RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

April 11, 2001
EASTER SHOPPING WARNING AS ACCIDENTS SOAR

Families planning a shopping spree instead of going on holiday this Easter should beware - DIY stores, garden centres and supermarkets can be dangerous, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Provisional figures in a new report show two customers were killed and about 3,000 injured in retail premises in Great Britain in 1999/2000 - an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year, and the highest figure in recent times. RoSPA believes many more accidents may go unreported.

The statistics are revealed by the French Consumer Safety Committee which has been looking at the problem of shopping safely.

Its report gives an analysis of more than 8,000 accidents in Great Britain in the five years to 1998/99. This shows that 57 per cent were in food stores, 26 per cent in large-scale retail outlets or street markets, and 17 per cent in specialised stores such as DIY centres, chemists and clothes shops.

By far the biggest problem was with people tripping or slipping, but hundreds were injured by moving or falling objects or by bumping into fittings and displays.

In France, it has been estimated there could be around 40,000 accidents on retail premises each year, with the under-fives and elderly most at risk. Particular problems have been identified with children falling from shopping trolleys and items falling on people in DIY centres. In one case, a three year-old boy died after being crushed by a lion’s-head water spout which fell from a fountain display in a garden centre.

David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser, said: "This report provides a timely reminder to anyone shopping this Easter that they need to be careful. This is always a busy period for DIY stores and garden centres and may be even more so this year because of the foot and mouth crisis.

"Customers need to take care when lifting heavy objects or taking goods from shelves. There is also a danger of eye injuries when people bend to inspect goods and do not notice hooks or rods which make up part of display racks.

"It is vital that store owners keep their premises tidy and wipe up any spills immediately as these often cause falls. They need to carry out regular risk assessments on their premises and displays so that their customers can shop safely."