Questions & Answers: Dealing with Accidents and Emergencies | Retail Class 11 - Commerce PDF Download

Q1: Discuss the Reasons for accidents in retail stores.
Ans: There are many reasons for accidents inside a retail store that can be hazardous to the customers. 
The reasons are as follows:

• Leaky ceilings may cause wet spots on floor
• Narrow walkways
• Uneven floor conditions
• Unexpected fire, accidents may take place owing to power short-circuits.

Q2: Meaning of emergencies.
Ans: Emergencies refer to a dangerous or serious situation, like an accident, that happens and needs immediate action. An accident may lead to emergencies.

Q3: Name some emergency conditions occur in a retail store.
Ans: The various emergency conditions occurring in a retail store are as follows:

• Explosion
• Insect bite
• Rat menace
• Electrocution
• Slip down
• Equipment failure
• Extreme environmental conditions — summers, winters, rainy, windy, lighting, etc.
• Hazardous substances and chemical spills/acid spills
• Loss of power, water supply, structural collapse
• Bomb threats
• Robberies and shootings

Q4: How to deal with accidents in a retail store? 
Or 
How are accidents in retail dealt with?
Ans: Accidents can be dealt with by:

• developing an initial plan,
• calling for help,
• contacting the doctor,
• changing the layout of facility/store, or
• updating emergency procedures.

Q5: Explain the procedure a retailer should follow during an emergency.
Ans: A retailer or employees of a retail store must not panic during emergencies but remain calm, check for any other danger, protect themselves first and the injured person from fire, explosions or other hazards, treat the most life-threatening problems like bleeding or shock first, check for broken bones and if someone has injured their spine do not move the person, and do call emergency services like fire brigade or hospital, if required.

Q6: Discuss Emergency Action Plan.
Ans: An emergency action plan must communicate the following:

• Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments
• Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical operations before they evacuate
• Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation
• Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties
• Means of reporting fires or other emergencies
• The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

Q7: How to recognise when evacuation procedure starts?
Ans: 

• Conditions in mass departure
• A clear chain of command in the store
• At many places an ‘evacuation warden’ are there to assist others in an evacuation and to account for personnel
• Specific evacuation procedures includes routes and exits are posted where easily accessible to all employees
• Procedures for assisting staff with disabilities
• Retail staff must be capable enough to recognize when evacuate themselves.

Q8: Discuss the company procedure for evacuation.
Ans: Follow retailer procedure for evacuation which covered in following points:

• During emergency, local officials order to evacuate the premises. In some cases they may instruct all the employees like shut off water, gas and electricity.
• If there is an alarm listen attentively and follow whatever official orders are received.
• In other cases a specially designated person within the store should responsible for making the decision to evacuate or shut down operations.
• Protecting health and safety of retail staff and customers.
• In case of fire, an immediate evacuation to predetermined area.
• Assessing situation to determine whether an emergency exists.
• Supervising all efforts including evacuating personnel.
• Coordinating with emergency services like medical and fire departments and informed when necessary.
• Shutdown of plant operations directly.