What I Learned the Hard Way as a Retail Business Owner Without a Health and Safety Program
When I was 27, I bought my first retail business. We were young, hungry, and ready to take on the world. And to be fair, we did pretty well at first. Within two years, we grew revenue from $3 million to $5.5 million. On paper, things looked great. But behind the scenes, we were flying blind.
We didn’t know much about human resources, policies, procedures, or health and safety. At the time, I thought those things were for “big companies” , the ones with corporate offices, lawyers, and thick binders full of policies that nobody actually reads.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Over a three-year period, our lack of knowledge cost us over $100,000. That’s not an exaggeration. Between paying out claims, fines, and other costs tied to WorkSafeBC and employee issues, that money disappeared fast. And when you’re in retail, cash flow is your oxygen. Every dollar counts.
The Hidden Cost of Not Knowing What You Don’t Know
The truth is, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. We didn’t understand our legislative rights and responsibilities. We didn’t know how to respond when an employee got hurt. We didn’t have written policies or clear procedures. When something went wrong, and trust me, things always go wrong eventually, we scrambled.
And that scramble cost us time, money, and credibility.
What I learned is that health and safety, just like HR, isn’t just about compliance. It’s about structure and protection. Your policies and your safety program form the backbone of your business. They keep you standing tall when the weight starts to pile up.
Why Every Retail Business Needs a Health and Safety Program
WorkSafeBC sets specific requirements for which types of businesses need formal health and safety programs. But here’s the thing, whether you have to or not doesn’t really matter. You should.
A health and safety program is your foundation. It’s what keeps your people safe, your business protected, and your stress levels under control. When you have the right policies and procedures in place, you’re not just reacting, you’re prepared.
Because when you’re not prepared, the consequences ripple far beyond your bottom line. It affects your team’s morale, your customer experience, and even your reputation.
The Lesson I Wish I Learned Sooner
If I could go back, I’d invest in building a solid foundation from day one. Not just a great sales strategy, but a complete system that covered people, policies, and protection.
A health and safety program doesn’t slow your business down, it helps it grow the right way. It gives you the structure and confidence to make decisions that protect both your staff and your profits.
If you’re running a retail business and haven’t built your health and safety program yet, don’t wait until something goes wrong. Learn from my $100,000 mistake. Start now, while you’re ahead.
Call to Action
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Contact GreenSpine Safety Solutions to learn how we help retail business owners create practical, compliant safety programs that actually work in the real world.
