Industries vary from city to city and state to state, but there’s one thing people can’t do without, and that’s grocery stores. Grocery store workers provide a vital service to people throughout the community. Sadly, the vocation does not come without its hazards.
The work in these stores can be strenuous, and employees often have to work long shifts. This means that workers are exposed to a number of injuries. Outlined below are some of the more common injuries associated with grocery store work.
Heavy lifting injuries
Putting away deliveries is part and parcel of working in a grocery store. The boxes that contain goods are often very large and weigh a considerable amount. With potentially hundreds of boxes to put away every day, employees are expected to do a lot of heavy lifting. Heavy machinery, such as forklifts, can ease this process somewhat, but not every store is afforded the luxury of having such equipment. Excessive lifting can result in severe back injuries, which cause an employee to be out of work for weeks, and even several months.
Slips, trips and falls
Grocery store workers often rotate their positions. They may also have to deal with customer queries across the shop floor. In a fast-paced environment, there is always a risk of falling over and sustaining a serious injury. This risk is heightened by the fact that there are numerous slippery items within most stores, such as cooking oils and other liquids. If one of these items is spilled without staff being alerted, the next staff member to come across it could be subjected to a nasty fall. Broken bones, spinal injuries and head trauma are just some of the more notable injuries sustained in slip-and-fall accidents.
As an employee in a grocery store, your service to the public is vital. You have a legal right to carry out your work in a safe environment, and if you have been injured on duty, make sure you explore your legal options.