Common Injuries Facing Restaurant Workers

Posted on: November 25, 2020 by RMS Hospitality

A restaurant must be a well-oiled machine for business to run smoothly. From open to close, order to order, there are so many different things that must go right to keep the customers happy and the engine running. However, all of this can be brought to a halt with an injury to a customer.

But what happens when injuries affect the restaurant staff? There is a wide variety of jobs within the foodservice industry, including head chef at a four-star restaurant and minimum-wage cashier at a fast-food spot. Regardless of position and setting, these workers all face the same kinds of risks. Being aware of what some of the most common work injuries in restaurants are can help employees avoid them.

Read on to find out about common injuries facing restaurant workers and how to prevent them.

Slips and Falls

It’s one thing to have to deal with a customer who suffers a slip in a restaurant client’s dining room; it’s another to handle this issue in-house when it involves a staff member. Whether it’s a wet surface near sinks or freshly cleaned areas, slips and falls cause several injuries to those working in a restaurant. Sprains, fractures, breaks, and long-term damage can result from a worker slipping and falling inside the place they work.

The risk for this kind of liability to take place is already high enough for customers, but it’s even higher for employees. Walking on a contaminated floor, such as a grease spot, increases an employee’s risk of slipping by 14.6 times. Employees can avoid these injuries by wearing non-slip shoes and laying down slip-resistant mats while also keeping an eye out for wet areas.

Burns

Burn marks are almost a rite of passage for restaurant employees, especially chefs with long tenures working the grill. Deep fryers, ovens, steam, and hot splashing liquids are all part of restaurant life and present hazardous risks if not handled properly. Anyone handling food should use oven mitts and protective gloves and ensure all machines are used only according to directions.

Ergonomic Injuries

Ergonomic injuries are those that come with repetitive work. These injuries include muscle pain, nerve damage, neck pain, foot pain, and back pain. Employees should always remember to take breaks for quick walks and stretches, focusing on those pain points to stay loose.

Cuts

Like burns, cuts and lacerations are also unfortunately common in the foodservice industry. Knives, broken glass, or meat slicers can all present the potential for a nasty cut to occur, which also offers more risks related to bloodborne pathogens. When staffers work with sharp objects, they need to use protective gloves and ensure all sharp blades and machines are in top condition.

Workers’ Compensation in the Food Service Industry

Restaurant Workers’ Compensation insurance covers a broad range of injuries for restaurant employees, including those suffered off-site when doing required work and repetitive stress conditions caused by working in the industry. This coverage protects restaurants against incurring costs and provides loss control solutions to avoid accidents and promote a healthier and safer workplace culture.

Restaurant workers’ compensation helps pay for an injured employee’s:

• Ongoing medical costs, such as medications and rehabilitation
• Partial lost wages for the time spent recovering
• Immediate medical expenses, such as an emergency room visit

About RMS Hospitality Group

At RMS Hospitality Group, our expertly crafted policies are written specifically for the hospitality industry. We offer custom-tailored solutions to meet any venue’s specific needs. For more information, contact our experts today at (888) 359-8390.

Posted in: workers compensation