Tumwater, WA — Keeping gas station convenience store workers safe on the job requires a three-pronged approach, the Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and Health states in a new hazard alert.
Two cashiers in the state were recently killed in separate late-night and early-morning armed robberies, prompting the alert, which includes details of both incidents.
Citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the alert states that 265 workers at gas station convenience stores nationwide were killed by “other people in intentional acts of violence” between 2013 and 2022. “Killings at gas stations represented 31% of deadly intentional violence in all retail industries, with 75% done by robbers who shot their victims in most cases.”
The three-pronged approach entails:
Conducting a worksite safety and security assessment. This helps identify hazards, conditions, operations and situations that could lead to violence. Safety strategies include the avoidance of having lone workers and improving store layout, lighting, visibility, video, cash limit signage, cash control methods and incident tracking. The agency also encourages following OSHA’s recommendations for workplace violence prevention programs in late-night retail establishments.
Implementing a written violence prevention program. Develop a program with clear, store-specific policies, which can be standard operating procedures or step-by-step instructions in a standalone document or worker handbook. The program should instruct workers on how to lock doors and storage areas; make sure lights, panic buttons, alarms and surveillance systems work properly; not engage robbers or resist their demands; call 911 and management; and make frequent cash deposits in “drop safes” to minimize cash in the register.
Providing documented robbery response training. Every new-hire safety orientation should include initial training on robbery response, while refresher training should occur at least once a year. Topics covered can include where exits, alarms, panic buttons and emergency information are located; de-escalation and first aid techniques; and how to spot signs that a robbery or violent attack is about to happen. Training should be documented and evaluated regularly.
