Don't Let Black Friday Shopping Deals Turn into Risky Business 

Employers have a duty and an obligation to keep both workers and customers safe.

This responsibility holds true even on what is known as ‘the biggest shopping day of the year.’ This day, of course, is the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday.

The horrific news of nearly one year ago is still fresh on my mind.

Very early the morning after Thanksgiving Day, a 34-year old employee working for a retail giant in Long Island, New York, reported to duty. After clocking in for the 5 a.m. store opening, he never clocked out.

According to national news reports, this employee was trampled to death. After he opened the store doors, an out-of-control shopping crowd stampeded through the entrance killing him and injuring others. The injured included employees and shoppers alike, one of whom was a woman eight months pregnant.

Although lines of shoppers started forming at 9 p.m. the night before (which was Thanksgiving night), what happened to employees and shoppers was unthinkable.

Even so, OSHA in its citation, announced on May 26, 2009, said this tragic event was a foreseeable occurrence.

OSHA cited Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for inadequate crowd control management. In its press release, OSHA said the retailer also failed to provide "employees with the necessary training and tools to safely manage the large crowd of shoppers."

Watching out for the welfare of employees and shoppers is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the prudent thing to do. Accidents and unsafe working conditions can negatively impact an employer’s bottom line and its reputation.

As usual, employee health and safety lessons can be gleaned from such tragic events, as the Black Friday of 2008 incident.

Among them:

1. Employers should strategically prepare for the worst. 

2. Employers have specific responsibilities for worker safety and health under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. 

3. Employers should ensure that employees are properly trained in health and safety issues. OSHA is a bountiful supplier of resources and information for employers, some of which are provided at little or no cost.

4. Employers should become familiar with the growing threats of workplace violence and how to prevent or minimize those threats. For example, see this OSHA online information, "Recommendations for Workplace Prevention in Late-Night Retail Establishments."

5. Employers should understand that employees have a right to refuse work assignments that they think might be dangerous. If workers believe they are exposed to "imminent danger," employees can file a complaint with OSHA.

As employers prepare for Black Friday ad sales and deals—some retailers are even planning early Black Friday sales deals and events—safety concerns should always be of utmost priority when planning such events.

Don’t allow potential safety or health catastrophes to jeopardize your sales and profits potential!   

Major sales events can attract overly zealous crowds. Last year's Black Friday tragedy is a poignant reminder.