Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Retail Grocery Store Workers
Employees at food markets or retail grocery stores must perform a wide range of job tasks, and a lot of those tasks come with certain injury risks. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the most commonly reported injuries among retail grocery store employees are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which include “back injuries and sprains or strains that may develop from various factors, including lifting, repetitive motion disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or injuries resulting from overexertion.” Retail grocery store workers may be assigned a particular task at work that is their primary area of work, such as cashier duties, stocking, or unloading deliveries. At the same time, many retail grocery store employees perform a range or all of these tasks, depending on the need of the store or the particular day.
What Are Musculoskeletal Disorders?
What are musculoskeletal disorders? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “musculoskeletal impairments comprise more than 150 different diseases/conditions that affect the system and are characterized by impairments in the muscles, bones, joints, and adjacent connective tissues leading to temporary or lifelong limitations in functioning and participation.” Most MSDs involve symptoms that include persistent pain, as well as limitations in a person’s mobility or dexterity, which can affect a person’s ability to work.
When it comes to MSDs affecting retail grocery employees, OSHA cites seven specific types of musculoskeletal disorders or injuries that are particularly common and result in missed workdays:
- Muscle strains that result from repetitive motions or overexertion;
- Back injuries that result from repetitive motions or overexertion;
- Tendonitis;
- Carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Rotator cuff injuries that affect a worker’s shoulder;
- Epicondylitis, which affects a worker’s elbow; and
- “Trigger finger,” which is an injury that results from the repetitive motion of a single finger.
Preventing MSDs in Grocery Store Work
Retail grocery workers could avoid a range of musculoskeletal disorders with improved working conditions, according to OSHA, including an attention to ergonomic concerns in these workplaces. OSHA recommends that grocery store employers consider various ergonomics risk factors to improve working conditions, including but not limited to the following:
- Force in lifting;
- Force in pushing or pulling;
- Carrying heavy objects;
- Repetitive tasks;
- Awkward or status postures; and
- Contact stress.
These issues can impact retail grocery employees in nearly all departments or areas, including cashiering, bagging, stocking, produce and bakery departments, and meat and deli tasks.
Contact a Maryland Grocery Store Worker Injury Attorney for Help Today
Workers at food markets or retail grocery stores in Maryland are more commonly at risk of workplace injuries than you might think. These jobs require a significant amount of physical work, repetitive motions, and job tasks that can cause serious musculoskeletal injuries or disorders. If you were injured while working at a Maryland food market or retail grocery store, you may be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits that include coverage for your medical treatment in addition to wage replacement benefits. One of the experienced Maryland grocery store worker injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can assess your injury and help you to file a workers’ compensation claim. Contact our firm today to find out more about how we can assist you and to get started on your workers’ compensation case.
Sources:
osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3192.pdf
who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions
