If you are injured because of or while at your job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Benefits you may be eligible for include vocational rehabilitation, facial disfiguration, medical care, wage loss benefits, and/or temporary or permanent disability payments. While retail work is not typically considered dangerous, many retail employees suffer workplace accidents and injuries. In this article, we will discuss the dangers of retail work as well as injuries often sustained by retail employees.
What Is Retail?
Retail businesses sell goods directly to consumers. Many types of business fall into the retail industry, including:
- Bookstores
- Department stores
- Motor vehicle or auto parts ships
- Music, sporting, or hobbies stores
- Pet supply shops
- Plant nurseries or garden supply stores
- Supermarkets
- Warehouse clubs or superstores
Common Job Hazards for Retail Workers
Retail companies and employers should take steps to ensure their employees’ safety. By offering training and instituting safety regulations and supervising their workers, employers are responsible for maintaining a safe workplace. However, retail workers can face certain hazards if their employer is negligent. Common retail industry hazards include:
- Cluttered aisles.
- Falling merchandise
- Heavy equipment. (i.e. pallet jacks, forklifts, etc.)
- Ladders or scaffolding incidents
- Motor vehicle accidents (in parking lots, during deliveries, etc.)
- Repetitive motion or movements
- Sharp tools or equipment (i.e. scissors, box cutters, etc.)
- Wet or slippery floors
- Workplace violence
Common Injuries Suffered by Retail Workers
Because of the hustle and bustle of stores as well as the long hours either standing, lifting, or performing other job duties, workers can suffer from injuries caused by a number of hazards, and they can suffer from any number of injuries. The type of injury and severity of such injuries is dependent on the type of accident in which a worker is involved. Common retail injuries include:
- Muscle strains or sprains. Musculoskeletal injuries often impact the muscles in a person’s back, shoulders, hands, or arms; strains and sprains can lead to painful inflammation and discomfort. A worker can suffer these injuries if they often lift heavy items but do not have the proper form or lift items that are too bulky.
- Lacerations or puncture wounds. Retail employees can be cut or lacerated in a host of incidents. While some accidents may only lead to small scrapes, incidents involving tools and equipment can cause serious, deep wounds.
- Broken bones, fractures, and/or bruises. In slip or trip and fall accidents as well as other common retail workplace accidents, an employee can suffer a bruise or broken bone.
- Traumatic brain injuries. Falling objects, slip and fall accidents, and other incidents can lead to a person suffering a blow to the head, which can lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are multiple types of TBIs that a person can sustain that range in severity, including concussions, hematomas, brain bleeds, and diffuse axonal injuries. Certain TBIs require extensive medical care and can impact a person’s ability to concentrate or function.
- Leg cramps and/or backaches. Cashiers, department store clerks, and other retail workers that stand for long periods (over five hours at a time) can suffer from lower body muscle fatigue and cramps.
Contact Our Firm for Legal Help
At Bridges, Jillisky, Weller & Gullifer, LLC, we are committed to helping our clients fight for their right to fair compensation. Suffering an injury while on your job is not only frustrating but can also have a profound impact on your life. Our attorneys can help you with a host of workers’ compensation matters, including but not limited to:
- Filing for workers’ compensation
- Workplace accident claims
- Workplace injury claims
- Workers’ compensation appeals
To learn more about our services, call (937) 403-9033 or complete our online contact form to schedule a case consultation today.