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Trade Counter and Builders’ Merchant Safety Checklist

Free Safety Checklist template · Category: Retail and Service IndustriesView all Safety Checklist templates
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Risk Assessment Description:

This trade counter safety checklist template from Health & Safety Zone helps specialist‑retail staff ensure that trade counters and builders’ merchants operate safely for staff and the public.

It covers the essential elements of a safe retail environment – a risk assessment and briefings, competence and training of staff, safe layout and clear aisles, condition and maintenance of plant and equipment, manual handling controls, safe use of cutting tools, segregation of forklifts from customers, storage of hazardous substances with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) assessments, appropriate personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness. All of these align with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and HSE retail guidance.

Use this checklist for:

  • Pre‑opening safety inspections of the trade counter and surrounding areas.
  • Daily operational checks during busy trading periods.
  • End‑of‑day or load‑out reviews before closing.

Each item is answered Yes, No or N/A – any No answer must be addressed before work continues.

To use the checklist, the responsible person marks Yes, No or N/A for each question. Any No response must be investigated and remedied before the activity proceeds or before the end‑of‑day handover. Completed records can be kept digitally or printed for audit.

Fully editable and shareable – customise the questions to your site, download as a PDF and share with your team.

Compliant with: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Sample PDF Document Image:

Checks covered in this Trade Counter and Builders' Merchant Inspection checklist

This Trade Counter and Builders' Merchant Inspection safety checklist template covers 22 checks. Customise the questions to your workplace, then download a professional, print-ready PDF with Yes / No / N/A tick-boxes and a comments space.

#Checklist item
1Has a risk assessment for the trade counter activities been completed and briefed to staff?
2Are all operatives trained and competent to operate the forklift and other plant used on site?
3Is the layout of the counter clear of unnecessary obstructions and trip hazards?
4Are aisles and public routes clearly marked and segregated from vehicle and forklift traffic?
5Is the flooring in good condition, non‑slip and free of spills?
6Are fire exits and evacuation routes unobstructed and clearly signposted?
7Is adequate lighting provided for all work areas, especially during early morning or evening trading?
8Are heavy‑material racking units inspected for damage, secure fixing and correct load limits?
9Is any manual handling of heavy bags or pallets assessed and controls such as trolleys or hoists provided?
10Are cutting tools and power saws fitted with guards and safety interlocks?
11Is the forklift examined for visible leaks, tyre condition, brakes and load‑backrest height before use?
12Is the forklift load chart displayed and adhered to for each load‑out?
13Are all portable electrical tools inspected, PAT‑tested and in good working order?
14Are hazardous substances such as solvents, paints or adhesives stored in labelled containers with COSHH assessments available?
15Is appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, high‑visibility clothing) provided and being worn?
16Are barriers, traffic cones or signage used to protect customers from plant operating areas?
17Are exclusion zones and pedestrian pathways clearly marked with signage to keep customers away from operating plant?
18Is there a system for reporting and addressing any identified safety defects immediately?
19Are first‑aid kits accessible and are trained first‑aiders on duty during operating hours?
20Are fire extinguishers serviced, correctly positioned and suitable for the types of fire risk present?
21Is the forklift secured with a wheel chock and brake applied when not in use?
22At the end of the day, is the area cleared of waste, equipment parked safely and records of any incidents logged?

Frequently asked questions

Are these safety checklist templates really free to download?

Yes — completely free. Customise any checklist to your workplace and download a professional, print-ready PDF in minutes. No paywall — a free account is all you need to download.

What format do the safety checklists download in?

Checklists download as a professional PDF, ready to print and complete on-site — each question has clear Yes / No / N/A tick-boxes and a comments space. You choose portrait or landscape at download. Word and spreadsheet formats are being added.

Can I customise the checklist questions to my workplace?

Yes — fully. Add your own questions, edit or remove any of the pre-written ones, and reorder them to suit your site, task or inspection before you download.

Are the safety checklists suitable for UK workplaces?

Yes. The checklists are written around UK health and safety good practice and HSE guidance, and are suitable for inspections, audits, toolbox checks and routine workplace monitoring.

Do I need an account to use the checklist templates?

You can build and preview a checklist without an account. To download the PDF you'll need a free account — it takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and also lets you save checklists to your dashboard and edit them later.

Can I add my company logo and branding to the checklist?

Yes — add your company logo, colours and details on Standard and Pro plans, so the exported checklist carries your own branding. Guests and Free downloads carry Health & Safety Zone branding.

How do I complete the checklist once it is downloaded?

The exported checklist is a blank, ready-to-use document: print it and tick Yes, No or N/A against each question and write any comments in the notes space, then sign and date it in the sign-off section.

What types of safety checklist can I create?

We are building specialist checklists across a wide range of subjects and industries — fire safety, workplace inspections, equipment and machinery checks, site inductions, vehicle checks, PPE, first aid and more. Browse by category to find the right one.

How often should safety checklists be completed?

It depends on the activity and your risk assessment — many checks are daily, weekly or monthly, while others are done before each task or shift. Completed, dated checklists provide a useful record of your monitoring.

Are the checklists a substitute for a risk assessment?

No. A checklist is a monitoring and inspection tool that complements your risk assessments and method statements — it helps confirm that controls are in place and working. Use them alongside your risk assessments.

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