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
10% of the total Tasmanian workforce
46% of workers are employed full time
1 in 3 aged under 25
The injuries
540 injuries across the industry group in 2019
33% of injuries over the last ten years resulted in at least one week off work
6.8 serious injuries per million hours worked, 25% lower than the state average of 9.1
Serious injury frequency rate increased 9% over the last ten years, while state average decreased 9% over the same period
The people
45-54 year olds report the highest serious injury frequency rates
Motor vehicle parts and tyre retail 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
- 42% Sales assistant and salespersons
- 12% Storepersons
The causes
The most common causes of injury across the industry
- Body stressing
- Falls, slips and trips
- Being hit by moving objects
- Hitting objects with a part of the body
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
- Safe movement of vehicles and plant