Retail operations from supermarket floors to distribution centre warehouses face fast-paced, public-facing environments loaded with manual-handling risks. Staff and contractors move pallets, restock shelves, handle cleaning chemicals, and interact with delivery vehicles daily. High turnover and temporary shifts complicate training and compliance tracking. Modern EHS software digitises RAMS and COSHH sign-offs, schedules mobile inspections, logs incidents in real time, and delivers centralised visibility across all locations.
Helpful summary
Overview: This article, brought to you by Evalu-8 EHS, compares five top EHS platforms for UK retail chains and warehousing in 2025. We detail core features, advanced modules, known limitations, pricing approaches, and pros and cons so you can make an informed decision for supermarkets, large stores, and distribution centres.
Why Trust Us: At Evalu-8 EHS, our team builds UK-focused, modular safety software. We understand retail-specific challenges RAMS enforcement for shelf stacking, COSHH for cleaning agents, mobile audits for spill response and loading-bay safety because we work with leading chains and distribution networks daily.
Why It Matters: Untracked incidents, outdated COSHH data, and paper-based RAMS create safety gaps that can lead to slips, stockroom injuries, fines, and reputational damage. The right EHS system streamlines compliance, automates follow-ups, and gives head office real-time oversight.
Action Points:
Identify must-have features: RAMS sign-off, COSHH register, mobile inspections, incident tracking.
Trial platforms to assess mobile and offline performance in busy retail settings.
Verify transparent pricing models and calculate total cost based on store count and user roles.
Select the software that scales from single supermarkets to hundreds of sites.
Evalu-8 EHS: Best platform for Retail & Warehousing
Why Evalu-8 EHS stands out
Evalu-8 EHS delivers end-to-end safety workflows tailored for large retail chains and distribution centres. Assign RAMS for shelf stacking, COSHH forms for cleaning sprays and spill kits, schedule mobile inspections for loading bays and cold storage, log incidents like slip injuries or abusive customers instantly, and centralise dashboards for head-office visibility. Transparent per-user pricing, UK-based support and offline capability make it a standout choice.
Core Features
RAMS builder: Pre-configured templates for manual handling, shelf stacking, restocking and spill-response. Digital sign-off with version history.
COSHH register: Central SDS library for cleaning agents, pest-control chemicals and spill kits, with automated expiry alerts.
Mobile inspections: Custom checklists for weekly safety walks, loading-bay checks, fire-extinguisher tests, and cold-store audits, complete with photo evidence.
Incident reporting: Log slips, stockroom injuries, shelf collapses or abusive customer incidents with GPS and attachments. Assign investigation tasks directly.
Task management: Auto-assign corrective actions after audits or incidents, track overdue work and escalate to managers.
Training matrix: Schedule and track manual-handling, COSHH, customer safety and forklift training, with expiry reminders.
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Advanced features
Automation and alerts: Recurring audits, COSHH renewals and training expiries trigger email and SMS reminders automatically.
Role-based dashboards: Custom views for store managers, regional H&S officers and head office, showing compliance gaps and incident trends by site.
Lone-worker check-ins: Timed check-ins for late-night shelf stacking or warehouse tasks, with escalation rules if check-ins are missed.
Fatigue monitoring: Analyse shift patterns and cumulative hours worked to identify fatigue risk among staff and night-shift teams.
Pricing
Modules start at £100 per month.
Pros & cons
Pros:
Comprehensive feature set covering RAMS, COSHH, inspections, incidents and training.
Mobile-first with strong offline capability, ideal for distribution centres and in-store audits.
Transparent modular pricing and UK-based support team.
Cons:
No native e-learning content library; requires external LMS integration.
Specialty retail templates need initial configuration by evalu-8 or a partner.
SafetyCulture
SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) excels at quick, flexible mobile audits and checklists. Retailers can deploy custom forms for store walkthroughs, shelf condition checks, loading-bay safety, temperature logging in cold storage and spill-response drills. Offline mode works in signal-poor stockrooms. It lacks built-in RAMS or COSHH workflows and does not manage fatigue or lone-worker check-ins, so additional solutions are needed to complete a full retail EHS programme.
Core features
Custom audit templates: Drag-and-drop builder for store safety rounds, loading-bay checks, shelf-stacking assessments and refrigeration audits.
Media capture: Include photos, videos and voice notes in checklist items to document non-compliance or hazards.
Offline functionality: Perform audits in basements, stockrooms and remote warehouses without signal; data syncs automatically when online.
Issue tracking: Flag hazards, assign corrective tasks to staff or contractors and track closure status.
Report exports: Generate branded PDF and CSV reports for head-office review and compliance records.
Template sharing: Distribute standardised inspection forms to all stores and warehouses.
Advanced features
Analytics dashboard: Real-time metrics on audit completion rates, pass/fail trends, high-risk stores, and overdue tasks.
Integrations: Connect audit data to Power BI, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive or third-party analytics tools.
Permissions and roles: Manage who can view, edit or complete specific templates by user or store region.
Scheduled inspections: Automate recurring safety walks or equipment checks with calendar integration and pre-assigned inspectors.
Constraints and functionality gaps
No built-in RAMS authoring tool for manual-handling or restocking tasks.
No COSHH register or permit workflows for cleaning chemicals or pest control substances.
No fatigue or lone-worker monitoring features.
Task automation limited to audit-related follow-ups; broader workflow automation requires third-party tools.
Advanced branding and analytics require entry into premium plans.
Pricing
Free tier: up to 10 users and 5 active templates. Premium plans start at £15 per user per month. Enterprise pricing on request.
Pros & cons
Pros:
Rapid, intuitive mobile audit creation and deployment.
Robust offline capability ideal for busy retail environments.
Extensive template library and strong integration options.
Cons:
Lacks end-to-end FM workflows (RAMS, COSHH)
No built-in contractor sign-off or fatigue tools
Task automation limited to audit follow-ups
Risk Pal
Risk Pal is a lightweight, form-based app perfect for small pilot stores, warehouse pop-ups and temporary retail events. Create quick risk assessments for manual handling, spill-response and customer-area hazards. Export signed PDF reports for sign-off. It does not support incident logging, COSHH registers, training matrices or task automation, so it must be paired with other systems for full retail compliance.
Core features
Mobile risk assessments: Form builder with retail-centric questions for shelf stacking, customer slip hazards and loading-bay risks.
Pre-loaded templates: Ready-to-use forms for store safety walks, back-of-house hazard checks and basic COSHH questions for cleaning agents.
Hazard scoring: Automated risk-level calculations with control measure suggestions for quick mitigation.
PDF export: Generate signed, branded risk assessments for managers and health-and-safety records.
QR-code launch: Attach specific assessments to individual stores or warehouse zones via QR codes.
Basic branding: Include store logos and colours to match corporate identity.
Advanced features
Basic analytics: Aggregate risk scores across stores to identify high-risk locations or tasks.
CSV export: Download assessment data for further analysis in spreadsheets or BI tools.
Email notifications: Notify store managers when new risk assessments are submitted.
Template customisation: Edit questions or add new sections to address specific retail scenarios.
Constraints and functionality gaps
No incident or near-miss reporting module for tracking slip injuries or abusive customer events.
No full COSHH register or SDS library—only basic form fields.
No training assignment or expiry tracking for staff.
No automated task reminders or corrective-action workflows.
Offline capability restricted to completing risk assessments only.
Pricing
Free basic plan with limited assessments. Paid plan from £5 per user per month unlocks unlimited templates, exports and analytics.
Pros & cons
Pros:
Extremely fast deployment and minimal learning curve.
Retail-focused risk templates included out of the box.
Very low cost entry-level option for pilot stores or pop-ups.
Cons:
Not a full EHS solution missing incident, COSHH and training modules.
No task automation or follow-up management.
Limited offline functionality.
Sphera
Sphera is a powerful EHS and sustainability suite designed for large retail chains and distribution networks. It covers incident management, environmental compliance, risk assessments, audits and ESG reporting on one platform. Its scale and pricing make it impractical for single-store operators or small chains. You will invest in modules you may not use, and the implementation timeline can be lengthy.
Core features
Incident and case management: Capture slip, fall and stockroom injury reports, track investigations with root-cause analysis.
Environmental compliance: Monitor waste, energy use, refrigeration emissions and sustainability metrics for large distribution centres.
Risk-assessment framework: Configure templates for store-floor hazards, delivery-dock safety and manual-handling scenarios.
Audit scheduling: Plan and record forklift checks, loading-bay inspections and cold storage audits with versioned reports.
Training and competency tracking: Manage mandatory COSHH, manual-handling and vehicle-safety training for thousands of staff.
Document control: Central repository for SOPs, COSHH forms, RAMS packs and corporate policies with version control.
Advanced features
ESG dashboards: Board-level views of carbon footprint, waste diversion rates, sustainability goals and compliance metrics.
Custom workflow engine: Automate approval chains for high-risk activities, CAPA processes and regional sign-offs.
Mobile forms: On-the-go incident capture and audits via tablet or smartphone.
Data visualisation: Interactive charts for incident trends, audit compliance and training completion rates.
Constraints and functionality gaps
Extremely high cost and complexity for small-mid sized retail chains.
No retail-specific RAMS or COSHH templates out of the box.
Requires long implementation, often with consulting fees.
Mobile app and training modules need IT support to configure.
Overbuilt for straightforward store or warehouse safety needs.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing with multi-year contracts and significant setup fees.
Pros & cons
Pros:
Comprehensive EHS and ESG functionality at scale.
Powerful reporting, visualisation and compliance oversight.
Scales to hundreds of locations and thousands of users.
Cons:
Far too expensive for smaller retail chains or single-store operations.
Steep learning curve and long implementation timeline.
Requires dedicated IT support and consulting resources.
HandsHQ
HandsHQ is designed for live events and temporary retail locations ideal for in-store demos, pop-up shops and weekend markets. It provides mobile checklists for crowd management, stockroom safety, loading-dock setup and incident capture. It does not include COSHH registers, RAMS authoring, fatigue monitoring or training modules, so it should be used as a complementary tool rather than a standalone retail EHS system.
Core features
Retail event checklists: Pre-built forms for pop-up stall safety, demo-area inspections, aisle obstruction checks and security patrols.
Incident reporting: Capture slip, trip or customer-altercation incidents on site, attach photos and assign follow-up tasks.
Task assignment: Automatically assign corrective actions to floor staff or security teams with due dates.
Photo evidence: Document hazards or equipment faults with images and annotations.
Manager sign-off: Ensure store managers approve completed checklists and incident resolutions.
Role-based access: Restrict form access and editing rights based on user roles and location.
Advanced features
Staff check-ins: Record safety briefing attendance for temporary or agency workers.
Basic dashboards: Track open tasks, incident counts and resolution times for events or pop-ups.
Calendar integration: Schedule recurring checks for demo areas, promotional displays or temporary kiosks.
PDF report exports: Generate client-ready reports for event or store stakeholders.
Constraints and functionality gaps
No full COSHH register or SDS management for cleaning and spill kits.
No RAMS builder for manual-handling or high-risk tasks.
No fatigue or lone-worker check-ins for overnight setups.
Limited trend analysis no multi-event or multi-store comparisons.
Offline mode can be unreliable in high-traffic or signal-poor areas.
Pricing
Plans start at £10 per user per month. Enterprise packages available for larger event networks or retail-agency clients.
Pros & cons
Pros:
Tailored for temporary retail events and pop-up safety checks.
Easy mobile incident capture with photo and assignment features.
Rapid deployment for short-term projects.
Cons:
Lacks core retail EHS workflows (RAMS, COSHH, training).
Not ideal for permanent store operations or warehousing.
Limited reporting and offline reliability issues.
Final Thoughts
Retail and warehouse safety in 2025 demands digital RAMS, COSHH, mobile audits, incident tracking and centralised oversight across hundreds of stores and distribution centres. While each platform has strengths SafetyCulture excels in mobile inspections, Risk Pal offers rapid risk assessments, Sphera suits enterprise chains, HandsHQ serves pop-ups, Evalu-8 EHS is the only solution delivering complete retail workflows in one modular package. From RAMS for shelf stacking to COSHH for cleaning agents, incident logging for slip injuries and fatigue monitoring for night shifts, Evalu-8 EHS empowers store managers and regional H&S officers to maintain consistent compliance and protect staff and customers across a large retail network.
FAQs
Evalu-8 EHS provides a comprehensive RAMS builder tailored to shelf stacking, restocking and spill-response, plus a full COSHH register for cleaning chemicals and pest control ideal for large retail networks.
Yes. Both Evalu-8 EHS and SafetyCulture offer offline-capable mobile apps, allowing store managers and warehouse teams to perform inspections without signal and automatically sync data when reconnected.
Most platforms—Evalu-8 EHS, SafetyCulture and Sphera centralise incident logging with timestamps, location tags and attachments. Regional H&S officers can view dashboards that aggregate incidents and trends by store or distribution centre.
Evalu-8 EHS includes built-in fatigue monitoring based on shift patterns and lone-worker check-ins with timed alerts. Other platforms (e.g. SafetyCulture, Risk Pal) do not offer fatigue modules natively.
Evalu-8 EHS uses a clear, per-user, per-month modular model starting at £2.50. SafetyCulture and Risk Pal publish entry-level rates. Sphera and HandsHQ require quote-based pricing, so you must engage their sales teams for specifics.
