On Black Friday 2008, a Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death underneath the onslaught of some 2,000 rabid shoppers as he opened the front door, and since then the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued guidelines to help retailers and other store owners to create a safe environment for workers and shoppers alike.
In anticipation of the upcoming Black Friday on Nov. 23, OSHA has issued a Fact Sheet containing specific guidelines for safety. Some of the guidelines include hiring additional staff, containing crowds by roping off ingress, setting up barricades to prevent onrushing crowds, and positioning staff to the side of any entrance.
“Crowd control and proper planning are critical to preventing injuries and deaths,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “OSHA urges retailers to adopt a crowd management plan during the holiday shopping season that includes a few simple guidelines.”