Work environment and ergonomics in retail — take care of your body in a physical trade
Heavy lifting, many standing hours, monotonous work and customer contact — how to avoid injury
Shop work looks easy from the outside but the body works all day. You stand for hours, you lift and carry goods, you move in uniform patterns at the till and in the warehouse and you are constantly 'on' with customers. A good working environment is about knowing the strains — and about having habits and tools that enable you to stay in the trade for many years.
§Heavy lifting and goods handling
Goods must be received, carried, lifted onto shelves and restocked. It is the classic physical load in retail. The good technique is the same everywhere: keep your back straight, use your legs, keep the load close to your body, and avoid twisting your back while lifting. If something is too heavy, break it up or ask for help — there is no prize for damaging your back.
§Many hours on your feet
Standing up all day puts strain on legs, feet and back. Good shoes with proper support are an investment, not a luxury. Change position when you can, take a short walk rather than standing completely still, and use your breaks to actually sit down. If you have a checkout station, adjust the chair and height so that you don't sit hunched forward the whole shift.
§Repeated cutting/assembly
Many tasks in a shop are repetitive: scanning items packing bags filling the same shelves. Repetitive work can over time cause strain injuries in wrists shoulders and neck if you do the same thing in the same position too long. Variation is the medicine — swap tasks with colleagues and stretch out so the same muscles do not bear everything.
Special for some specialities
If you work as a floral decorator, you stand a lot and work with your hands in a humid and cold environment — watch out for cuts from tools and thorns, and keep your hands dry and warm. As a decorator and visual merchandiser you go up at height at exhibitions and often move heavy decorations — use stable equipment and lift sensibly.
§The psychological work environment
Retail trade is also a people trade. You meet customers in good and bad moods you work under time pressure during busy times and occasionally you experience unfriendly or tense situations at the checkout. A healthy working environment means you talk about difficult situations you know how to handle a dissatisfied customer and there is a manager to turn to. You should not have to stand alone with an unpleasant experience.
§Everyday habits that stick
- 01PLACEHOLDER_107
- 02Use sack trucks, pallet lifters and ladders rather than carrying everything yourself
- 03Invest in good work shoes and change position often
- 04Vary your tasks so the same muscles do not get worn
- 05Talk about difficult customer situations — don't stand alone with them
- 06Know the shop's security and robbery instructions