Retail Worker Safety Stats and Facts

FACTS

1. Slips, trips and falls account for many injuries in the retail space, mostly due to wet floors, cluttered areas, and uneven surfaces.
2. Machinery like forklifts and pallet jacks are used in warehouses or stocking areas in retail environments. If you are asked to use one of these, remember that you will require special training beforehand.
3. Harassment can come with jobs heavy on customer service. Harassment doesn’t typically turn into violence, except in extreme cases, but can be very hurtful and malicious.
4. Stepladders can result in a fall. They have also been known to crush fingers when folded.
5. Biological hazards in a retail environment include parasites, viruses, mold, and infection. These hazards can come from the ventilation system, hand-to-hand contact with customers, cleaning bathrooms, and small cuts and scrapes.
6. MSIs (musculoskeletal injuries) They can come from lifting, repetitive movements, and overexertion. Symptoms of MSIs include swelling, tingling, stiffness, pain, and redness.
7. Sharps, like box cutters or knives are often used in stores and should be treated with caution.
8. Theft is constant concern for retail employees and can result in confrontation. You should never approach someone you suspect of theft of or shoplifting or try to stop them alone.

STATS

• The retail and wholesale industries experience around 800,000 serious injuries each year.

2020 Retail Violent Fatalities Report:

• 523 Retail Fatalities in 2020 – Up 40% in Last 5 Years.
• 123 Associate Fatalities in 2020 – Up 41% from 2019.
• 76% of Deaths are Innocent Victims.
• 24% of Deaths are Suspects.
• 48% Killed in Parking Lots.
• 50% of Fatalities Occurred in Convenience Stores or Restaurants.