Home Depot unveils official workplace safety checklist and Dock Safety digital rollout

Home Depot has issued an official workplace safety checklist for stores, offices and job sites and is pushing a digital rollout of dock and lift-equipment inspections that the company says will strengthen on-the-job protections for associates.

The checklist, provided as a company PDF, uses simple form fields — "Completed by:", "Date:", "Location:", and "Notes:" — with YES/NO columns for items across sections labeled GENERAL SAFETY, HOUSEKEEPING & SANITATION and FIRE SAFETY. Sample checklist items include verifying a fully stocked first aid kit, clearly posted emergency phone numbers and safety signage, anchored cabinets and bookshelves, unobstructed floors free of trip and slip hazards, and ensuring workers and subcontractors are trained in safety procedures. Fire-safety entries carry specific numeric standards: extinguishers must be within a 75-foot travel distance, at least one extinguisher must be adjacent to stairways at each floor level in California, and hand-held extinguishers should be mounted at least 4 inches off the ground.

The company says the checklist covers PPE requirements, hand and power tool safety, slip/trip/fall protection, electrical safety, material handling, vehicle and dock safety, hazard communication, chemical handling and construction. The PDF also directs users to use The Home Depot Pro’s Legislation and Safety guides to understand industry regulations and ensure business compliance.

Home Depot introduced a Dock Safety program in 2023 and continued investment and rollout through 2024, with a stated goal of completing a full rollout across U.S. stores by the end of 2025. The program "provides restraint systems that prevent trailers from accidentally pulling away before loading or unloading is complete, giving associates greater control over the process, while maintaining safety and efficiency."

The company also began transitioning its Daily Lift Equipment Safety checklist to a digital format in 2024, available on company-provided devices. Corporate materials say the change "simplifies and modernizes the checklist, moving from a manual, time consuming process to a simpler paperless experience that provides a consistent experience for our associates. The digital checklist allows associates to use their Company-provided devices to complete store equipment inspections and enables managers to review completed walks and provide feedback — increasing productivity, promoting associate engagement and improving safety."

Safety training and culture are central to the rollout. Home Depot states, "We know our highest risk associates are new hires, which is why we begin every new hire orientation with safety." Leaders receive demonstrations and Safety Passports, and the company advises practical responses when safety gaps appear. In one Q&A scenario the guidance is explicit: "Realizing the potential safety issue, Tonya should tell Marcus she is not properly trained. Marcus should advise Tonya not to operate the forklift, find another associate to help and ensure Tonya gets the necessary training so she can assist in the future."

Supplier and vendor standards echo a strict approach. Home Depot opens its Safety and Loss Prevention Standards by asserting that "no accident is acceptable." The vendor rules prohibit representatives from operating THD powered lift equipment and require ladder and merchandising practices such as "Lock step brake engaged at all times on rolling ladders; may not be moved when occupied," never cutting stretch wrap from overhead palletized merchandise, and not hand-stacking merchandise higher than 4 Feet in overheads.

For associates, the package means more formalized checklists, clearer numeric standards for fire and storage safety, new dock restraint equipment at loading areas, and digitized inspections that let managers track walks and offer feedback. The rollout continues into 2025, and associates should expect expanded training, equipment-change announcements and broader use of company devices for daily safety checks as the programs complete deployment.