OSH Answers: Retail Sales and Service

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail

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Retail Sales and Service - General

Some of the main duties of sales and service personnel in stores, hotels and other locations are to:

What are some health and safety issues for retail sales and service personnel?

Exposure to various chemicals and materials, which may include paints, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, perfumes, or cleaning products
Indoor air quality
Repetitive manual tasks or working in awkward positions
Risk of back injury from pushing, pulling or lifting objects
Exposure to extreme temperatures
Slips, trips and falls
Risk of overhead materials falling
Working on ladders or other potentially unstable structures
Risk of violent attack
Working alone
Stress
Fatigue or other health effects of shift work or extended work days

What are some preventive measures for retail sales and service personnel?

What are some good general safe work practices?

Practice safe lifting.
Find ways to minimize musculoskeletal disorders on the job.
Take all safety precautions when working on ladders.
Follow or establish safety procedures for working alone, or for avoiding working alone wherever possible.
Follow company safety rules.
Learn about chemical safety, WHMIS and MSDSs
Know how to report a hazard
Follow good housekeeping procedures.

Where can I get more information?

General information is available in OSH Answers or through the CCOHS person-to-person Inquiries Service.

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