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
Archives
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
Categories
- Adult Nightclub
- Assault & Battery Insurance
- blog
- Comedy Club Insurance
- Completed Operations
- Franchise Select
- Hospitality Insurance
- Insurance
- Jazz Club
- Liquor Liability
- Live Music Venue
- Lounges
- Nightclub Insurance
- Press Release
- Pub Insurance
- Restaurant Insurance
- Sports Bar Insurance
- Tavern
- Tavern Insurance
- Uncategorized
- workers compensation