The restaurant industry is one of the largest businesses in the United States. It employs nearly 15 million employees and generates almost $1 trillion in annual revenue.
Although the restaurant industry is lucrative, it can also be dangerous. There are certain reasons why restaurant workers get hurt more than others.
What are the most common injuries among restaurant workers?
Many common injuries take place daily. Some of those injuries include: muscle strains and sprains, slip and falls, muscle pulls from lifting heavy objects, leg and back fatigue from standing up for long periods, cuts, scrapes, bruises and burns.
Restaurant workers may also suffer severe injuries that limit their ability to perform certain job-related tasks or remain employed at all. The most catastrophic injuries restaurant workers suffer result from their involvement in slip and fall accidents. These often occur due to slippery or improperly mopped flooring.
How can you prevent some of the most common restaurant worker injuries?
Employees must take proactive measures to protect themselves from getting hurt.
One way workers can minimize their chances of suffering a slip and fall is by wearing slip-resistant shoes. Restaurant employees can also do so by ensuring that they don’t obstruct high traffic areas with boxes, trash cans, cords or tray stands.
Since burns are another risk restaurant workers face, they can do their best to protect themselves by covering their arms and wearing oven mitts on their hands to minimize their chance of exposure to an open flame or hot surfaces.
Knives are another potential danger that restaurant workers must handle. Not everyone is a knife expert, so each employee should be adequately trained on proper knife usage and storage and wear cut-resistant gloves when handling them.
Restaurant workers must also exercise proper lifting techniques. Picking objects up with your legs instead of your back will lessen the possibility of muscle pulls in your shoulders, back and legs.
Options available to you if you suffer an on-the-job injury
Almost every employer here in Richmond must maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover an employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they suffer injuries on the job. Please continue to peruse our website to learn more about Kentucky workers’ compensation laws so that you’ll better understand your rights if you suffered job-related injuries.