The workforce

This industry grouping covers a wide range of activities, separated into 14 groups

• Motor vehicle retailing
• Motor vehicle parts and tyre retailing
• Fuel retailing
• Supermarket and grocery stores
• Specialised food retailing
• Furniture, floor coverings, houseware and textile goods retailing
• Electrical and electronic goods retailing
• Hardware, building and garden supplies retailing
• Recreational goods retailing
• Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing
• Department stores
• Pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing
• Non-store retailing
• Retail commission-based buying and/or selling

11% of the total Tasmanian workforce

44% of workers are employed full time

1 in 3 aged under 25

The injuries

567 injuries across the industry group in 2018

31% of injuries over the last ten years resulted in at least one week off work

6.6 serious injuries per million hours worked, 24% lower than the state average of 8.7

Serious injury frequency rate stayed steady over the last ten years, while state average decreased 16% during the same time

The people

45-54 year olds report the highest serious injury frequency rates

Motor vehicle parts and tyre retail and non store retailing had the highest serious injury frequency rates despite a low number of claims

30% of serious injuries occurred in Supermarket and grocery stores

Occupations with the highest percentage of serious injuries

• 45% Sales assistant and salespersons
• 9% Storepersons

The causes

The most common causes of injury across the industry

• Body stressing
• Falls, slips and trips
• Being hit by moving objects
• Mental stress

Action areas

Priority conditions and causes identified in the WorkSafe Strategic Plan 2018-2023 relevant to the industry

• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Hazardous manual task
• Slips, trips and falls
• Mental health conditions