Working in retail can be physically demanding, with long hours on your feet and heavy lifting. Unfortunately, it can also come with its fair share of injuries.
From musculoskeletal injuries to scrapes and cuts, there are many different types of injuries that retail workers face daily.
Let’s look at the most common retail worker injuries, so you know what to watch out for, or you can find more at https://cerity.com/what-are-the-most-common-retail-worker-injuries/.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries are one of the most common retail worker injuries. These injuries are caused by straining or overusing muscles, tendons, or ligaments while performing repetitive motions such as lifting boxes or stocking shelves. Common musculoskeletal injuries include sprains, strains, tendonitis, and back pain.
Bruises, Fractures, And Broken Bones
Retail workers are often exposed to sharp, hard objects that could cause bruises and fractures if mishandled. For example, glass bottles can easily break if dropped or mishandled, leading to deep cuts or broken bones. To avoid these injuries, workers must wear protective gear such as gloves and safety glasses when handling sharp or breakable objects.
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are another common injury retail workers face due to repetitive tasks like stocking shelves and unloading trucks. These injuries can range from mild discomfort to severe pain, depending on how often and long they occur. Symptoms include hand, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, and back pain and numbness or tingling in the affected areas.
Scrapes And Cuts
Working around sharp objects increases the risk of scrapes and cuts, which can cause significant bleeding if not treated properly. These types of wounds should be cleaned immediately with soap and water before applying an antiseptic cream or ointment to prevent infection from setting in. Bandages should also be used to keep the wound clean until it is healed completely.
Leg Cramps
Long shifts on your feet combined with standing all day can lead to leg cramps which can be pretty painful if not addressed quickly enough. Regular breaks throughout the day are essential to give your legs a chance to rest so that you don’t end up experiencing leg cramps during your shift. Stretching exercises can also help prevent leg cramps from occurring while at work by lengthening tight muscles that may contribute to this type of discomfort.
Backaches
Backaches are common retail worker injuries because they often have to lift heavy boxes or stock shelves for long periods without taking a break between tasks, which strains their back muscles, leading to soreness and discomfort later on. To prevent backaches, you should use proper form when lifting objects and take frequent breaks throughout your shift so your body can recover from any physical exertion during that period.
Common Retail Worker Injuries: In Closing
If not taken seriously enough, working in retail can put you at risk for various physical ailments ranging from minor scrapes and cuts to more severe musculoskeletal issues. That’s why it’s essential for those working in this industry to take steps toward preventing these kinds of workplace accidents.
They can do so by wearing protective gear when dealing with sharp objects, taking regular breaks throughout their shift, stretching regularly before/during/after their shift, using proper form when lifting heavy items off shelves/out of containers, etc. Doing these few simple things will go a long way toward keeping you safe while working in retail.
