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Home » Risk Assessment Templates » Place of Worship » Charity shop operations Activity

Charity shop operations Risk Assessment Template

Create a professional, comprehensive risk assessment for charity shop operations in place of worship settings. Tailor hazards and measures to your needs and download a professional PDF. Add your own branding.

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What this covers.

This template focuses on typical risks and controls for charity shop operations in place of worship settings. You can add, remove or adapt items to match your context.

Potential benefits

Supports affordable access to clothing and household items.
Builds social connections through teamwork and customer service.
Raises funds to support wider community initiatives.
Promotes awareness of charitable causes in the community.
Encourages recycling and sustainable consumption.

Typical hazards & measures

Use of cleaning chemicals — Store all chemicals in labelled containers in locked cupboards away from donations. Train volunteers on COSHH basics, provide gloves when required, and ensure ventilation when cleaning. Restrict strong chemicals to staff with specific training.
Lone working in shop or back office — Minimise lone working by scheduling at least two volunteers per shift. Where unavoidable, provide phones, panic alarms, and check-in procedures with a designated contact. Restrict cash handling when alone.
Aggressive or distressed customers — Train volunteers in conflict management, display behaviour expectations clearly, and designate a safe retreat area for staff. Ensure quick access to phones for emergencies and position tills where help can be easily summoned.
Manual handling of donations — Provide sack trucks, trolleys, and lifting aids for bulky loads, train volunteers on safe lifting posture, and ensure heavier boxes are team-lifted. Store the heaviest donations on shelving between knee and shoulder height to minimise bending or stretching.
Trips and falls from step stools/ladders — Provide only sturdy step stools with anti-slip feet, train volunteers to avoid overreaching, and restrict ladder use to competent adults. Inspect stools weekly for wear and store them in accessible, designated areas.

How to use this template

Click Create Risk Assessment: Charity shop operations to begin immediately.
Review suggested hazards and measures, then tailor as needed.
Download your PDF. Create a free account if you want to save.

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Select benefits

Select the benefits that apply - you can edit, remove, or add new ones during the wizard.

Select the hazards that apply - you can edit, remove, or add new ones during the wizard.

Select benefits

Builds social connections through teamwork and customer service. Encourages recycling and sustainable consumption. Promotes awareness of charitable causes in the community. Provides volunteer opportunities that build skills and confidence. Raises funds to support wider community initiatives. Supports affordable access to clothing and household items.

Select hazards

Aggressive or distressed customers Train volunteers in conflict management, display behaviour expectations clearly, and designate a safe retreat area for staff. Ensure quick access to phones for emergencies and position tills where help can be easily summoned. Cash handling and theft Use lockable tills fixed to counters, keep minimal float in use, and transfer excess cash to a safe throughout the day. Always have two adults count cash in private and record takings. Promote card/contactless payments to reduce risks of theft. Customer parking and vehicle hazards Mark designated parking bays, keep walkways separate from vehicles with barriers or cones, and use signage to enforce speed limits. At peak times, assign a steward to guide cars safely and prevent congestion near shop entrances. Data protection for donor/customer details Store Gift Aid forms in locked filing cabinets, use password-protected computers, and restrict access to trained staff. Provide private space for registration and explain how information will be used, following GDPR requirements. Electrical safety of donated goods PAT-test all electricals before sale using a competent person, reject unsafe items, and quarantine untested goods in a secure area. Provide training for volunteers to spot exposed wiring, damaged plugs, or overheating appliances. Emergency evacuation of shop Display evacuation plans prominently, keep fire exits unlocked and signed, and brief all volunteers on procedures. Assign sweep roles to senior staff and run evacuation drills annually to ensure calm, efficient response. Fire safety in shop Keep escape routes clear of stock, conduct monthly fire extinguisher checks, and test alarms regularly. Volunteers should receive annual fire training, and high-risk areas (storerooms, sorting areas) should display clear evacuation signage. Infection control in handling clothing Provide gloves, hand sanitiser, and masks if requested when sorting textiles. Launder clothing donations before sale when feasible and clean sorting tables daily. Encourage volunteers to wash hands regularly during shifts. Large item donations Accept only items permitted under charity shop policies, provide written guidance to donors, and supervise unloading with two volunteers. Ensure bulky items are stored safely out of public areas until displayed, using furniture dollies for heavy goods. Lone working in shop or back office Minimise lone working by scheduling at least two volunteers per shift. Where unavoidable, provide phones, panic alarms, and check-in procedures with a designated contact. Restrict cash handling when alone. Manual handling of donations Provide sack trucks, trolleys, and lifting aids for bulky loads, train volunteers on safe lifting posture, and ensure heavier boxes are team-lifted. Store the heaviest donations on shelving between knee and shoulder height to minimise bending or stretching. Pest control in storage areas Store donations in sealed bins or containers, clean storerooms weekly, and keep waste separate from stock. Maintain regular pest control checks, and reject donations that arrive contaminated, damp, or showing signs of pest damage. Restricted mobility access Keep aisles at least 1 metre wide, ensure clear signage to accessible entrances, and provide portable ramps if steps are unavoidable. Train volunteers to assist customers with limited mobility respectfully and safely when required. Sharp objects or broken items in donations Provide PPE such as gloves when sorting donations, use dedicated bins for glass or sharps, and train volunteers to check inside bags carefully before handling. Remove unsafe items immediately and log disposal for accountability. Slips and trips on shop floor Keep aisles clear of stock and personal items, clean spills immediately with warning signs, and tape down loose cables. Conduct daily floor inspections and ensure all public areas are well lit to reduce risks for both customers and volunteers. Sorting and storage of donations Create clear zones for unsorted, checked, and priced stock. Provide gloves and sanitiser for volunteers handling items, and rotate stock weekly. Lock storerooms outside operating hours and maintain records of unsuitable or hazardous items removed. Trips and falls from step stools/ladders Provide only sturdy step stools with anti-slip feet, train volunteers to avoid overreaching, and restrict ladder use to competent adults. Inspect stools weekly for wear and store them in accessible, designated areas. Unsupervised children in shop Brief volunteers to monitor children near exits, position fragile or sharp items on higher shelving, and encourage parents to keep children close. Consider designating a safe space or corner with books/toys if space allows. Use of cleaning chemicals Store all chemicals in labelled containers in locked cupboards away from donations. Train volunteers on COSHH basics, provide gloves when required, and ensure ventilation when cleaning. Restrict strong chemicals to staff with specific training. Vehicle drop-offs at shop entrance Designate specific drop-off bays, use cones or barriers to separate vehicles from pedestrians, and post volunteers to guide drivers at busy times. Limit reversing near entrances and set maximum speed limits on site. Volunteer fatigue or strain Rotate volunteers between light and heavy duties, encourage regular breaks, and monitor shift lengths. Provide seating for cashiers, encourage hydration, and train supervisors to recognise early signs of fatigue or stress. Waste disposal from unsellable goods Provide clear sorting guidelines, use labelled bins for textiles, recyclables, and general waste, and arrange weekly collections. Train volunteers to handle waste safely and record volumes for environmental reporting.

FAQ

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Can I download a PDF?

Yes - download a clean, professional PDF at the end.

Can I edit a saved assessment?

Yes, personal and unlimited members can edit saved assessments from the account dashboard.

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