Occupational environment monitoring at a supermarket

1. Overview of the Supermarket

a. What is a supermarket?

A supermarket is a type of self-service retail store, also referred to as a convenience store, where consumers can purchase various daily goods and products. Supermarkets are usually large in scale and offer a wide range of items, including food, household goods, clothing, electronics, toys, furniture, and many other products.

Supermarkets are designed to provide a convenient shopping experience for customers. They typically have many product counters and display shelves to help consumers easily locate and select items. Supermarkets also usually have automated checkout systems or cashier counters for payment processing.

Supermarkets are often owned and managed by large businesses and are classified into supermarket chains, with multiple branches operating in a region or nationwide. Supermarkets have become an indispensable part of modern life, offering convenience and diversity for consumers.

b. Jobs of employees in a supermarket

Jobs of supermarket employees may include:

• Cashier: Responsible for receiving payments from customers and processing transactions.
• Counter staff: Work at product counters and display shelves in the supermarket. Their tasks include arranging goods, restocking shelves, advising, and serving customers.
• Sales staff: Similar to counter staff but usually work in specialty sections or specific product areas within the supermarket.
• Inventory staff: Responsible for checking and ensuring consistency between the stock in the warehouse and the system records, performing periodic inventory procedures.
• Security staff: Ensures security and order in the supermarket, controls entry and exit, monitors security cameras, and assists customers when needed.
• Customer service staff: Advise, guide, and answer customer inquiries, assist in locating products, and handle special requests.
• Cleaning staff: Responsible for maintaining cleanliness in the supermarket, including floor cleaning, restroom cleaning, and waste management.

Other roles may depend on the size and type of supermarket. Large supermarkets may have specialized departments such as purchasing, marketing, warehouse management, quality control, human resources, and revenue management.

c. Types of machinery used in supermarkets

In supermarkets, various machines are used to support business activities and improve work efficiency. Common machines include:

• Barcode scanner: Used to scan product barcodes to identify price, product description, and record sales information.
• POS machine (Point of Sale): A computer or touchscreen device used to perform sales transactions, calculate payment, and print receipts for customers.
• Receipt printer: Used to print purchase receipts for customers.
• Card reader: Reads payment card information and processes card payments.
• Electronic scale: Used to weigh products to determine weight and price.
• Water purifier: Provides clean and safe drinking water for employees and customers.
• Ice maker: Produces ice cubes to cool and preserve frozen products.
• Cooling machine: Maintains cool temperatures in food storage and frozen areas.
• Document shredder: Used to destroy important documents to ensure data confidentiality.
• Digital advertising display: Used to show advertisements and product information in the supermarket.

These are just some of the machines commonly used in supermarkets. Large supermarkets may have additional machines and equipment depending on scale and services provided.

d. Occupational diseases that supermarket workers may encounter

Supermarket workers may be at risk of certain occupational diseases. Common occupational health issues in supermarkets include:

• Spinal and joint disorders: Employees often stand for long periods and handle goods, which can cause fatigue and harm to the spine and joints.
• Respiratory issues: The supermarket environment may contain dust, chemicals, or harmful gases from cleaning products or merchandise. Prolonged exposure may lead to respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
• Vision problems: Working under bright lighting and staring continuously at computer screens can cause eye strain, visual fatigue, and other eye issues.
• Hearing problems: Noise from supermarket activities such as barcode scanners, music, and crowds can damage hearing, causing hearing loss, tinnitus, or other auditory issues.
• Mental health issues: Work pressure, stress from customer interaction, and a fast-paced work environment can lead to mental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety.

To reduce the risk of occupational diseases, managers and employees must follow health and safety measures, including wearing protective equipment, maintaining personal hygiene, ensuring proper ventilation and lighting.

2. Overview of Occupational Environment Monitoring Services

a. What is occupational environment monitoring at a supermarket?

Occupational environment monitoring (or workplace environmental measurement) at a supermarket involves collecting, evaluating, and analyzing workplace environmental factors to implement timely mitigation measures, minimize health risks for employees, and prevent occupational diseases. Workplace environmental monitoring is mandatory for supermarkets.

Workplace monitoring plays a crucial role in protecting and enhancing workers’ health because employees are the main resource of a business and directly generate profit. Workers regularly exposed to risk factors or occupational hazards beyond permissible limits may experience health problems and develop occupational diseases.

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b. An Toan Nam Viet’s occupational environment monitoring program

An Toan Nam Viet’s occupational environment monitoring program is developed by monitoring engineers specializing in occupational safety and environmental protection. The program ensures employees’ health and safety by using modern measurement methods to monitor air quality, water, microclimate, physical factors, dust, and other elements within the workplace. This program is essential for maintaining a safe work environment and protecting employees’ health.

Moreover, An Toan Nam Viet’s program plays a key role in researching and developing new solutions to improve workplace environmental quality. With the dedication and professionalism of its expert team, An Toan Nam Viet’s exclusive monitoring program has become a breakthrough in labor safety management and environmental protection in Vietnam.

c. Standardization in workplace measurement procedures

Standardization in An Toan Nam Viet’s workplace measurement procedures is critical to ensuring measurement quality. To guarantee accuracy and reliability, the program follows recognized standards and procedures set by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health. This ensures the collected data is highly reliable for evaluating workplace conditions and making decisions to improve the work environment and protect employees’ health.

Standardized procedures also ensure that measurements are conducted by highly skilled monitoring specialists with years of experience, allowing managers and experts to trust An Toan Nam Viet’s results and make precise decisions to safeguard employee health and the environment.

By applying standardized workplace measurement procedures, An Toan Nam Viet demonstrates its commitment to ensuring a safe work environment and protecting employee health while contributing to the development and enhancement of labor safety management and environmental protection in Vietnam.

d. Reporting results of supermarket monitoring

Occupational environment monitoring results are prepared according to Form No. 04, Appendix III issued with Decree 44/2016/NĐ-CP and prepared in two copies: one copy sent to the contracting workplace, and the other retained by the monitoring organization.

The retention period for occupational environment monitoring results follows legal regulations with unlimited storage.

e. Frequency of occupational environment monitoring according to the law

According to Clause 2 of Article 18 of the Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene 84/2015/QH13, employers must organize workplace environment monitoring to assess harmful factors at least once a year.

f. Deadline for submitting occupational environment monitoring reports according to the law

The submission deadline is before December 31 each year. Enterprises at manufacturing facilities must submit occupational environment monitoring results to the local Department of Health where the business is headquartered and where employees work.

When there are changes in technology or manufacturing processes, or during renovation or upgrading of workplaces that may introduce new hazards to employee health, enterprises must update labor hygiene records related to harmful factors requiring occupational environment monitoring.

g. Penalties for violations of occupational environment monitoring by employers

According to Article 27 of Decree No. 12/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 17, 2022:

• Clause 2: A fine of 2,000,000 – 5,000,000 VND applies to employers who fail to publicly disclose to employees at the monitored workplace and management locations the results of occupational environment monitoring immediately after results are available.
• Clause 3: A fine of 20,000,000 – 40,000,000 VND applies to employers who do not conduct occupational environment monitoring to control health hazards for employees as required by law.
• Clause 4: A fine of 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 VND applies to employers who collude with monitoring organizations to commit fraud in occupational environment monitoring activities, but not to the extent of criminal liability.

3. Harmful Environmental Factors for Workers in Supermarkets

Workers in supermarkets may be exposed to several harmful environmental factors. The following are some environmental factors that may be harmful to supermarket employees:

• Noise: Supermarkets often have noise from customers, background music, crowd noise, and electronic devices. Continuous noise can cause stress, fatigue, and negatively affect employees’ hearing health.
• Lighting: Supermarket environments may have strong lighting from overhead lights, natural light, or advertising boards. Bright and glaring light can cause eye strain, stress, and affect visual health.
• Chemicals: Supermarkets use cleaning agents, deodorants, sanitizers, and other additives. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and damage to internal organs.
• Dust and harmful substances: During the handling, moving, and arranging of products, dust and harmful substances such as fine particles, wood dust, chemical dust, and smoke may be generated. Inhaling dust and harmful substances can damage the respiratory system and cause health problems.
• Temperature and humidity: Supermarkets may have fluctuating temperature and humidity, especially in areas such as storage rooms and refrigerators. Too hot or too cold environments can make working difficult and affect employees’ health.

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4. Measures to Improve Working Conditions in Supermarkets

To improve working conditions in supermarkets and protect employees’ health, the following measures can be applied:

• Ensure labor safety regulations: Establish and comply with safety regulations, including the use of personal protective equipment, safety training, and guidance on safe work procedures.
• Noise control: Install soundproofing materials, create quieter workspaces, use soundproof walls, and noise-reducing devices to minimize noise impact.
• Provide proper lighting: Ensure adequate natural or artificial lighting for work, use high-quality lighting fixtures, avoid glare, and maintain balanced lighting throughout the workspace.
• Manage harmful substances and chemicals: Use cleaning agents, sanitizers, and other additives according to manufacturers’ instructions, ensure proper ventilation, and limit the use of hazardous substances.
• Ensure proper temperature and humidity: Control temperature and humidity in work areas to ensure comfort and employee health, with special attention to storage rooms and refrigerators.
• Promote physical activity and health: Encourage employees to perform light exercises during work hours, provide space and equipment for short exercise sessions during breaks.
• Maintain environmental hygiene: Keep work areas clean, provide comfortable seating, and ensure sufficient space for movement.
• Periodically conduct workplace environment monitoring in the facility, collect and analyze harmful factors affecting employees, and implement measures to reduce risks and prevent occupational diseases.

5. Benefits of Periodic Monitoring in Supermarkets

An Toan Nam Viet provides businesses with excellent benefits when using workplace environment monitoring services in accordance with Decree 44/2016/ND-CP on managing and controlling harmful factors in working environments affecting employees.

• Businesses can proactively control harmful factors in their workplaces or factories.
• Receive recommendations on measures to reduce harmful factors and improve working environment quality.
• Indirectly protect human resources, the key factor in enterprise development.
• Reduce the impact of occupational diseases on human health, thereby lowering future treatment costs.
• Healthier employees lead to higher product quality and consistent productivity.
• Comply with labor safety laws and avoid legal risks.
• Enhance professionalism and credibility, elevating the enterprise’s brand.

Nam Viet’s environmental monitoring service is a solution to minimize occupational disease risks, contributing to a clean and high-quality working environment.

6. Nationwide Workplace Environment Monitoring Center

Nam Viet Workplace Environment Monitoring Center is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring workplace environmental quality throughout all provinces of Vietnam. With an experienced team of monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability.

In addition to monitoring services, the center assists clients in planning, handling, and tracking workplace environmental issues. Following the motto “customer-centric,” the center prioritizes client satisfaction, meets all client needs, and provides the best solutions for businesses.

REGISTER FOR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE

With investment in technology, equipment, and personnel, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has become a reputable unit in workplace environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City, with objectives including:

• We always prioritize brand reputation and service quality.
• We provide clients with the best and most suitable solutions.
• Alongside a team of experienced Masters and Engineers committed to environmental protection and business benefits.
• By working with Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring, companies receive professional service from experts and the best cost advantages.

The workplace environment monitoring process at Nam Viet includes:

• Before monitoring, all machinery and equipment are calibrated according to legal regulations.
• Implement the complete monitoring process as committed to the Department of Health.
• Report monitoring results honestly to employers.
• If results indicate unsafe conditions, Nam Viet will provide solutions, and the enterprise will implement:
  • Measures to improve working conditions, minimize harmful factor impacts, and prevent occupational diseases.
  • Health check-ups to detect occupational and work-related diseases early for employees in unsafe environments.
  • Provide in-kind benefits to employees according to labor laws.

7. Workplace Environment Monitoring Service Price List

To help businesses perform workplace environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides clients with a quality and reasonably priced service price list.

• Our price list provides detailed information on the costs of monitoring services we offer, including transportation, measurement, analysis, and reporting. Clients can trust the accuracy and reliability of our monitoring reports.
• We commit to offering the most competitive and reasonable prices in the market and are always ready to answer questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
• With Nam Viet’s price list, clients can easily choose service packages that meet their needs. We are committed to delivering the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.