Effective safety management is crucial in reducing accidents and maintaining a safe working environment.

A snapshot of the retail industry

The retail industry is one of the largest employment industries in Australia¹. Every retail business is different, and this diverse industry encompasses large chain corporations, medium store networks as well as small businesses. Businesses typically operate physical shop fronts serving walk-in customers, however there is a rising number of online retailers.

Common hazards and risks

Each retail workplace is different in its layout and work activities. However, there are common hazards that should be addressed by all employers in the retail industry:

• Hazardous manual tasks – from lifting heavy or awkward objects such as boxes, repetitive work such as reaching for stock, scanning items or restocking shelves, as well as long hours standing.
• Slip, trip and falls – slipping on uneven or slippery floors, trips over stock stored on the floor or in walkways and falls from using ladders.
• Work related violence – retail crime involving weapons and robberies and contact with abusive customers.
• Work-related stress – generated by work pressure (high work demand and low support) as well as by bullying and harassment.
• Being hit by moving or falling objects – from overstocking shelves or falling loads on pallets.
• Cuts – such as from using a knife to open boxes.
• Fatigue – particularly because of long hours, shift or night work.

Hazards and risks that are less common but may be present in the retail industry include: 

• Pedestrians being hit by trucks and mobile plant – In retail settings with warehouses using vehicles or mobile plant such as forklifts to transport goods.
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Burns from food preparation.
• Interacting with large numbers of customers – can lead to issues such as increased risk of exposure to infectious disease (i.e. COVID-19 or common colds/flu).

Vulnerable workers in the retail industry

The retail industry is also of concern from a health and safety perspective as it frequently employs vulnerable workers such as:

• Young workers
• Part-time and casual workers
• Culturally and linguistically diverse workers

Vulnerable workers are usually unaware of work, health and safety laws and how it applies to their duties, which makes them more at risk of suffering injuries in the workplace². Research shows that 15 to 25 year old have a 75% greater chance of being injured at work, and in NSW alone 15 workers in this age group are injured every day.

A survey conducted in 2013 on the types of work-related injuries experienced by young people found²:

• One quarter of young workers injured, worked in the retail industry
• Cuts and open wounds were the most common injury for young workers in the retail industry
• Young female workers working as casuals recorded the highest frequency rate of injury.

How to prevent injuries in your workplace

Effective safety management is crucial in reducing accidents and maintaining a safe working environment.

Since every retail workplace is different, employers need to put in place a Work, Health and Safety (WHS) Management system to assess the hazards specific to their business and put in place controls to manage risks.

As part of their WHS Management System, retail employers need to ensure all employees have appropriate induction, task specific training and supervision to ensure work is done safely. Special attention should be paid to young workers and other vulnerable workers. Safe work procedures should be provided for areas where injuries commonly occur, such as manual handling procedures.

The Work, Health and Safety induction provided should:

• Explain the health and safety management system, policies and procedures that apply in the workplace
• Show workers how to work safely as well as recognise hazards on the job
• Ensure workers understand how to raise concerns they may have about health and safety
• Help workers become familiar with the workplace environment.

Keeping vulnerable workers safe

Employers in the retail industry should provide more support to vulnerable workers and design their workplace to keep them safe. Supervisors and managers play a crucial role in keeping vulnerable workers safe. They should:

• Ensure vulnerable workers receive more training and supervision compared to those normally provided to other workers.
• Enforce safe work practices and behaviours right from the start of their employment.
• Ensure vulnerable workers understand fully the workplace safety procedures that are in place.
• Encourage vulnerable workers to ask questions or ask for help.
• Ensuring vulnerable workers have a mentor (who is ideally not their supervisor) to provide support and advice.

Retail employers need to be mindful of their staff and watch out for the presence of vulnerable workers in their employment. Employers cannot always control the conditions in their workplace, and unexpected hazards or risks that may pop up. However, employers can focus on instilling in their vulnerable workers the skills, knowledge, and values that will empower them and keep them safe for the future.

 

 

References

1. Australian Government National Skills Commission (2024), Labour Market Insights – Retail Trade, <https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/industries/retail-trade>, accessed on 8^th May 2025.

 

2. Safe Work Australia (2013), Work-related injuries experienced by young workers in Australia, 2009-10, <https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/work-related-injuries-experienced-young-workers-australia-2009-10.pdf>, accessed on 14^th October 2022.

 

3. Safe Work Australia (2015), The Right Start: Building Safe Work for Young Workers, <https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/right-start-building-safe-work-young-workers>, accessed on 14^th October 2022.