Walmart issues post-incident checklist for frontline associates, managers after emergencies

After an evacuation or other emergency, the first actions you take shape safety, liability, and how quickly the store can reopen. This checklist is written for Walmart frontline associates, supervisors, and local managers and is meant to be used immediately after a workplace emergency, safety incident, or law-enforcement evacuation, including bomb threats, swatting, violent incidents, and similar events. It focuses on three practical goals: document what happened, contact the right people, and escalate when necessary.

Immediate actions (first 30 minutes) 1. Ensure people are accounted for and safe. Confirm that all associates and customers who evacuated are at the designated assembly point and report any missing or injured people to responding officers or medical personnel. 2. Secure the scene to preserve evidence. Do not move or alter items involved in the incident unless doing so prevents further harm. If law enforcement is on scene, follow their direction about preserving areas and physical evidence. 3. Start a written incident log immediately. Note the time of evacuation, who gave the order, arrival times of law enforcement and emergency services, and names of witnesses. This written log is the core record you will rely on for internal reporting and any follow-up.

Documenting the incident: what to capture and why Keep three types of documentation: a timeline, witness statements, and physical records. The timeline should list minute-by-minute events from the first sign of trouble through law-enforcement departure, with the author’s name at the top. Collect short witness statements from associates and customers who observed relevant details; each should include the witness’s name, role, contact information, and a brief, dated account. Preserve store systems that may contain evidence: CCTV footage, transaction logs, and door-entry records. Do not delete or overwrite footage, and note the camera IDs and approximate recording times in your incident log so Asset Protection or investigators can retrieve the correct files.

Who to notify and when Notify store leadership and Asset Protection as your first internal calls. If law enforcement remains on scene, tell Asset Protection that officers are handling the investigation and provide the incident log and witness names. Escalate to district or market management when: the incident involved serious injury, the store was closed by police, or there is potential media attention or legal exposure. Communicate clearly whether the store will remain closed, when associates should report for work, and who will handle payroll and scheduling questions.

Escalation steps and what to expect If the incident requires further review, Asset Protection will coordinate with law enforcement and local leadership. Be prepared to hand over your written log, witness statements, and notes about preserved footage. If asked for interviews, direct media or external inquiries to designated leadership; do not provide unofficial statements on behalf of the store.

Store reopening and communicating to associates When law enforcement clears the store, supervisors and local managers should run a short safety briefing for returning associates that reviews what happened, any temporary protective measures, and who to contact with concerns. Provide a clear, factual summary in writing for associates’ records, including the timeline and next steps. If the store will remain closed for hours or the rest of the day, document when the decision was made and who authorized it.

Tips for preserving evidence and records

• Label and date all written notes and witness statements immediately after obtaining them.
• Photograph the scene only if it is safe to do so and doing so will not interfere with law enforcement. Note camera IDs and times rather than relying solely on handheld photos.
• Do not erase or overwrite CCTV; instead, mark which time segments are relevant so Asset Protection can secure them.
• Keep a digital and a physical copy of the incident log in separate locations if possible.

Practical considerations for supervisors and local managers Supervisors should manage the immediate human needs: first aid, holding areas for witnesses, and arranging post-incident transportation if required. Local managers must ensure that documentation is complete and forwarded to the appropriate internal channels. This checklist is intended to be evergreen, meaning supervisors and managers should make it part of regular safety drills so the steps feel familiar when a real emergency occurs.

Why timely documentation and escalation matter Accurate, immediate records make follow-up investigations faster and reduce confusion about who did what and when. Prompt escalation brings in the right expertise from Asset Protection and district leadership and helps coordinate decisions about reopening, scheduling, and communications. For frontline associates, consistent documentation can clarify questions about work hours, absence codes, and next steps after an incident.

Final note Keep this checklist in the store office and on the shift handoff board so associates, supervisors, and local managers can use it verbatim when a safety incident occurs. Practice it in drills, preserve every piece of documentation, and notify the right internal contacts early so the store can return to safe operations as quickly as possible.