AUSTRALIA | Australian Paralympian Col Pearse has cut the ribbon on Woolworths’ newest accessible checkout in Hurstville, Sydney.
Woolworths’ accessible checkout design is believed to be a world first. It incorporates a range of features not used in traditional checkouts.
This has provided further opportunities for team members living with a physical disability, who use a wheelchair for mobility or have other disabilities, such as lower-body amputations, which may make it difficult for them to stand for extended periods.
The accessible checkout can be adjusted in height. This ensures wheelchair users can comfortably fit under the conveyor belt and provides height adjustment for those who need to sit on a stool.
A narrower conveyor belt has allowed easy access to all groceries from a seated position without strain, and the rotating bag transfer has eliminated heavy lifting by allowing team members to rotate packed bags towards the customer.
There is also a pull drawer for receipt paper, providing easy access for refilling.
“It’s awesome to see Woolworths making it easier for people with disabilities to work in a supermarket,” said Paralympian Swimmer Col Pearse, who won Silver at the Paris Games.
“I know for someone like me who has a lower-leg amputation, standing for extended periods can be painful, so this checkout has the potential to open doors to lots of different people with disabilities.”
Pearse added that it was also great that Woolworths has involved people with disabilities in designing the checkout, as this could help point out small things that make a big difference as well as remove some barriers to jobs like this.
The accessible checkout was designed from scratch by Woolworths in consultation with independent specialists in inclusive design.
Woolworths team member Johnson Chen, who joined Pearse at Woolworths Hurstville, was part of the group that helped test the prototype design. The installation of the new checkout made this possible. Chen will start working at the Hurstville store this month.
Johnson, whose feedback was incorporated into the final design, has worked at Woolworths’ Kellyville Grove store for the last year, where the supermarket’s very first accessible checkout was piloted.
Due to the installation of Woolworths’ newest accessible checkout at the Hurstville store, Johnson could transfer to the team near where he lives.
“I’d like to thank Woolworths for this opportunity to work there. I’ve loved joining the Woolworths team and working on the checkout. It’s certainly made my uni holidays more productive and given me a new perspective on the workforce. I’m excited that I’ll be able to spend this Christmas break working at a more local store thanks to a new accessible checkout being installed here,” said Johnson.
“The accessible register is very convenient - it has gone through multiple tests not just by me but with many other wheelchair users. In particular, I like how the register is height adjustable to suit the many types of wheelchair heights, which also can be adjusted to the height of a standing person to work at the register.”
The innovative checkout design is more comprehensive than a regular checkout. It typically requires all the other checkouts in a store to be repositioned and reinstalled to accommodate the additional space needed.
The process to accommodate the new accessible checkout at Woolworths’ Hurstville store was made possible by scheduled renovations to refresh the store, which were completed this week.
“We strongly believe that our team should represent the diverse community they serve, and we have the onus to create more accessible jobs,” said Rob McCartney, Managing Director of Woolworths 360.
“Unfortunately, there have traditionally been practical barriers for people who use wheelchairs or have other physical disabilities to work in many retail spaces. However, we’re working to change that with these new accessible checkouts, and we’ll continue to look for opportunities to make them available in other stores.”
Woolworths Hurstville's renewal also included a revamped front entrance, new flooring, electronic shelf labels, and an extended dairy selection.
Based on customer feedback, the store has also increased its international foods section, with the area dedicated to Asian foods almost doubling in size.
Another highlight of the renewal was the implementation of Woolworths’ recycled trolleys, which are available in select stores and feature a trolley basket made from 100 percent recycled plastic from used milk bottles.
