Submitted by pec on Tue, 10/31/2023 - 10:38 pec's Blog Restaurant workers have a high risk of being injured while they are working. Working in a kitchen can lead to injuries like back injuries, cuts, sprains and strains, and more. If you’re a restaurant worker and you were injured while you were working, you may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ Compensation in the Restaurant Industry Workers’ compensation is a program that was set up to ensure that workers aren’t responsible for paying for the costs of injuries that they receive at work due to unsafe conditions. If you are injured while working through no fault of your own you may be entitled to pay that will pay for your medical bills and expenses, pay your wages while you can’t work, and compensate you for any permanent injuries that will affect your ability to work in the future. Restaurants are dangerous places to work because there are so many ways that workers can be injured in a kitchen. Common restaurant injuries that happen to workers include: Muscle strains, broken bones, and sprains caused by lifting heavy trays, tables, chairs, or dishes. Injuries caused by reaching across a table while serving or clearing plates or lifting heavy pots and pans. Burn injuries from a stove, oven, deep fryer, or faulty electrical appliance. Illness due to exposure to hazardous chemicals or chemical burns. Scrapes, cuts, or punctures from slips or falls. Cuts from knives or deli slicing equipment. Back injuries and neck injuries caused by slipping on wet or dirty floors. Burns from hot pans, hot grills, or hot water. Car accident injuries suffered while delivering food. Injuries resulting from workplace violence. If you are injured while working in a restaurant always get medical help immediately. Restaurants Required to Carry Workers’ Compensation The laws that govern whether or not a restaurant is required to carry workers’ compensation for all of their employees vary from state to state. So, whether or not the restaurant where you work is required to carry workers’ compensation depends on where you work and other factors. But, most restaurants do have to carry workers’ compensation for all employees. Steps to Help Protect Your Legal Rights If you are hurt when you are working in a restaurant the first thing that you should do is get medical attention, even if you think that the injury isn’t serious. Many injuries that happen in a kitchen may not seem serious at first but could become more serious with time. After getting medical attention you should: Tell your supervisor – Tell your supervisor about the injury and make sure that they write an incident report that documents what happened. Get a copy of that report. Gather evidence – Take photos or videos of the area where the accident occurred so that you can document the conditions that caused the injury. You may also want to video yourself describing what happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. Talk to an attorney –After you have documented the injury, gotten medical help, and collected evidence you should talk to an attorney. Get Connected with a Workers’ Compensation Attorney If you’ve been hurt working in a restaurant fill out a Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help you with your case.
