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Kitchen Injuries At Work
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| photo from: UK Health and Safety Executive |
If you have ever worked in a commercial kitchen you are no stranger to the potential dangers of on-the-job injury. The attorneys at the Coye Law Firm know that the majority of kitchen managers will take the time to extensively and thoroughly train employees rather than see accidents happen, but despite the best efforts, accidents can still occur. Knowing the most common types of accidents helps both employers and employees prevent them from occurring, and teaching employees what to do when an on-the-job injury occurs helps everyone in the process of quick recovery. Sometimes, an injured employee may need to contact a worker’s compensation attorney in order to take advantage of all the benefits available.
If you’ve been injured on the job in the course of your normal duties, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits or a liability claim depending on the situation. Worker’s compensation can help people who have suffered any of these injuries in a kitchen – including a slip-and-fall or chemical burn – and make sure they receive proper medical treatment and potentially even paid recovery time. The workers’ comp and personal injury attorneys at the Coye Law Firm may be able to review your claim and help process your case regardless of how severe your injury is or how long you are unable to work due to the injury.
Common Accidents
While commercial kitchens are safer today than they ever have been in the past, there are still fire hazards, potentials to slip or be cut, and chemicals around which can cause painful burns. Be aware, be safe, and always follow the rules and safety procedures set forth by your employer.
Fire and burn hazards
We all know not to put our hand on a hot stove, but don’t neglect the potential of the following to burn you:
- Items recently removed from an oven or stovetop are sitting on the counter at a couple hundred degrees or more. Approach them with caution.
- When deep-frying, stir-frying, or otherwise heating up oil, be careful not to overfill the container or to splash oil out of the sides. Never put anything frozen into hot oil.
- Steam is as hot as boiling water, and steam burns can be dangerous to your throat, lungs, eyes, and other sensitive tissues. Never breathe in steam or place your skin in the steam’s path.
- Many people overlook the burning agents in peppers or other spicy foods. The same chemicals that cause burning sensations on your tongue will burn your eyes or nose too.
- Bleach and other cleaning agents can cause painful chemical burns. If you use a powerful cleanser like this on kitchen equipment, always use gloves when handling the chemicals.
Every kitchen should have at least one fire extinguisher, and every employee should know where it is. There should be a first-aid kit somewhere in the kitchen that employees can quickly and easily access as well. If you have questions about preventing or treating kitchen burns, the personal injury and workers compensation attorneys at the Coye Law Firm can get you answers.
Slip-and-Fall or Slice-and-Dice
The worker’s compensation lawyers at the Coye Law Firm know that slipping in a kitchen can be one of the most embarrassi
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| If available in your kitchen, wear mesh gloves to protect your hands when working with a sharp knife. |
ng ways to be injured on the job, and cutting yourself accidentally is one of the most common kitchen injuries. Keep yourself safe by:
- Asking your manager to place raised rubber mats around sinks and other commonly wet floor areas if the kitchen doesn’t already have them.
- Watch your step in walk-in coolers and freezers. The constantly changing air temperature and wet conditions can cause condensation and thawing which create pools you can slip in.
- Mopping up any spills immediately, and placing a “Wet Floor” sign in the area until it is dry.
- Asking someone taller to get something that is out of your reach. If you must stand on an object to reach an item yourself, make sure it is a flat, level surface (such a chair or box) that will support your weight and will not shift if you stand on it.
- Always use a sharp knife and cut on a cutting board or level surface when cutting. If possible, use mesh gloves to protect your hands.
The injuries that result from slipping on a hard kitchen floor can be anything from minor bruises to severely broken bones or traumatic brain injuries. Depending on whether or not the employer was negligent to prevent hazardous conditions in which employees could slip and fall, an injured employee could have a worker’s compensation case, a personal injury liability case, or more. The personal injury and worker’s comp attorneys at the Coye Law Firm may be able to review the case and get employees injured at work medical treatment coverage as well as compensation for lost time at work, or personal pain and suffering.
Contact an attorney if you’re injured
If you’re burnt, cut, or injured from a fall while performing your job duties, immediately report it to your supervisor and seek any necessary medical attention. Make sure to issue a written report of the situation to your manager, and go directly to the doctor recommended by your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance. Don’t hesitate or delay treatment for any reason – if you’re hurt, you need help now. Ask your employer for a copy of the 1st report of injury, and keep copies of the medical documentation for your records. Find out more about the various workers’ compensation forms throughout the process. The correct paperwork immediately after the accident could be important to your ability to obtain ongoing medical care if the injury lingers or causes lasting impairments. To find out more about kitchen injuries and workers’ compensation, contact a workers’ comp attorney at the Coye Law Firm. We may be able to help you understand your rights and the claims process.