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To recap: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is encouraging retail employers to implement safety measures to prevent such incidents.
According to OSHA, crowd management planning should begin in advance of events that are likely to draw large numbers of people. The agency recommends a two-part plan:
- Planning
- Pre-event setup
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Step 2: Pre-event setup
- Set up barricades or rope lines for crowd management in advance.
- Make sure the customer line does not start right at the entrance to the store in order to allow more orderly crowd management.
- Designate workers to explain approach and entrance procedures to the arriving public.
- Make sure outside personnel have radios or another way to communicate with personnel inside the store and with emergency responders.
- Consider using an Internet lottery, wristbands, or tickets for particularly “hot” items.
- Locate sale items throughout the store to prevent overcrowding in one spot.
- Communicate with customers waiting in line.
- Before opening, remind waiting crowds of your entrance process.
- Provide a separate entrance for staff.
- Staff entrances with uniformed guards. If possible, use more than one entrance.
- When the store reaches its maximum capacity, do not let additional people in.
- Do not restrict egress and do not block or lock exit doors.
- Keep first-aid kits and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on hand.
In addition to benefiting employees, a solid crowd management plan will also help protect the public.
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