WNYCOSH Guidance for Cashiers in Retail Establishments During COVID-19 Outbreak

Grocery stores and supermarkets have been designated as essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date cashiers have seen little in the way of job or workstation redesign to protect them from the virus. The Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health (WNYCOSH) is releasing the following guidance to improve working conditions for these frontline workers while at the same time reducing the risk of community spread. WNYCOSH would like to recognize that Wegmans’ has already implemented our first recommendation for businesses across all of their stores. It is incumbent that these changes be made to reduce the risks of community spread and worker exposure.

For Businesses:

1.  Install floor markings to require customers to stand behind, until it’s time to complete the transaction.
2. Schedule handwashing breaks. Assign a relief person to step in for cashiers so they can wash their hands with soap for a full 20 seconds. Provide hand lotion so workers’ hands don’t crack.
3. Schedule cashier station sanitation breaks. Assign a relief person to rotate through the store and sanitize all frequently touched surfaces.
4. Relax all existing production standards and productivity monitoring systems.
5. Explore ways to reduce handling of paper coupons, including substitutes that will not present a hardship to customers.
6. Explore scheduling adaptations to accommodate childcare arrangements.
7. For employers working overtime and shiftworkers, make sure that there are at least 12 hours from the end of one shift to the beginning of the next shift so that workers working extra hours have plenty of time to travel to and from home and get 8 hours of sleep.
8. Find out which workers are at increased risk – older workers, immune-compromised workers, people with respiratory or heart disease, people with asthma.
9. Stores waive pick-up fees to avoid in-store crowds.
10. Encourage the use of credit cards over cash.
11. Post CDC guidelines in breakrooms.
12. Be alert for racism or discrimination against workers of Asian descent.
13. Understand the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing.

For Workers

1. Retail workers are among the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic response. We need to protect the health of retail workers throughout the duration of the pandemic.
2. Many workers are feeling the pressure of trying to keep shelves stocked. They are working faster, skipping breaks, and working more hours. Stress, fatigue, and constant exposure to the public can make retail workers more vulnerable.
3. Take your breaks! Other people’s urgency is real, but it cannot come at the expense of your health.
4. Take extra handwashing breaks. Hand sanitizer is helpful, but it is not a substitute for handwashing, especially if hands are dirty. Keep in mind that everything you scan at the cash register was handled by multiple people including customer; and that you handle money, coupons, and credit cards or store cards. Use the hand scanner if possible for store cards.
5. Secure your hair, to avoid having to touch your face to adjust stray hairs.
6. If you use a cellphone, remember that you touch it with your hands and hold it against your face. Use a disinfecting wipe on it regularly and before you take it home where family members might use it.
7. Get plenty of sleep.
8. Get the flu shot, keep all your other vaccinations up-to-date, including tetanus.
9. Please understand gloves don’t offer significant additional protection. If you touch your face while wearing gloves there is the same risk of infection as bare skin. If using gloves they must not be reused and must be removed properly to avoid infection.

1. Paid leave time to cover the quarantine, isolation and COVID-19 related illnesses.
2. Waive any waiting or accrual period outlined in leave time policy or union contract.

WNYCOSH Staff are working from home in compliance with NYS requirements during the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information or assistance contact us inquiry@wnycosh.org or leave a message at the WNYCOSH Worker Center Hotline at 716.206.3550. Calls will be returned within an hour during normal business hours.