Industrial Safety and Health for Goods and Materials Services - Chapter 3 pot

3 Retail TradeThe retail trade 44 and 45 sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to merchand

3 Retail Trade

The retail trade (44 and 45) sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to

merchandise; retailers are, therefore, organized to sell merchandise in small quan-tities to the general public This sector comprises two main types of retailers: store

includes the following industries under the retail trade sector:

Retail trade (44 and 45)

Motor vehicle and part dealers (441000)

Automobile dealers (441100)

Automotive parts, accessories, and tire stores (441300)

Furniture and home furnishing stores (442000)

Furniture stores (442100)

Home furnishing stores (442200)

Electronic and appliance stores (443000)

Electronic and appliance stores (443100)

Computer and software stores (443120)

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (444000) Building material and supplies dealers (444100)

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores (444200)

Food and beverage stores (445000)

Retailers provide the public access to the goods and materials they need for everyday living

Grocery stores (445100)

Specialty food stores (445200)

Beer, wine, and liquor stores (445300)

Health and personal care stores (446000)

Health and personal care stores (446100)

Pharmacies and drug stores (446110)

Gasoline stations (447000)

Gasoline stations (447100)

Clothing and clothing accessories stores (448000)

Clothing stores (448100)

Shoe stores (448200)

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores (448300)

Sports goods, hobby, book, musical instrument stores (451100)

Sporting goods stores (451110)

Book, periodical, and music stores (451120)

General merchandise stores (452000)

Department stores (452100)

Other general merchandise stores (452900)

Miscellaneous store retailers (453000)

Florist (453100)

Used merchandise stores (453300)

Other miscellaneous store retailers (453900)

Nonstore retailers (454000)

Electronic shopping and mail order houses (454100)

Vending machine operators (454200)

Direct selling establishments (454300)

3.1 RETAIL TRADE

business establishments In the economy as a whole, retail trade is about 11.6% of all employment and 12.4% of all establishments Retail trade employment averaged 15,254,900 in 2005

In the retail sector, the three most representative subsectors are motor vehicle and part dealers; clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores; and grocery stores These three are used to describe the general nature and working conditions of the retail trade sector

3.1.1 MOTORVEHICLE ANDPARTDEALERS

It is interesting to note that about half of all workers in this industry have no formal education beyond high school Employment is expected to grow, but will remain sensitive to downturns in the economy Opportunities should be plentiful in vehicle maintenance and repair occupations, especially for persons who complete formal automotive service technician training

Automobile dealers are the bridge between automobile manufacturers and the U.S consumers New car dealers are primarily engaged in retailing new cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and passenger and cargo vans New car dealers employ 9 out

of 10 workers in the industry Most new car dealers combine vehicle sales with other activities, such as providing repair services, retailing used cars, and selling replace-ment parts and accessories These dealers offer one-stop shopping for customers who

used car dealers specialize in used vehicle sales and account for only 1 out of 10 jobs

in the industry By putting new vehicles on the road, dealers can count on aftermar-ket additions, new repair and service customers, and future trade-ins of used vehicles (Figure 3.1)

The aftermarket sales department in a new car dealer sells additional services and merchandise after the vehicle salesperson has closed a deal Aftermarket sales workers sell service contracts and insurance to buyers of new and used cars and

additional services, such as undercoat sealant and environmental paint protection packages, to increase the revenue generated for each vehicle sold

3.1.2 CLOTHING, ACCESSORY, ANDGENERALMERCHANDISESTORES

Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores are represented by sales and administrative support jobs that account for 83% of employment in this subsector

industry Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores offer many part-time

FIGURE 3.1 A typical automotive dealership

jobs, but earnings are relatively low Despite relatively slow employment growth, turnover will produce numerous job openings in this large industry

Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores are some of the most visited establishments in the country Whether shopping for an item of clothing, a piece of jewelry, a household appliance, or even food, you will likely go to one of these stores

to make your purchase or compare selections with other retail outlets Composed of department stores (including discount department stores), supercenters, and ware-house club stores, general merchandise stores in particular sell a large assortment of items Also included among general merchandise stores are dollar stores that sell a wide variety of inexpensive merchandise

Department stores sell an extensive selection of merchandise, with no one line predominating As the name suggests, these stores generally are arranged into departments, each headed by a manager The various departments can sell apparel, furniture, appliances, home furnishings, cosmetics, jewelry, paint and hardware, electronics, and sporting goods They also may sell services such as optical, photo-graphy, and pharmacy services Discount department stores typically have fewer sales workers, relying more on self-service features, and have centrally located cashiers Department stores that sell bulk items, like major appliances, usually provide delivery and installation services Upscale department stores may offer tailoring for their clothing lines and more personal service

Warehouse club stores and supercenters, the fastest growing segment of this

and at low prices These stores typically include an assortment of food items, often sold in bulk, along with an array of household and automotive goods, clothing, and services that may vary over time Often, such stores require that shoppers purchase a membership that entitles them to shop there They offer very little service and usually require the customer to take home the item

Compared with department stores, clothing and accessory stores sell a much narrower group of items that include apparel for all members of the family, as well

as shoes, luggage, leather goods, lingerie, jewelry, uniforms, and bridal gowns Stores

in this sector may sell a relatively broad range of these items or concentrate on a few They often are staffed with knowledgeable salespersons who can help in the selection

of sizes, styles, and accessories Many of these stores are located in shopping malls

3.1.3 GROCERYSTORES

Grocery stores have numerous job openings, many of them part time and relatively

Grocery stores, also known as supermarkets, are familiar to everyone They sell an array of fresh and preserved foods, primarily for preparation and consumption at home They also often sell prepared food, such as hot entrées or salads, for takeout meals

provide a variety of consumer services, and sell numerous food and nonfood items—to traditional supermarkets to convenience stores with small staffs and limited selections Convenience stores, however, also often sell fuel, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and propane Recently, many convenience stores have expanded their scope of services by providing ATMs, money orders, and a more comprehensive selection of products, including food for immediate consumption and an assortment

of nonfood items

candy, nut, and confectionery stores; dairy products stores; retail bakeries; and health

and drinking places that sell food and beverages for consumption on the premises are also excluded

Grocery stores are found everywhere, although the size of the establishment and the range of goods and services offered vary Traditionally, inner-city stores are small and offer a limited selection, although larger stores, including specialty grocers and a few supercenters, are now being built in many urban areas; suburban stores are predominantly large supermarkets and supercenters with a more diverse stock Most supermarkets include several specialty departments that offer the products and

Household goods, health and beauty care items, automotive supplies, pet products, greeting cards, and clothing also are among the nonfood items that can be found at large supermarkets Some of the largest supermarkets, including wholesale clubs, even have cafeterias or food courts, and a few feature convenience stores, automotive services, and full-service banks In addition, most grocery stores offer basic banking

rentals, and catering services

Working conditions in most grocery stores are pleasant, with clean, well-lighted, climate-controlled surroundings Work can be hectic, and dealing with customers can be stressful

Grocery stores are open more hours and days than most work establishments, so workers are needed for early morning, late night, weekend, and holiday work With employees working 30.8 h a week, on average, these jobs are particularly attractive

to workers who have family or school responsibilities or another job

Most grocery store workers wear some sort of uniform, such as a jacket or an apron

and safety regulations require some workers, such as those who work in the delica-tessen or meat department, to wear head coverings, safety glasses, or gloves

3.2 PROFILE OF RETAIL WORKERS’ DEATHS, INJURIES,

AND ILLNESSES

3.2.1 DEATHS

There were 397 occupationally related deaths to retail workers in 2005 The retail

percent of those deaths from each major category

3.2.2 INJURIES

There were 178,760 reported injuries for retail workers in 2004; this was 21% of the total injuries (850,930) for the service industry The distributions for the nature, body part, source, and exposure (accident type) for the 178,760 injuries are presented in Tables 3.2,3.3,3.4, and3.5, respectively

3.2.3 ILLNESSES

In the retail sector, there were 17,200 cases of occupationally related illnesses; this is 13% of the total for the service industry (Table 3.6)

TABLE 3.1 Occupational Death Cause by Percent for Retail Sector

Source: From Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department

of Labor National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2005 Available at http: ==bls.gov

TABLE 3.2

Nature of Injury by Number and Percent for the Retail

Sector

Cuts =punctures a

Source: From Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor.

Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2004 Available at http: ==bls.gov

a

Five most frequently occurring conditions.

TABLE 3.3

Body Part Injured by Number and Percent for the Retail Sector

Source: From Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2004 Available at http: ==bls.gov

a

Five most frequently injured body parts.

TABLE 3.4

Source of Injury by Number and Percent for the Retail Sector

Worker motion=position a

Floor, walkways, or ground surfacesa 32,720 18

Chemicals and chemical products 2,230 1

Source: From Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2004 Available at http: ==bls.gov

a Five most frequent sources of injury.

3.3 HAZARDS FACED BY RETAIL WORKERS

The hazards of working with all types of products and the handling of these products

as well as interacting with the general public contribute to the hazards faced by retail workers

TABLE 3.5

Exposure=Accident Type by Number and Percent

for the Retail Sector

Struck against objecta 12,100 6.8

Caught in or compressed or crushed 5,830 3

Slips or trips without a fall 4,860 2.7

Exposure to harmful substance or environment 5,530 3

Source: From Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor.

Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2004 Available at http: ==

bls.gov

a Five most frequent exposures or type of accidents that led to an

injury.

TABLE 3.6

Occupational Illnesses by Number of Cases and Percent

for the Retail Sector

Source: From Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor.

Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2004 Available at http:==bls.gov

The hazards covered in this book are the primary ones that affect retail workers

in facility and stores operations In most cases, the most frequent hazards faced by retail workers are as follows:

3.4 OCCUPATIONS

expectations, for example, motor vehicle and part dealers, and employees in clothing and grocery stores Employees are the interface for the retail sector

3.4.1 MOTORVEHICLE ANDPARTDEALERS

Employees in automobile dealers work longer hours than those in most other industries An overwhelming 84% of automobile dealer employees worked full time in 2004, and 38% worked more than 40 h a week To satisfy customer service needs, many dealers provide evening and weekend service The 5 day, 40 h week usually is the exception, rather than the rule, in this industry Some of the most common occupations are advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers; automotive body and related repairers; automotive service techni-cians and mechanics; retail sales personnel; and sales worker supervisors

Because most automobile salespersons and administrative workers spend their

selling is stressful to automotive salespersons, as they try to meet company sales quotas and personal earning goals Compared with all other occupations in general, the proportion of workers who transfer from automotive sales jobs to other occupa-tions is relatively high

Service technicians and automotive body repairers generally work indoors in well-ventilated and well-lighted repair shops However, some shops are drafty and noisy Technicians and repairers frequently work with dirty and greasy parts, and in awkward positions They often lift heavy parts and tools Minor cuts, burns, and bruises are common, but serious accidents are avoided when shops are kept clean

and orderly and when safety practices are observed Despite hazards, precautions taken by dealers to prevent injuries have kept the workplace relatively safe In 2003, there were 5.1 cases of work-related injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers

in the automobile dealers industry, close to the national average of 5.0 per 100 Sales and related occupations are among the most important occupations in

success in selling vehicles and services determines the success of the dealer

interests through a series of questions

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations are another integral part of automobile dealers, constituting 27% of industry employment Automotive service technicians and mechanics service, diagnose, adjust, and repair automobiles and light trucks, such as vans, pickups, and SUVs Automotive body and related repairers

replace crumpled parts that are beyond repair Shop managers usually are among the most experienced service technicians

Service advisors handle the administrative and customer relations part of the service department They greet customers, listen to their description of problems or service desired, write repair orders, and estimate the cost and time needed to do the repair They also handle customer complaints, contact customers when technicians discover new problems while doing the work, and explain to customers the work performed and the charges associated with the repairs

In support of the service and repair departments, parts salespersons supply vehicle parts to technicians and repairers They also sell replacement parts and accessories to the public Parts managers run the parts department and keep the automotive parts inventory They display and promote sales of parts and accessories and deal with garages and other repair shops seeking to purchase parts

dealers and make up about 15% of employment in the industry Bookkeeping,

admini-strative assistants prepare reports on daily operations, inventory, and accounts receivable They gather, process, and record information and perform other

Transportation and material moving occupations account for about 12% of jobs

in automobile dealers Cleaners of vehicles and equipment prepare new and used cars for display in the showroom or parking lot and for delivery to customers They may wash and wax vehicles by hand and perform simple services such as changing a tire

or a battery Truck drivers typically operate light delivery trucks to pick up and deliver automotive parts; some drive tow trucks that bring damaged vehicles to the dealer for repair

experience For example, most sales managers start as automotive salespersons

negotiators in all transactions between sales workers and customers Most advance to