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