COVID-19: SDA 10 Point Health & Safety Plan

May 19, 2020 News

SDA calls for ALL retailers to put 10 health & safety measures in place to protect you

Your safety must come first. Your health must not be put at risk during this time.

The SDA is engaging major companies on arrangements being put in place to keep workers safe during the pandemic.

On top of measures already introduced the SDA is calling for retailers to:

  1. Promote ‘cash free’ and accept card payments.
  2. Install plexiglass screens at cash registers to protect workers who cannot keep at least 1.5 metres from customers.
  3. Ensure social distancing measures are in place and enforced including display of signage, floor markings, register use and the regulation of customer numbers.
  4. Ensure hand sanitiser approved by the Health Department is readily available to all staff. (Current standards require at least 60% alcohol content)
  5. Provide workers with gloves and personal face shields where requested.
  6. Provide bags free of charge for each purchase to avoid handling of customer bags. No use of customers’ used bags unless the customer bags it themselves.
  7. Continue to increase security to assist in enforcing social distancing, customer volumes, purchase limits, access limits and in dealing with unreasonable customers. Police resources may also need to be deployed to protect workers.
  8. Ensure regular cleaning and sanitization of the workplace, including workstations, personal protective equipment and individual vests in self-serve checkout areas.
  9. Take a zero-tolerance approach to customer violence and abuse.
  10. Publicly promote the SDA’s No One Deserve A Serve campaign to improve customer behaviour.

We continue to call on the community to show all retail workers the respect they deserve during this time, there is no excuse for abuse and violence. If you experience an abuse or violence from a customer, report it.

You can also help by sharing our No One Deserves A Serve Community Service Announcement calling on customers to be patient and respectful.

Keep up to date with information at www.national.sda.com.au/coronavirus.