January Sees Higher Workers’ Compensation Claims in Retail Sector, Surpassing Holiday Months

The 2023 "Retail Risk Report" by AmTrust reveals an unexpected trend in workers’ compensation claims within the retail sector. Contrary to assumptions that the busy holiday season of November and December would see the most injuries due to the influx of temporary workers, January actually records a 25% higher rate of injuries per $100,000 of payroll. This anomaly is attributed to younger seasonal workers’ tendency to underreport minor injuries, opting for personal health insurance or home remedies, thus skewing the injury statistics for the holiday months.

The study, which analyzed over 42,000 workers’ compensation claims, indicates that strains are the most common and costly workplace injury, followed by falls. Strains make up 26% of claims and 29% of payouts, while falls account for 19% of claims and 27% of payouts. Other significant causes of injury include being struck (14% of claims), cuts (18% of claims), and motor vehicle accidents, which, despite being only 2.5% of workplace accidents, result in the highest average payout of $20,451 per claim.

In terms of injuries by body part, the most common are those affecting multiple body parts, accounting for 29% of claims paid out. Back and shoulder injuries are also significant, representing 19% of claims each. Knee, ankle, hand, and foot injuries are less frequent but still notable.

AmTrust’s report underscores the importance of workplace safety, providing several tips for reducing risks. These include proper placement of heavy and light items, use of safe lifting techniques and aids, adequate lighting in work areas, enforcement of proper footwear policies, and maintaining clutter-free walking surfaces.