WorkSafe Victoria mounts campaign to tackle retail industry injuries.

Employees suffer more injuries in retail workplaces than in any other industry sector, according to WorkSafe Victoria.

The organisation has launched a concerted assault on the state’s biggest source of workplace injuries which costs the community $600 million dollars a year in medical treatment and rehabilitation bills.

A new advertising campaign shows the graphic and instant,consequences of manual handling injuries and slips trips and falls in the retail sector.

Statewide and across all industries they account for more than 60 per cent of all reported workplace injuries – more than 17,000 a year in Victoria. The average cost of treating these people through Victoria’s workers compensation system averages $45,000 per claim.

"Individuals suffer greatly, often long-term, from what are almost always totally preventable injuries,” said WorkSafe’s executive director, John Merritt.

“For employers productivity is cut, there may be staff replacement costs, retraining and safety improvements to be made after the event. Industries lose people permanently."

WorkSafe inspectors will back up the campaign with workplace visits targeting these issues over the next few months.