You check your fire alarms, security cameras, and emergency exits weekly. But when’s the last time you looked at the breakroom appliances or the exterior signage?
If your immediate response was, “Oops—forgot about that,” don’t worry, you’re far from alone. These are some of the oft-forgotten things to inspect in your store because they’re out of sight and out of mind. Still, if it’s been a while since you last gave these areas a once-over, take the time to do it now! Here are a few other spots that commonly fall by the wayside.
Automatic Doors
Customers and employees use your automatic doors all day, yet the doors themselves often escape notice during routine checks. You should check for proper sensor function, smooth operation without strange noises, and clear tracks free of debris. A malfunctioning door is a safety hazard and an accessibility issue.
How often you should inspect your sliding glass doors depends on a few factors, like how much use they see day-to-day and the manufacturer’s recommendations. A monthly check is a solid baseline for most retail environments, but your specific situation might require more or fewer inspections.
Backroom and Storage Shelving
The stockroom can become a case of “out of sight, out of mind.” You should regularly check shelving units for stability and signs of stress, like bending or bowing. Also, look for overloaded shelves that could pose a collapse risk. If an unstable shelf finally gives way, it could damage stock, or worse, injure any employees working nearby.
Emergency Exits and Signage
Everyone sees the exit signs, but does anyone really look at them? Test your emergency lights to confirm they work during a power outage. You’ll want to also check that exit routes are completely unobstructed, both inside and outside the door. In the rare event a fire breaks out or another emergency occurs, you need your escape routes to be clear so your staff and visitors can quickly move out of harm’s way.
Exterior Walkways and Parking Lots
The customer experience begins before they even enter your store. You should walk the property to check for large cracks, potholes, or uneven surfaces that could create trip hazards, and examine the condition of painted lines for parking spaces and pedestrian crosswalks. A well-maintained exterior shows you care about customer safety from the moment they arrive.
These are some of the items most forgotten during store inspections. If they were never on your checklist to begin with, pen them in. While they don’t commonly cause a lot of trouble, they can start to if you let them go without attention for too long!
