Workplace safety inspectors attended 89 retails workplaces across South Australia between June 2022 and January 2023, issuing 28 Improvement Notices.
Nearly half of the notices issued were for a lack of training for retail workers on how to deal with violence, aggression and armed robberies.
Safe systems of work to reduce or eliminate risks, which can include security screens, duress alarms and CCTV camera, was the next highest area of non-compliance.
Service stations, which had the most site visits undertaken, attracted the highest number of notices, with nine. Other notices were issued at supermarkets and general retailers, pharmacies and fast-food outlets.
Last year, the South Australian Government brought in new regulations to increase penalties to people found guilty of assaulting retail workers, bringing them into line with penalties for assaulting a police officer or paramedic.
From 25 August 2022 to 31 August 2023, more than 200 criminal charges were laid by South Australian Police in relation to violence and aggression in the retail sector. The charges were:
- Commit theft using force - 11 charges
- Commit assault - 184 charges
- Commit assault that causes harm - 6 charges
- Assault a prescribed emergency worker - 3 charges
- Prohibited act with human biological material – Any other case - 8 charges
- Cause serious harm to another (with intent) - 1 charge
- Cause harm to another (with intent) - 2 charges
SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said employers were responsible for limiting the risks of aggression and violence in the workplace.
“Many retail workers are young, work in isolation and have little experience dealing with customers, let alone aggressive ones,” Mr Farrell said.
“Employers have a duty to ensure that risks of violence and aggression in the workplace are appropriately managed if they can’t be eliminated.”
For more information about the SafeWork SA's Preventing Violence and Aggression in Retail Proactive Compliance Project report, visit the Customer aggression and violence in retail website.
