Industries like construction and manufacturing are known for being risky and injury-prone. New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that another industry has moved above manufacturing on the list of most dangerous jobs.

The rate of nonfatal workplace illness and injury among retail workers had been falling since 2004, but the BLS registered an uptick in 2018. Last year there were 3.5 injuries/illnesses reported per 100 workers which is up from 3.3 per 100 workers in 2017. In 2018 manufacturing saw 3.4 injuries per 100 workers.

Check out the BLS rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in private retail trade for the past 15 years. Pet supply stores were the riskiest establishment to work in with 7 injuries reported per 100 workers, and behind them were retail employees in stores selling home furnishings and building materials.

The overall number of injuries or illnesses in retail was up 4%, to 409,900. Roughly a third of these injuries resulted in a worker missing at least one day of work. The injuries most likely to result in time off were overexertion, contact with equipment and slips, trips and falls. Injuries related to overexertion cost employers $13.1 billion and slips and falls cost $10.4 billion, while workers getting struck by equipment cost $5.2 billion. On average companies lost more than $1 billion a week due to disabling workplace injuries and illness-related lost productivity costs another $530 a year, according to data from the Integrated Benefits Institute.

The increase in injuries has been attributed to high-stress holiday shopping and workers putting in more hours during the season. To reduce the risk of overexertion employers should teach proper lifting techniques and try to give workers adequate breaks even in a busy season.

There are precautions to minimize the risk of slip and falls such as replacing old and fraying carpet, using floor cleaner that doesn’t leave slippery residue behind and asking employees to wear non-slip shoes.

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