Falling Merchandise - Shop till You're Dropped

Ken Margolin

Contributor

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Safety over profits is a fundamental principle with which every retailer must abide. Unfortunately, too many "big box" stores create their convenience with a high dose of greed, causing sometimes lethal results to customers. Falling merchandise injuries and deaths is a little-known nation-wide scandal. In order to maximize profits, the warehouse stores often stack heavy items too high and too densely, with no or inadequate barriers to prevent the merchandise from falling from top shelves. In addition, staff are often underpaid and undertrained, leading to a dangerous situation for customers. These stores keep detailed computer databases of all injuries and so are aware of the hazards they create. Unless and until they are stopped by government regulations or large jury awards to consumers injured by their irresponsible practices, unsafe shelving will continue to injure, maim and kill.