Retail trade is perhaps the largest segment of the job market, where roughly 15 million Americans make a living – or about 10 percent of the country’s workforce. In fact, two jobs – retail salespeople and cashiers – rank as the two most common jobs in the nation.
Retail jobs fall into two categories, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Store retailers: These are operators of “fixed point-of-sale locations,” engineered to draw a large number of walk-in consumer traffic. Generally, they sell goods to the general public, but some also serve commercial clients. In addition to retailing merchandise, some types of store retailers are also engaged in the provision of after-sales services, such as installation, maintenance, and repair.
- Non-store retailers: These vendors also sell to customers, but they operate out of a traditional, physical location. These retailers typically sell their products through infomercials, door-to-door sales, and other places, such as portable stalls and kiosks.
If you are a retail employee who has been hurt on the job, you need legal help right away. Call the office of Burg Simpson Wyoming at 307-527-7891 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON RETAIL INJURIES?
Most injuries at retail establishments fall into just a few categories, such as:
- Slips, trips, and falls: These frequent workplace accidents usually happen because of a wet or uneven floor, items not stored away properly, or even a fall from a height, such as from a ladder.
- Musculoskeletal injuries: Because of the amount of time spent standing for extended periods of time, lifting and carrying heavy boxes, and reaching for objects. These repetitive, sometimes awkward, movements can lead to aches and strains that can develop into chronic conditions. Injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and lower back pain, to name just a few.
- Cuts and burns: Food service workers, in particular, are more susceptible than most to cuts and burns from working with food and sharp utensils, such as knives and slicers. Employees also run the risk of chemical burns from cleaning supplies or other work-related chemical products.
- Violence: Violence is the leading cause of retail workplace fatalities. This can come from disgruntled customers, criminals, or even a domestic situation that spills into the workplace. This can also be the culmination of workplace bullying from a supervisor or co-worker that goes too far.
Retail workers can be particularly vulnerable to injury because it is a job with such a high rate of turnover, so most employees are younger, inadequately trained, and often left unsupervised. If you are a retail worker who has suffered an injury because of someone’s negligence, contact our work related injury lawyers at Burg Simpson’s Wyoming office by calling us at 307-527-7891.
CONTACT THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION WYOMING ATTORNEYS AT BURG SIMPSON
At Burg Simpson in Wyoming, we work hard to level the playing field for injured workers who need access to the benefits and compensation they deserve. Complete our Free Case Evaluation Form right now or call our Cody, Wyoming office at 307-527-7891 so we can work with you on filing your Wyoming workers’ compensation claim.
