Posted By James K
Hi folks,
I am wondering if there are any health & safety personnel working in the florist retail industry. Working in the construction industry I have very little call to prepare a safety statement for a florist shop.
Is there anyone that can forward me a copy of a statement for a florist shop so I can ensure that I do not miss aything.
Many thanks,
Jim

Posted By Jonathan Breeze
You might need to consider allergies to plants (either pollen or sap).

Similarly some of the more exotic or unusual species that are now popular might be hazardous or have toxic or carcinogenic parts e.g. certain berries and some species of fern.

(I'm speaking here as an asthmatic amateur botanist with small kids.)

Finally you might have to do COSHH assessments on some of the preparations that are occasionally used to feed & treat foliage.

Hope these pointers help.

Posted By steve e ashton
Sorry I don't have the reference immediately to hand - there is an association for florists / garden centres (don't remember which) that is based ( I seem to recall) somewhere in S. Yorks. They (used to) produce an excellent wall chart showing the toxic / irritant / allergenic / corrosive properties of many widely used plants and plant materials. Don't underestimate the potential for damage - some fairly nasty material can come from relatively common plant products.

Don't forget to account for the machinery including the stem strippers, which need to be very carefully adjusted (slipping clutch mechanism)to prevent hands / fingers being pulled in and trapped, and don't forget either the handling of unstripped stems, holly etc., which cause multiple (?minor?) open wounds most days for inexperienced staff. Leather gloves are disliked by the industry, due to loss of sensitivity.

Also, suggest you look closely at the containers being used / sold. Why do designers think that a narrow bottom and wide top is a good shape for a tall flower vase intended to hold (unstable) displays?. And why do retailers insist on putting these unstable vases on top of their highest shelves for customers to admire and dislodge.....

And if the retailer is big enough... does the chill room have adequate escape provision that will not freeze up?

Will try to locate the reference source later...

Steve

Posted By Jane Purser
Jim,

My niece works in a florist and apart from the previous areas discussed I would also consider:

a) Lone working - often workers are on their own early/late in the day (or any time for that matter!);

b) Violence & aggression - cash is readily available as florists profits are predominently from items costing less than £10.00 - higher values tend to be credit cards. There is the potential for the assistant to be forced to give money over. Consideration should also be given to cashing up and banking the money at the end of the day and a SSOW devised and followed. Also, customers may get stroppy if they think flowers are "too expensive" and "is that all I've got for £...?);

c) Sexual harrassment - customers arriving late, maybe drunk, having a "laugh" (aargghh!). This happens quite a bit, apparently;

d) Long working hours. Florists are generally paid poorly so work extra hours. A distinct lack WTR knowledge - it would appear.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Jane Purser

Posted By Jerry Henderson Newton
Don't forget the road risk/ road rage elements - floristry delivery drivers often exposed to this - traffic wardens enforcing the parking regs vigourously also cause stress - I know as I have been there (my son has a florists shop in london