Some Walmart stores have started using body cameras for their employees.

• In select U.S. Walmart stores, a pilot program is underway where employees wear body cameras.
• Law enforcement technology is being expanded into retail to prevent conflict and theft.
• Earlier this year, TJX Companies announced that its loss prevention staff are utilizing body cameras in certain areas.

CNBC has learned that some of its U.S. locations have started giving store-level associates body cameras to wear as part of a pilot program.

Some Walmart stores have body-worn cameras in use, as indicated by signs at entry points, according to witnesses and online photos.

An associate in a store in Denton, Texas, was seen wearing a yellow-and-black body camera while checking receipts earlier this month, as shared by a shopper who posted a photo on CNBC.

"A Walmart spokesperson stated to CNBC that while they do not discuss the specifics of their security measures, they are constantly exploring new and innovative technology used in the retail industry. This is a pilot program being tested in one market, and the results will be evaluated before any long-term decisions are made."

The largest nongovernmental employer in the U.S., Walmart, is testing body cameras at its stores as a way to enhance worker safety, following the lead of smaller retailers who have started using the technology to deter theft. Despite the common advertising of body cameras as a way to prevent shoplifting, Walmart's program is focused on ensuring the safety of its employees, not on loss prevention.

The document titled "Providing great customer service while creating a safer environment" instructs staff on how to use the devices, including recording an event if an interaction with a customer is escalating, not wearing the devices in employee break areas and bathrooms, and discussing any incidents with another team member who can help log the event in the "ethics and compliance app."

During the holiday shopping season, when retail employees work long hours and face tough interactions with customers that can be more tense and hostile than usual, Walmart provides body cameras to its employees.

"During the holiday season, harassment intensifies, and it's even worse, according to Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. He stated that everyone is stressed out and when they can't find what they're looking for, they get upset and blame the shop worker."

The RWDSU is concerned that body cameras are more about surveillance and deterring theft than making employees safer, as stated by Appelbaum, whose union does not represent Walmart employees but includes staff from retailers such as and H&M.

""Training on deescalation is necessary for workers. Workers require instruction on how to handle hostile situations at work. The body camera does not intervene. We need safe staffing and panic buttons," said Appelbaum."

United for Respect, a workers organization for Walmart and Amazon staffers, has requested more training for Walmart employees, but the company has not met those demands. Bianca Agustin, the co-executive director of the group, stated that body cameras could be part of the solution, but they are "no substitute" for proper training.

"Agustin stated that the body cams may not promote deescalation naturally. He argued that there have been instances of violence against workers at self-checkout kiosks, which could hinder deterrence and even provoke people."

Plus, "there's already cameras in stores," said Agustin.

The National Retail Federation's vice president of asset protection and retail operations, David Johnston, stated that body cameras have helped reduce conflict in retail settings. He explained that retailers he works with have observed that people behave differently when they know they are being recorded, particularly when cameras are positioned directly in front of them.

"According to Johnston, many body-worn cameras have reverse view monitors, which display a video screen of the wearer on camera. This can be a significant deterrent as it allows the wearer to see themselves being recorded. Johnston believes that seeing oneself on camera is likely to prompt a change in behavior, making the use of body-worn cameras an effective tool."

Retailers are implementing body cameras to prevent theft and enhance store safety, as customers express dissatisfaction with merchandise being secured in cases, according to Johnston.

"Mark Cohen, a former CEO of Sears Canada and a former director of retail studies at Columbia Business School, stated that Walmart has significant exposure. He believes that Walmart's sales force may be unhappy with the exposure they receive and feel that the store does not do enough to protect them and the store. Cohen's statement is a test to determine whether this exposure has any positive effects on deterring criminals and alleviating the anxiety and irritation of associates."

A longtime retail employee who spent a decade at Hot Topic and left the industry said that being threatened with violence was a routine occurrence in their job, and they are unsure if body cameras would have prevented it.

"The former mall employee stated that when these individuals are confronting them and making threats, they are not thinking logically, even with a camera present."

The former employee stated that they didn't feel safer during interactions with a body camera, but having a police presence nearby would have been helpful.

In the NRF's annual security survey, 35% of retailers who responded said they were researching body cameras for their employees or loss prevention staff. However, no respondents claimed that body cameras were fully operational. On the other hand, 11% of retailers said they were either piloting or testing the solution.

is one of them.

In May, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and HomeGoods announced the implementation of body cameras in their stores. According to finance chief John Joseph Klinger, these devices have been successful in decreasing inventory loss.

"Klinger stated that the company started wearing body cameras on their loss prevention associates last year, and this has helped to deescalate situations by making people less likely to act out when they are being recorded."

The TJX spokesperson stated that the loss prevention associates who use body cameras have undergone extensive training on how to utilize the cameras effectively in their duties.

"Body cameras are one of the ways we support a safe store environment. We have policies, trainings, and procedures in place to ensure safety. Our hope is that these cameras will help de-escalate incidents, deter crime, and demonstrate our commitment to safety."