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#1 Posted : 11 October 2005 10:48:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian Johnson
We have an issue in our retail stores with cashiers licking their fingers to open carrier bags. The cashiers handle large quantities of cash and products with chemical properties in them, which put them at risk from ingesting small amounts of chemicals and at higher risk from catching diseases etc.
Has anyone had a similar issue? if so how have you overcome it? We have issued briefings to our cashiers to ask them not to lick their fingers for hygiene purposes. We have also looked at the design of the bags to see if we can make them easier to open.
Thank you.
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#2 Posted : 11 October 2005 11:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Helen Horton
Have you seen the new style Tesco carrier bags that are easy to open? They have little tabs that you pull apart so you don't have to resort to wetting your fingers.
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#3 Posted : 11 October 2005 11:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Baynes
I recollect seeing, in offices, small round dishes containing a moist sponge. They were used by people flicking through documents to moisten their fingers for a similar reason to your till operators - to improve grip. I don't know if they are still available, but might this idea be utilised in some form?
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#4 Posted : 11 October 2005 11:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Lorraine Shuker
The preferred method in the supermarkets I go to is to rub the bag vigorously between the flattened palms of the hands ~ it seems quite effective and has no need of finger licking

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#5 Posted : 11 October 2005 14:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Eugene Egan
Some supermarkets in France have a self-dispensing mechanism for these bags which opens them when the previous bag is removed.

Here [in the Rep of Ireland] a surcharge of 15c per bag, for environmental reasons, has virtually eliminated the problem.
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#6 Posted : 11 October 2005 14:52:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Webster
My goodness. You mean that the cashiers actually open the bags for the customers? I thought they were supposed to sit glowering at the customer wrestling with these infernal bags.

I have never been able to get the damn things open, with or without wet fingers, and have frequently resorted to piling the shopping into the trolley and dumping it loose into the boot of the car. Sometimes I pinch the hand baskets, but try to remember to bring them back next time

We did have a brief respite when Safeway's sold out to Morrison's - the Morrison bags were excellent - but they in turn have sold to Somerfield and their useless bags. The Co-op bags are no better, although they at least are now biodegradable.
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#7 Posted : 11 October 2005 18:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Merv Newman
It's not "glowering" but "grinning".

Most French supermarkets have stopped supplying plastic bags. "protection de l'environnement".

They'll sell you "un sac biodégrable". Which means it rots in the sunlight so you had better get it into the boot of your car as fast as posible. Run !

Merv (alors !)
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#8 Posted : 11 October 2005 18:34:00(UTC)
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Posted By Nikki
I have solved problems of queues at checkouts, grumpy cashiers, and unruly plastic bags all in one go. Now shop at Sainsbury's where I scan my own goods and pack into my reusable shopping bags and pay at the self scan till, which has no queues. Bliss!
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#9 Posted : 12 October 2005 00:05:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Webster
No, it's definitely glowering

I think my nearest Sainsbury is about 120 miles and an 8 hour journey away. I'll stick to nicking the baskets.
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#10 Posted : 12 October 2005 09:18:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian Johnson
Thank you all for your thoughts. I have been thinking along the lines of getting the pots with sponges in but am finding it difficult to find a supplier. If anyone happens to come across anywhere that supplies them I would be grateful if you could pass on the details.

Thanks again, we are trialling the self service tills in some of our stores which may be the answer to our problem.
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#11 Posted : 12 October 2005 12:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Lorraine Shuker
They are on my local stationers catalogue so I am sure that there will be available from your supplier. They are in the postroom supplies section and are described as Sponge Dampers
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#12 Posted : 12 October 2005 12:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bill Elliott
Ian - are you considering a sponge for EACH employee then - because that is what you would need if you went that route. Far better I feel to ensure a little instruction on how to separate bags without licking fingers or resorting to a moist sponge (which in itself may be a harbour for goodness only knows what bacteria - being moist and in a loverly warm environment) Regards
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#13 Posted : 12 October 2005 12:48:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bill Elliott
Alternatively a simple solution would be to issue finger bobs - little rubber (being mindful of latex of course)thingys with a dimpled surface also used in banking, post offices etc for separating, counting etc. Any good stationery supplier will have them.
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#14 Posted : 13 October 2005 12:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mark Talbot
These sponge baths have been used for dozens of years at the Post Office - Bill, is there any evidence that they are a significant risk of bacterial infection? (always seemed like the same old lady in our post office, day in day out).

Finger bobs are THE most irritating things ever devised, in my opinion.
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#15 Posted : 13 October 2005 12:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By Smurfer
'finger bobs' now THAT takes me back a LONG way!

http://www.jedisparadise...gerbobs/Fingerbobs.htm&1

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#16 Posted : 13 October 2005 12:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bill Elliott
Mark - no more a significant risk than licking your fingers I would have thought. I do not have evidence but basic bacteriology and good personal hygiene principles would direct you to consider the risks at least. The problem (if there were one) would be worsened if individuals were sharing a sponge. I can't imagine how many different individuals would sit a supermarket checkout and whilst one would hope they practised good personal hygiene eg after using the WC, it cannot be guaranteed. It is a bit like the bowl of peanuts on the pub bar syndrome, which when tested contained six different bacteria all associated with human waste!
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