Occupational Health Overview for the Wholesale and Retail Trade Industry in US

1. Occupational Health Overview for the Wholesale and Retail Trade Industry in US HeeKyoung Chun, Sc.D.1 Vern P. Anderson, Ph.D.2 Paul A. Schulte, Ph.D.2 APTR-CDC fellow1 and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health2 WRT accounts for the largest share of Injury and Illness Cases for Older/Young Workers Older Workers have a High Risk of Fall (Event) & Fractures (Nature) Abstract This study describes occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities among the wholesale and retail trade (WRT) sector in U.S. Select data sets from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2003 through 2009 were used to identify the occupational safety and health (OSH) burden in various industry groups of WRT organized by NAICS codes of the 4 or 5 digit levels. The results revealed that most injuries occurred in the following businesses: Beer/wine/liquor merchant wholesalers; Grocery and related product wholesalers; Home centers; Warehouse clubs and superstores; and Supermarkets and other grocery stores. The most common events and exposures associated with nonfatal injury and illness included the following: overexertion, contact with objects, and falls. During the past 5 years, MSDs accounted for 31.6~34.2% of all lost time injuries and illnesses. The incidence rates (IRs) of MSDs (37.1-47.5 per 10,000 FTE) were much higher in the WRT sector, compared with IRs for all industries (31.3-38.6). Specific sources of injuries included: containers (28.4-139.5), parts and materials (7.8-26.6) and worker motion or position (17.9-34.1) per 10,000 FTE, as compared with IRs for private industry. Moreover, the WRT has a large percentage of older workers (15.6 -17.8%) who also may be at increased risk for injury/illness or fatality. Older workers required more days away from work to recover from a workplace injury and illness than younger workers. The median days away from work (DAFW) for all WRT workers was 10 days; whereas the median DAFW for those aged 55-64 was 17 days; and 12 DAFW for workers 65 years and older. Interventions should be focused on those previously identified high-risk industry groups (Anderson et al., 2010). A recent review of the data on aging indicates that older workers are injured less frequently than their younger counterparts, but the injuries are frequently more severe and result in loss time and employee turnover (Chun et al. in review). Prevention programs targeted to high-risk tasks such as manual materials handling will also help reduce overexertion injuries and falls. Proper training and the appropriate engineering manual assist-devices that incorporate ergonomic designs are keys to improving occupational safety and health in this Sector. High Risk industries in WRT with high Incidence Rate - Wholesale: Beer/wine/liquor merchant wholesalers, Grocery and related product wholesalers - Retail: Home centers, Warehouse clubs and superstores, Supermarkets and other grocery stores, Fuel/Tire dealers - Older workers had higher fatalities than younger workers (OR=4.16, 95% C.I.= 3.68_4.70) Retail Trade Has High Fatality due to Workplace Violence Nonfatal injury and illness cases involving lost workdays, 2009 • Summary • Exposures: Overexertion, Contact Objects, Fall • Nature/Type: Sprains, Strains, Fractures • Source: Containers Floors, Vehicles • Body Part: Trunk, L & U Extremities • What it indicates: Manual materials handling: lifting, carrying, pushing, stacking is a main task in WRT The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.