Everyone enjoys going out to eat on occasion. Some people love food so much that they decide to become a cook. It’s a great profession. If you’re a cook, what would you do if you were hurt on the job? Would you be able to pay all of your monthly bills? Would there be food on the table? It’s a scary thought because most people live paycheck to paycheck even if they have a good paying job. Getting hurt on the job is a financial nightmare for many people. The good news is that each state has a law in place that makes most employers carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp is provided to you without any cost. It can help you avoid financial disaster if you are hurt on the job. What Is Workers’ Comp? Workers’ compensation is an insurance that is provided by your employer. There is no cost to you. If you are hurt on the job, you don’t have to worry about if you could have prevented your injury. If you’re hurt, workers’ comp provides money for your medical care, prescriptions, and other medical needs. It can even help take some of the stress out of your life by providing some of your lost wages. Risks Faced By Cooks If you’re a cook, you do what you can to stay safe. You know that you should do what you can to not get burned on hot kitchen gadgets, but sometimes accidents happen. Spilled grease can make floors slick and even if you wear the non-slip shoes, you’re still at risk for slipping and falling. Carrying heavy boxes of produce, meat, and other ingredients can hurt your back. If you make the same food over and over again, such as mixing dough by hand, you could also be at risk for developing repetitive stress injuries. You can probably think about the restaurant and kitchen and list your own individual risks. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how careful we try to be in our job. Accidents still happen. How to Protect Your Legal Rights If you’re hurt during your shift, here are the four steps you need to take to protect your legal rights. Let your manager know as soon as possible that you’re hurt. Don’t wait until the end of your shift. This is to protect you as well as your coworkers. Floors slippery with grease can cause more than one accident. You can keep others safe by reporting your injury as soon as possible. Complete an accident report as soon as you can. If you’ve been burned in the kitchen or if you’ve experienced another severe injury, call 911 to get immediate help. The police will come and provide a report number. You can get a report number from the police after the paramedics treat your burn. Get medical treatment as soon as you can. Don’t wait for a week or more. If you slip and fall or even if you burn yourself, those injuries can get worse over time. You can stop further damage or infections by getting medical help. You can go to the emergency room if it is an emergency. The workers’ compensation policy lists a doctor that you can see without paying anything out of pocket. If you want to see your own doctor, keep your receipts. You can be reimbursed. Make an appointment to see a workers’ compensation attorney. An attorney can help you protect your rights and help you get the compensation that you deserve. Do not talk to the insurance company on your own. They want to settle your claim paying as little as possible, and you could sign away your legal rights. Protect Your Rights Protect your legal rights and make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries. If you’ve been injured on the job as a cook, don’t delay. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney today.
