Summary
1. Objective
2. Scope
3. Work station
4. Handling of goods
5. Organization of work
6. Psychosocial aspects of work
7. Information and training of workers
1. Objective
1.1 To establish guidelines and requirements for adjusting the working conditions of checkout operators to prevent occupational health and safety problems.
2. Scope
2.1 This annex applies to organizations that carry out commercial activities using self-service and checkout systems, such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, and wholesalers.
3. Work station
3.1 Regarding the check-out furniture and its dimensions, including distances and heights, the workstation shall:
a) comply with the anthropometric characteristics of 90% (ninety percent) of the workers, taking into account the reach of the limbs and the visual field, i.e. making the visual field compatible with manipulation,
b) ensure the working posture in the sitting and standing positions and the comfortable position of the upper and lower limbs in these two situations,
c) respect the angular limits and natural trajectories of movement when performing tasks, avoiding bending and twisting of the trunk,
d) provide adequate space for the operator to move freely and to position the chair so as to allow for the alternation of working in a standing position with working in a sitting position,
e) provide a work chair with a seat and backrest for lumbar support, with padding of adequate density, adjustable to the worker’s height and the nature of the task,
f) provide a footrest independent of the chair,
g) provide an electromechanical conveyor system at each workstation to facilitate the movement of goods at checkouts with a length of 2.70 m (two meters and seventy centimeters) or more,
h) provide a communication system with support and supervisory personnel, and
i) keep furniture without sharp edges or burrs and fasteners (nails, rivets, screws) in such a manner as not to cause accidents.
3.2 The equipment and tools used by checkout operators to carry out their work, they shall:
a) be selected to facilitate the movements and actions inherent in the job, without requiring excessive force, pressure, grasping, bending, stretching or twisting of the body segments,
b) positioned within the operator’s physical and visual reach, allowing movement of the upper and lower limbs, and taking into account the nature of the task,
c) ensure protection against mechanical or electrical accidents at the checkout, based on the provisions of regulatory standards or other official technical standards, and
d) be maintained in good working order.
3.3 With regard to the physical working environment and the workplace as a whole, the following shall be ensured:
a) maintain lighting, noise and thermal comfort conditions in accordance with the provisions of NR-17, as well as the preventive measures provided for in the Risk Management Program (RMP) with respect to physical and chemical agents,
b) protect checkout operators from air currents, wind, or major climatic changes when necessary; and
c) use surfaces that do not create distracting reflections in the worker’s field of vision.
3.4 The design of the checkout operator’s workstation shall provide for the possibility of local adjustments, except for fixed equipment, taking into account the comfort of the operators.
4. Handling of goods
4.1 The organization shall ensure that the handling of goods does not require excessive muscular effort on the part of checkout operators by adopting one or more of the following measures, the choice of which is at the discretion of the organization:
a) negotiate with suppliers on the size and volume of packaging for goods,
b) use of equipment and instruments with appropriate technology,
c) alternative ways of presenting the barcode of the goods to the optical reader, where available,
d) the availability of auxiliary personnel, where necessary, and
e) other measures to reduce the operator’s workload when handling goods.
4.2 The organization shall use assistive devices whenever the manual performance of tasks by checkout operators is limited due to the large volume or excess weight of goods.
4.3 The organization shall take measures to prevent the bagging of goods from becoming part of the normal and usual work cycle of checkout operators, such as:
a) providing at least one bagger for every three checkouts,
b) providing conditions to facilitate bagging by customers, and
c) other measures with the same purpose.
4.3.1 The choice between the measures listed in item 4.3 is at the discretion of the organization.
4.4 The weighing of goods by the checkout operator can only take place if the following requirements are met simultaneously:
a) the scales are located in front of and close to the operator,
b) scales level with the checkout surface,
c) continuity between the surfaces of the checkout and the scale, allowing a discontinuity of up to 2 cm (two centimeters) on each side of the scale,
d) a keyboard located at a maximum distance of 45 cm (forty-five centimeters) from the inside edge of the checkout, and
e) a maximum of eight digits for the codes of the goods to be weighed.
4.5 To assist elderly people, pregnant women, people with disabilities or people who are momentarily incapacitated at the checkout, the organization shall provide assistants whenever requested by the checkout operator.
5. Organization of work
5.1 The physical layout and number of active (open) tills and operators shall be compatible with the flow of customers, to adapt the pace of work to the psycho-physiological characteristics of each operator, by providing at least one of the following, at the discretion of the organization:
a) people to assist or replace, if necessary,
b) separate queues for groups of checkouts,
c) dedicated checkouts (for the elderly, pregnant women, disabled people, shoppers with small quantities of goods),
d) breaks during working hours,
e) rotation of checkout operators with different characteristics; and
f) other measures to help maintain an adequate level of service without overburdening checkout operators.
5.2 Operators shall be guaranteed, at any time during working hours and upon notice, time away from their workplace to attend to their physiological needs, except for the meal break provided for in the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT).
5.3 It is forbidden to promote a performance evaluation system based on the number of goods or purchases per operator for the purpose of remuneration or rewards of any kind.
5.4 The checkout operator is responsible for checking the goods and is not allowed to perform any security duties.
6. Psychosocial aspects of work
6.1 All employees involved in checkout operations shall wear a visible identification badge bearing their first and/or last name, chosen by the employee.
6.2 Employees shall not be forced to wear, either permanently or temporarily, clothing or advertising or themed make-up that is embarrassing or offensive to their personal dignity.
7. Training and qualification of workers
7.1 All workers involved in checkout operations shall receive training aimed at increasing their knowledge of the relationship between their work and their health.
7.2 Training shall include information on preventive measures and health risk factors related to the work of a checkout operator, taking into account aspects related to:
a) operating position,
b) handling of goods,
c) organization of work,
d) psychosocial aspects of the work, and
e) injuries or health problems most frequently occurring among checkout operators.
7.2.1 Each employee shall receive initial training of at least two hours by the thirtieth day of employment and periodic training of at least two hours during working hours on an annual basis.
7.3 Employees shall be informed in advance of any changes in the work process.
7.4 The training shall include the provision of didactic material on the subjects mentioned in item 7.2 and subitems.
7.5 The method of training (continuous or intermittent, face-to-face or distance learning, lectures, courses or audiovisual) is at the discretion of each organization.
7.6 The preparation of the technical content and evaluation of the training results shall include the participation of members of the Specialized Occupational Safety and Medicine Service (SESMT) and the Internal Committee for the Prevention of Accidents (CIPA), if any, the doctor responsible for the Occupational Health Surveillance Program (PCMSO) and those responsible for preparing and implementing the Risk Management Program (PGR). (effective until March 19, 2023)
7.6 The preparation of the technical content and evaluation of the training results shall include the participation of members of the Specialized Occupational Safety and Medicine Service (SESMT) and the Internal Committee for the Prevention of Accidents and Harassment (CIPA), if any, the doctor responsible for the Occupational Health Surveillance Program (PCMSO) and those responsible for preparing and implementing the Risk Management Program (PGR). (MTP Ordinance No. 4.219, of December 20, 2022 – effective as of March 20, 2023)
