It is too crowded in the shops and the traders do too little to minimize infection, it appears from a survey that the trade union Handels has done among the union’s safety representatives.
Just during the first days of the Black Week sales period, which ends with Black Friday tomorrow, congestion talks have doubled.
– There are many who testify that it has increased again in the stores. I think it is precisely that we are in a period right now that is normally high season for the stores. And it will turn out that this is the big challenge we now have in front of us, says trade union chairman Linda Palmetzhofer.
In early October The trade union sent out a survey to almost 3,000 safety representatives around the country, about how they have experienced the work environment during the pandemic. And it shows several shortcomings when it comes to measures against covid-19.
According to the more than 900 safety representatives who have responded, it appears that every third store in the retail trade has not made a risk assessment of the risk of employees or customers being infected with corona.
In cases where risk assessments If the deficiencies are not always remedied, according to the union’s safety representative. It ranges from employers not offering mouth guards and gloves to the lack of congestion hosts in two out of three stores.
– Here we see almost straight across that it is bad, really bad. There are a lot of shortcomings. On the other hand, we see that companies are still somehow stepping up now that alarms and signals are coming in about increased infection. So it has gotten better, but just when it comes to examining the work environment and making so-called risk assessments, that is where it is lacking, says Mikael Willman, regional safety representative in Malmö.
Many safety representatives think that there are too many customers in the stores and that it is difficult to keep distance from customers when, for example, self-scanning. Several safety representatives believe that coercive measures are required for employers to reduce customer flow.
– How do you think the customer should take this responsibility? So that’s why I think this has to happen through a job where the employer organizes how this should go, says Handels chairman Linda Palmetzhofer.
But Swedish Trade means that you do what you can.
– This is not negotiable, but this must be done and employees and safety representatives must be involved in this work. And even if it happens in a clear majority of cases, there is of course a potential for improvement until everyone does it, says Mats Hedenström, business policy manager for the industry association.
He adds:
– We will probably need to put a stop to letting people into the stores. It is in the interest of all parties that this works. And it is clear that we also need to have a good interaction with our customers so that there is an understanding that this Christmas shopping will be a little different, we must help each other to make this happen in a safe and good way.