Page 270 - DMGT551_RETAIL_BUSINESS_ENVIRONMENT

Unit 13: People in Retailing: Making People Matter

Notes

Task Visit any one retail store in your vicinity. Interview the people working there. Find
out their issues, and how they are managed.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:

11. Every employee needs the same amount and level of motivation.
12. As per Maslow, individuals move to upper level needs only when his lower level needs
are satisfied.

13. Theory lays emphasis on negative motivation.
14. Productivity implies both concern for effectiveness and efficiency.
15. Appraisals are judgments of the characteristics, traits and performance of others.

13.8 Health and Safety

Indoor Air Quality and Pollution

Most retail stores are in “closed” buildings, where windows can not be opened easily and
doorway exits are often in remote areas.
Indoor air pollution is caused by the build-up of vapors, particles, molds, fungus and bacteria in
building air. The indoor sources of these pollutants can be human waste, cigarette smoke, fuel-
fired furnaces, building materials, furnishings, cleaning products, store consumer products,
asbestos and pesticides. Molds, spores, fungus and bacteria can accumulate in standing water,
wet furnishings, furnace water, and air ducts. Meat wrappers can be harmed by the vapors of
burning plastic wrap.
Polluted outdoor air can be drawn into a building via the air intakes. Gases and particles from
truck exhaust, as well as other pollutants from the area are common indoor air pollutants.

If unchecked, these pollutions can cause severe respiratory ailments. All workplaces where
these risks are present need an effective mechanical ventilation system.
The system in your store may include a series of fans, ducts, heating or cooling coils, vents, and
hoods. A single air handling unit may handle several zones with different requirements within
the store. A mechanical system must bring in fresh outdoor air, mix it with the air that is already
circulating inside the store and distribute the conditioned air to all areas, including stock rooms,
via ducts.

Ergonomics

The basic idea of ergonomics (the study of workplace design) is to design the workplace to fit the
worker and not change the worker to fit into a poorly designed workplace. Work stations must be
adjustable to be able to accommodate the wide variety of heights and strengths of retail workers.

The best height for a working surface depends on the worker and whether or not he or she stands
or sits. The ideal height is generally between 2 to 4 inches below the elbow for delicate work and
between 6 to 18 inches below the elbow for heavy work. The solution for working surface height
is to make the surface adjustable to accommodate each worker.

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