Retail facilities may not seem like dangerous workplaces, but many potential hazards can threaten the safety of retail workers. Commonly cited safety violations at retail facilities include:

• Blocked or improperly marked exit routes,
• Improper storage and stacking of materials,
• Slip and fall hazards,
• Hazard communication deficiencies, and
• Electrical hazards.

Other concerns at retail establishments include workplace violence, particularly during late-night hours, ergonomics and lifting hazards, and, in some cases, forklift safety. During sale events such as Black Friday, proper crowd management is also important to ensuring retail worker safety.

Some of the most important OSHA regulations for retail facilities include those for exit routes (29 CFR 1910 Subpart E), material handling (29 CFR 1910 Subpart N), and walking and working surfaces (29 CFR 1910 Subpart D). In addition, the general duty clause requires employers to protect workers from other known serious hazards such as ergonomic injuries and workplace violence.