues to be a threat across the retail industry where direct customer interaction is central to operations. The United States relies on retail as its foundational economic sector and employs approximately one-quarter of its workforce members. The nature of retail work often exposes employees to dangerous and threatening situations.
The rising violence in retail workplaces has prompted the U.S. government and tech innovators to develop improved worker safety solutions. The Internet of Things (IoT) stands out for its ability to provide retailers with enhanced visibility and real-time emergency management. This post explores the current retail workplace state in the USA and discovers how government policies combined with IoT solutions are driving meaningful changes.
Common hazards and injuries for retail workers
Retail staff work is a very physically demanding job that can involve a wide range of tasks including, stocking shelves, operating cash registers, lifting heavy boxes, and arranging merchandise displays. Retail staff is subject to lifting boxes that can sometimes weigh more than 50 pounds while daily standing and reaching can expose health risks with repetitive motions. As a result, retail employment can lead to various injuries and safety hazards, including:
- Slips and falls: Slip-and-fall accidents through sliding occur due to wet surfaces.
- Physical strain: Prolonged standing with repeated movements leads to musculoskeletal problems.
- Equipment injuries: Operating box cutters and pallet jacks can cause employees to cuts, crashes, and falls.
- Stress: Heavy workload and difficult customers cause occupational stress.
- Muscle Injuries: Repetitive movements of lifting, reaching, bending, etc. of retail work can tear muscles and tendons.
- Harassment and violence: Workers face increasing threats of physical assaults, active shooters, thefts, and robbery: Nearly 60% of workers have faced verbal threats or intimidating behavior while at work, according to a recent report about the American retail wroker safety by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union(RWDSU).
These security risks simultaneously endanger employees in their current work shifts while building hostile working conditions that harm employee mental and physical health. The subject of enhancing retail operations and store safety has become crucial in the USA today.
Retail worker safety legislation and ordinances
In some states of the USA, legislative laws has been proposed to help protect retail workers against harassment and assaults. Last September, the New York State government passed the Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA) [S. 8358B/A. 8947C] to provide critical safety protections for retail workers. Retailers with ten or more employees are now required to implement a series of comprehensive measures including workplace violence prevention policy employment, necessary emergency training, etc.
Most provisions within the RWSA will take effect this March. Notably, the act also mandates that all retail employers with more than 500 employees provide their staff with accessible panic buttons by 2027. This step will be crucial in ensuring that retail workers have immediate access to help in dangerous situations. When security devices are activated, the staff member or security manager can respond instantly to the workers’ location.
IoT panic buttons: the safety solution for the retail industry
In response to the RWSA, employers are turning to invest in new, more effective technologies to enhance employee safety. IoT solutions such as Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, and Cellular are emerging as key safety protocols during this transformation. As a leading IoT hardware manufacturer in China, MOKOSmart always prioritizes personnel safety. We offer ideal, affordable and flexible worker safety solutions with various panic buttons and badges.
Indoor Retail Operations
If your stores mainly operate indoors, Bluetooth-enabled IoT solutions are the ideal choice. Typically, you just need to install suitable Bluetooth gateways within the store, and equip your workers with Bluetooth panic buttons or smart badges. We recommend some MOKOSmart employee safety devices here:
- B3 Emergency Button features a prominent, easily accessible trigger button for fixed-point installation
- B2 Smart Badge offers portable protection for mobile staff members
- H3 Pro Button and H5 Pro RFID Badge provide comfortable wearable options
- MKGW3 Indoor PoE Gateway ensures stable data transmission to your chosen management platform
Outdoor and Mixed Environments
For broader coverage areas, LoRaWAN and Cellular connectivity are ideal choices for remote or lone retail workers. The key difference is that LoRaWAN is free to use, while Cellular takes some networking costs. MOKOSmart offers devices designed for these connectivity options:
- LW004 Panic Button, LW006-SB Smart Badge, and LW010 Card Tracker for LoRaWAN connectivity
- PS101-M Smart Badge for direct Cellular network communication
- LoRaWANGateway MKGW2-LW to ensure reliable LoRaWAN connectivity
Meeting RWSA compliance and beyond
With the RWSA set to come into full effect in the near future, some businesses are confusing what their they need to prepare. Retailers seeking to enhance safety practices can start with implementing IoT-enabled safety solutions. It’s one of the easiest and most immediate ways to improve safety. Of course, you need to think a lot when choosing the panic button solutions. Device considerations like scalbility, opeation life, ease of deployment, and more are all necesary.
Some also become suspious and worried that employees will be monitored or recorded. However, MOKOSmart devices are only traceable when triggered.
By leveraging advanced IoT technology, MOKOSmart is helping create a safer, more secure workplace. MOKOSmart is ready to support retail employers in complying with this new law and maximizing the protection of their employees’ well-being.
Ready to enhance your retail worker safety?
MOKOSMART’s range of IoT safety devices allows retailers to establish safe environments that meet current regulations through necessary security devices. Our combined effort can build safer shopping areas while providing complete workplace security for all employees. Reach out to MOKOSMART today for full information about safety solutions that utilize IoT technology to safeguard retail employees!
