The tasks that grocery workers perform involve ergonomic risk factors such as repetition, force, static postures and awkward posture.
When we think of St. Louis workplace injuries, we may tend to think of construction and industrial workers, and not of grocery workers. While they have a relatively safe job, it does not mean they are immune to work injuries. Grocery store work is physically challenging in several ways. Each day, grocery store workers have to handle thousands of items when stocking shelves, decorating bakery goods, checking groceries, and preparing meat products. The tasks that grocery workers perform involve ergonomic risk factors such as repetition, force, static postures and awkward posture. The presence of these risk factors make the workers prone to a wide variety of injuries and illnesses. In this post, our work injury lawyers will discuss some of the common injury risks grocery workers face.
Common injuries grocery workers may suffer
- Back injuries and muscle strains that occur from overexertion or repeated use
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Tendonitis
- Epicondylitis, a type of elbow injury
- Trigger finger resulting from repeated use of a single finger
- Slip, trip and fall injuries
- Cuts and lacerations from cutting meat products
- Injuries from falling objects
Grocery store workers have to work in the back of deep display cases to stock and display merchandise to improve its appearance. This can be uncomfortable, especially when the worker has to handle heavy objects. Better ergonomics can make this activity much more comfortable for the worker and prevent injuries. There are various products available that can make this task easier. These include cases with a spring loaded back. Whenever a customer removes an item from the shelf, it pushes the remaining items to the front, and keep them within easy reach. This eliminates the need to retrieve items from the back.
Another common injury that grocery workers can suffer due to the type of activities they perform is carpal tunnel syndrome, which results from constant and repetitive motion of the hand, or sustained and forceful awkward hand movements. In many cases, it becomes difficult for the worker to prove that their carpal tunnel syndrome is work-related. However, grocery workers can easily demonstrate the daily activities they perform at the workplace, which can make them susceptible to developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Grocery stores can implement injury prevention programs focusing on ergonomic and musculoskeletal issues to prevent workplace injuries and save on associated workers compensation costs. Fewer workplace injuries also reduce employee turnover, improve worker morale, and discourage workers from seeking early retirement.
Have you suffered injuries while working in a grocery store?
Apart from the minor injuries such as sprains from slips and falls, grocery workers can also suffer serious and even debilitating injuries such as those from falling objects. If you have suffered injuries while working in a grocery store, you should get in touch with an experienced workers compensation attorney at the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann. Call (314) 361-4300 for a free case evaluation.