The retail trade is not spared from accidents at work and occupational diseases. However, prevention measures enable to maintain the health of the employees and the enterprises.

The sector of the retail trade consists of different activities: clothing stores, toy stores, furniture stores as well as drugstores, pharmacies, libraries. It has many sales points which are often very small. Independently from the activity of the store the main risks to which the employees are exposed are the same: in particular the contact to the customers, handling goods, fitting shelves, receiving and unpacking goods.

The main risks:

• Handling and carrying loads
• Using small tools
• Slips, trips and falls
• Discourtesy and aggression
• Musculoskeletal disorders

Risk prevention approach:

1. Assessing risks
   Each entrepreneur is responsible for the health and safety of his employees. He must evaluate the risks to which his employees are exposed. Hereby the entrepreneurs of the retail trade can use a simple and free tool: “OiRA Retail Trade”, a risk assessment online tool.
   To access OIRA: https://client.oiraproject.eu/
2. Implementing preventive measures
   With the risk assessment the best appropriate prevention measures have to be determined. The OiRA tool offers assistance for the elaboration of an action plan. Also good practice examples are available. In order to get active very fast these six examples of good practice shall be applied. They enable to limit the main causes of accidents and diseases which can occur in this branch.