Rack Safety and Personal Protective Equipment Training

1. January Training Summary • Personal Protective Equipment • Boots that cover ankle • Glasses - Protective eyewear • Gloves that cover palm and back of hand • Exceptions are for merchandisers who have a physician statement that details what types of shoes, glasses or gloves that must be worn that are not consistent with the current PPE Policy. • Rolling Rack Safety • Identify what type and location of wheel casters are on the rack before you maneuver a rack. This is important so that you know how to maneuver the rack. • Stationary Caster – • Wheels move only in one direction • Swivel Caster- • Wheels move in any direction. • High Volume Rack & Slim Racks • These racks are to be pulled by the outpost walking one step ahead and to the side of the rack. This helps eliminate the possibility of rolling over the foot and also helps eliminate the possibility of colliding with objects or a person in front of you. Garden Vision Presentation Format

2. February Training Summary Box Rack Box racks are to be pulled by pallet jacks only. Even though these racks have wheels they are very difficult to steer and using a pallet jack helps maintain better control of the rack when maneuvering. Forks need to be placed completely in the lower level of the rack where wheels are located. Pallet jack should be pumped to where the rack is 2 inches from the ground. Pull rack in the direction of where you are heading to avoid collisions. EZ Shipper Pallets Jacks should always be used when maneuvering an EZ Shipper Rack. Place forks in the bottom of the pallet assuring the forks are completely in. Lift rack 2 inches from the ground and pull in the direction you are heading. Garden Vision Presentation Format

3. March Training Summary • What Not to Do when Maneuvering or Handling Racks • Never stand or stop in front of rack when coming to a stop. • Do not use the pull bar. • Never climb on a rack to reach plants. Always use a stool or step ladder. • Never attempt to maneuver a rack that is defective. • Never try to move more than one rack at a time • Never allow someone to walk in front of a rack that you are pulling • Identifying a Damaged Rack • Place damaged sticker on the left side of bar code • Pallet Safety • Before moving a pallet inspect the pallet for broken wood or for protruding nails. • If pallet is defective place pallet in appropriate storage area provided by the store. • Never leave an empty pallet lying on the floor. Always take an empty pallet to the appropriate storage area. • Never leave a pallet propped on it end against an object. Pallet could fall on to someone or someone could trip over it after it has fallen. Garden Vision Presentation Format

4. April Training Summary • Pallet Lifting and Stacking Safety • Always lift pallet with your knees and not your back • When stacking a pallet place pallet on it’s end and prop pallet against stack and let pallet fall onto existing stack of pallets • Other Safety Concerns when Merchandising • Do not stand on any fixtures when merchandising. This includes but not limited to grid tables, end caps, and racks. Always use a ladder or step stool if needed to be elevated. • Always be aware of your surrounding before any type of maneuvering to avoid collisions with objects or people. Take a general survey of where you will be going and what areas to avoid Garden Vision Presentation Format

5. May Training Summary Review Rack Safety Document Review rack safety every month with every merchandiser. Review Personal Protective Equipment Policy Unfortunately we are seeing merchandisers who are not wearing boots and other specified PPE when supervisors are making visits to the stores. Boots being worn definitely reduced ankle injuries! Red Handled Cart Safety These injuries are occurring when merchandisers are not looking around their work area and on the floor when moving in the opposite direction of where they are working. The red cart handles are left with the handle extending over the walk way rather than being propped against the table the carts parked under. Please have your merchandisers move these carts away from the tables they are working and when they move them make sure they prop the handle against the table rather than allowing the handle to extend over the walk way. Instruct your merchandisers to always take inventory of their environment before maneuvering themselves or a cart for objects and obstructions that could be a possible tripping hazard. Garden Vision Presentation Format

6. June Training Summary Hydration We are now warming up in all areas that we service. Make sure your merchandisers have a good understanding of taking in fluids and electrolytes during the season. Most stores allow a water cooler in the garden center. Please show your merchandisers where this cooler is located and if stores do not have a hydration center address the store about having a hydration center set up in the garden center. Make sure you instruct merchandisers that they must be courteous as far as not leaving empty cups or bottles around the garden center. Have the them label their water drinking container and leave it in an inconspicuous place while they are working. Gatorade also replaces electrolytes more effectively than water. *KEEP RECEIPT WHEN PURCHASING DRINKS FROM STORE Bug Bites: talk to merchandisers of location of 1st aid kits. Watch for allergic reactions. Fill out an accident report for all bites and stings. Sun Protection- Make sure you tell your merchandisers the importance of proper sun protection. Advise the use of high SPF sunscreen and the use of hats with wide brims that comply with dress code, clean and free of logos. Garden Vision Presentation Format

7. July Training Summary • Review Rack Safety • We need to review rack safety every month with every merchandiser. • The Importance of Using Ladders for Reaching Items Overhead • No merchandiser at any time should stand on fixtures, end caps, patio blocks, cinderblocks or rolling racks to reach items over head. • Step ladders or small rolling grey Lowe’s ladders are to be used exclusively to reach and grasp items overhead. • Merchandisers are not Allowed to Enter Tractor Trailers of any Kind • Merchandisers can be seriously injured from injuries related to tractor trailers. • Lift gates and falling off tailgates have the most potential for injury. • This includes the tail gates of all vendor trucks and the pine straw trailers. • If a merchandiser is asked by a Lowe’s customer to retrieve pine straw politely direct them to the cashier to have them page someone from Lowe’s to assist . • Review Personal Protective Equipment Policy • Boots – Gloves – Glasses Garden Vision Presentation Format

8. August Training Summary • Obstacles Obstructing Walkways • The red cart handles are left with the handle extending over the walk way rather than being propped against the table the carts parked under. • Please have your merchandisers move these carts away from the tables they are working and when they move them make sure they prop the handle against the table rather than allowing the handle to extend over the walk way. • We also have had several injuries related to merchandisers not having accurate footing when pulling objects off racks and Hanging Basket racks.. • Instruct your merchandisers to always take inventory of their environment before maneuvering themselves or a cart for objects and obstructions that could be a possible tripping hazard. • Sun Protection • This is the peak of summer time in most areas we service. Sun exposure is inevitable. • Emphasize the importance of sun protection. Emphasize not only sun burn prevention but the harmful effects of long term sun exposure. • Encourage High SPF sunscreens. • Advise the use of hats with wide brims of a neutral color with no logos, clean and in compliance with dress code policy. Garden Vision Presentation Format

9. September Training Summary • Heat Exhaustion/Hydration • This time of year the humidity and temperatures are the highest in all areas we service. • Make sure your merchandisers have a good understanding of taking in fluids and electrolytes during this time of year. • Most stores allow a water cooler in the garden center. • Please show your merchandisers where this cooler is located and if stores do not have a hydration center address the store about having a hydration center set up in the garden center. • Make sure you instruct merchandisers to be courteous about not leaving empty cups or bottles around the garden center. • Have the merchandisers label their water drinking container and leave it in an inconspicuous place while they are working. • Instruct merchandisers to take breaks in compliance with policy to allow for sufficient cooling times on extreme heat weather days. • Make sure they have an understanding of the appropriate break taking policy so this privilege and necessity is not abused. • KEEP RECEIPT WHEN PURCHASING DRINKS FROM STORE Garden Vision Presentation Format

10. October Training Summary • Review Rack Safety • Review rack safety every month with every merchandiser. • The Importance of Using Ladders for Reaching Items Overhead • No merchandiser at any time should stand on fixtures, end caps, patio blocks, cinderblocks or rolling racks to reach items over head. • Step ladders or small rolling grey Lowe’s ladders are to be used exclusively to reach and grasp items overhead. • Merchandisers are not Allowed to Enter Tractor Trailers of any Kind • Merchandisers can be seriously injured from injuries related to tractor trailers. • Lift gates and falling off tailgates have the most potential for injury. • This includes the tail gates of all vendor trucks and the pine straw trailers. • If an merchandiser is asked by a Lowe’s customer to retrieve pine straw politely direct the customer to the cashier to have them page someone from Lowe’s to assist the customer’s needs. Garden Vision Presentation Format

11. November Training Summary Review Personal Protective Equipment Policy Please emphasize to your merchandisers to wear eyewear anytime they are merchandising product. Eye injuries are serious and cause permanent impairment. • Red Carts • Please have your merchandisers move these carts away from the tables they are working and when they move them make sure they prop the handle against the tables. • Obstacles Obstructing Walkways • These injuries most often occur when not looking around on the floor or are not paying attention to surroundings. • The red cart handles are left protruding in the walk way. • Injuries often occur when merchandisers do not have accurate footing when pulling objects off racks and Hanging Basket racks. • *Instruct merchandisers to always take inventory of their environment before maneuvering themselves or a cart for objects and obstructions that could be a possible tripping hazard. Garden Vision Presentation Format

12. December Training Summary • Cold Weather Precautions • Encourage your merchandisers to layer clothing. Layers of clothing are more effective in keeping you warm and comfortable than just wearing a jacket or heavy sweat shirt. • Encourage merchandisers to wear warm hats. The majority of body heat is lost from head exposure to cool air. If you keep your head covered your body temperature is better maintained and conserved. • Wear warm water proof gloves to help protect your hands from becoming cold and wet • Encourage merchandisers to save greenhouse work for early morning . This will allow the merchandiser to work inside the first or second hour of the morning to allow for outside temperatures to warm up. • Christmas Tree Cutting and Loading • Make it explicitly clear to all merchandisers that they are not to help Lowe’s or customers cut Christmas Trees. Every year customers or store personnel will attempt to solicit merchandisers help in cutting trees. This is a potentially dangerous task which prohibits merchandisers from offering assistance, and no GV merchandisers are to assist in Christmas Trees Cutting • GV merchandisers are also not allowed to load trees into or onto customer cars. If merchandisers are asked to help them load their tree have them politely direct them to store personnel for assistance. Garden Vision Presentation Format